Bloated chest in pullet- Sour crop??

[KnightsMist]

I'm wondering if the problem is more pendulous crop rather than sour or impacted? From what I'm reading prognosis for pendulous crop isn't great. It swings back and forth as she moves and is still quite large. I can try to fashion a bra out of vet wrap for her, I have plenty of that on hand for my other animals. Thoughts?

Here is a video taken just a few minutes ago. This is the worst she's looked since this all started. She had perked up over the weekend and was flapping and flying with her friends. Thoughts?

 

[azygous]

Absolutely try the bra before going further on treatment. I covered that base also. I had designed a crop bra with a foam support to help lift the crop more effectively. The bra had no effect on my patient after she wore it for a day and two nights. Here's my design. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/making-a-crop-bra-for-a-hen-with-pendulous-crop.1464848/

 

[azygous]

Here's a good source for copper sulfate at a reasonable price. https://www.amazon.com/Copper-Sulfa...423908&sprefix=copper+sulfate,aps,262&sr=8-13

Mixing instructions are critical. Do not use this substance without these specific instructions as misuse can result in toxic poisoning. I'll supply instructions if you choose to use this treatment option.

 

[KnightsMist]

Here's a good source for copper sulfate at a reasonable price. https://www.amazon.com/Copper-Sulfate-Pentahydrate-Crystals-Pounds/dp/B00KDH7G8O/ref=sr_1_13?crid=1FEQJBAJII9BZ&dchild=1&keywords=copper+sulfate+crystals&qid=1630423908&sprefix=copper+sulfate,aps,262&sr=8-13

Mixing instructions are critical. Do not use this substance without these specific instructions as misuse can result in toxic poisoning. I'll supply instructions if you choose to use this treatment option.

Thank you for your help! I'll try to make a bra for her and see how she does over the next couple of days.

 

[KnightsMist]

Hi, here's an update. She's still not 100%. Her crop bra came in the mail Saturday and she's been wearing it mostly since then, just a couple breaks for her to dust bathe and clean herself. I'm still not satisfied with her crop/chest and energy though. She improved a bit on Saturday, but then went downhill again Sun/Mon.

I've had her in a crate again since Monday afternoon to try to clear her crop out again, with limited feed. Here is some poop from overnight and pictures from just a little while ago, an hour after giving her a small amount of soaked crumbles(in water) with coconut oil.

Thoughts?? I'm just not sure what to do. She can't keep up with the others, still lethargic and having a hard time getting around when outside. We finished the monistat, have been limiting treats, though she has been free ranging on and off. Do I just accept that she may not fully recover? Should I cull? Keep doing what I'm doing? She's so young, I just want my happy little girl back

 

[azygous]

When a crop issue persists in spite of all that has been done, assume an underlying condition that's causing it. I'm in the same predicament with my eight-year old Welsummer Mabel. Nothing has works for her sour crop. I'm currently tube feeding her a raw egg with keifer, Poultry Nutri-drench and nystatin mixed together. She has not regained her appetite, she is just skin and bones, weak, continues to make neck gyrations signaling an uncomfortable crop, and I'm just basically prolonging the inevitable.

It's your call, and it's my call as to when enough has been done and it's futile to continue. Take your time with the decision. Unless your girl is in acute discomfort and there is obviously no quality of life left, there's hope, if slim, for recovery.

 

[KnightsMist]

When a crop issue persists in spite of all that has been done, assume an underlying condition that's causing it. I'm in the same predicament with my eight-year old Welsummer Mabel. Nothing has works for her sour crop. I'm currently tube feeding her a raw egg with keifer, Poultry Nutri-drench and nystatin mixed together. She has not regained her appetite, she is just skin and bones, weak, continues to make neck gyrations signaling an uncomfortable crop, and I'm just basically prolonging the inevitable.

It's your call, and it's my call as to when enough has been done and it's futile to continue. Take your time with the decision. Unless your girl is in acute discomfort and there is obviously no quality of life left, there's hope, if slim, for recovery.

Thank you- that's what I'm wondering, that there may be a more serious underlying condition. She's eating and drinking on her own and likes to be with the others, she's just a bit slower and not quite as active. I'll keep trying things and see where this goes. The crop bra does seem to be helping some, at least. If she gets to the point where she consistently looks bad, I'll do what needs to be done.

 

[KnightsMist]

When a crop issue persists in spite of all that has been done, assume an underlying condition that's causing it. I'm in the same predicament with my eight-year old Welsummer Mabel. Nothing has works for her sour crop. I'm currently tube feeding her a raw egg with keifer, Poultry Nutri-drench and nystatin mixed together. She has not regained her appetite, she is just skin and bones, weak, continues to make neck gyrations signaling an uncomfortable crop, and I'm just basically prolonging the inevitable.

It's your call, and it's my call as to when enough has been done and it's futile to continue. Take your time with the decision. Unless your girl is in acute discomfort and there is obviously no quality of life left, there's hope, if slim, for recovery.

Also, I'm sorry to hear about your hen

 

[KnightsMist]

It's been over a month since my last post on Cadbury, thought I would just give an update and ask a couple more Qs.

Her crop is still large, she has a bra that she wears 24/7 and tolerates well. I take it off for a few hours every few days so she can dustbathe and clean herself. I noticed last night while putting her bra back on that she has sour crop, she vomited while I was putting it on and the smell was putrid, so I'm treating that again with Monistat.

At this point I think she will just have pendulous crop forever. I'm guessing it's not really something that resolves or goes away, right? She's still eating, drinking, free ranges with the rest of the flock, she's just a bit slower than them when they move across the yard. But overall her quality of life still seems good so I have no plans to cull her. She's not laying yet, but neither are 2 of my other hens (5.5 months old now) so I'm not concerned about that.

How long can hens live with pendulous crop? Does it just become a chronic issue that you manage, or is it likely to shorten her lifespan? I'll let her be as long as she's happy, I pay special attention to her daily to make sure she's alright. Still hoping she remains part of my flock for years to come but tempering expectations.

 

[azygous]

Thank you for posting an update.

Cadbury is much too young for crop issues. Even pendulous crop is usually something older hens get. The bra should be assuring the crop is emptying overnight. I am going to assume you have adjusted it so the crop does empty.

This may mean she has something going on that is obstructing her digestive tract. This was the problem my hen Mabel had. I eventually had to euthanize her as no amount of crop treatments was working. She continued to starve due to lack of appetite, and there was no other alternative but to release her from her suffering.

I did a necropsy, a quick opening of the abdominal cavity to see if I could see what could have been behind her crop issues. I found a small tumor behind her crop. It's hard to say if it had any bearing on her problems.

If Cadbury continues to be able to have a normal life, there's no need to cull. But if she declines, loses her appetite, loses weight, becomes weak and indifferent to daily flock activity, then it would be time to end it for her.