Chicken is still suffering from sour crop after more than a week of home remedies

[DeeZ4]

This started with an impacted crop about 9 days ago. Tried treating it with doses of olive oil and messages (which I've had success with a couple of times in the past). Managed to get it loosened up but two days later it turned sour. Then tried many of the home remedies: apple cider solution, Epsom salt solution, blackstrap solution, much massaging the crop, tried to get her to vomit several times but it didn't work, and lastly Miconazole for about 4 days now. Her crop is much smaller and very soft and squishy but not empty. Her poop is watery with black pea size dropping in it. She's eating and drinking a little every day but not near the amount she used to eat. I have her separated and in 'hospital' (large kennel). She's lost some weight but is still alert and somewhat active, at least as much as she can be while living in a kennel.
Many of the posts I've read have stated that their chicken was much better in a couple of days. Does it take much longer sometimes? Is there anything else I can try to make her better?
Attaching a picture of Moxie (AKA my little bearded lady) in hospital.

Thanks for the help!

 

[GracePoultry]

take away food for 24 hours. It feeds the infection. be sure apple cider vinegar is in her water.
I'm not sure if I showed you this video before already but It works amazingly.

 

[DeeZ4]

I forgot to mention that I did withhold food for about 36 hours when I brought her inside. Doing that along with the other remedies I mentioned and massages I managed to get the crop loosened up and the crop is much smaller now and very squishy. It's sour crop I'm dealing with now and from your video I take it that I need to complete a full seven days of Miconazole. Thank you for the video, I will definitely try the recipe for impacted crop when/if it happens again.

 

[chickens4pet]

We are going through this same thing presently. The impaction took a good 3 weeks to fully clear! After no more undigested grass and 3 mornings of empty crop she went gradually back on her feed and outside. Now a week later the sour crop, back in she came, now slowly improving. Like you I've dealt with this before, but every chicken sure is different. Hang in there.

Since it went on so long, we focused on trying to keep her weight up. The soft things that won't feed yeast go thru faster than grains, so no feed (or fruit) til things are moving. Her go-to's were soft boiled egg, yolk especially, dried meal worm crumbs, fine diced cucumber, earthworms from the bait shop. She won't touch yogurt (?). I'd heard not to do acv with active sour crop, better as a preventative. We are on day 4 of miconazole, my first time - always yogurt or kefir worked before.

Still not sure what caused mine? She has been wormed, has laid normally (1.5yrs old), eats poultry grit, does not act seriously ill. The impaction both times was undigested grass. How long til the gut biome recovers? Pretty hard to withhold grass until then, especially when she turns on the sad beak.

Please keep us posted on how Moxie is doing, and if she has found any soft foods irresistible and if her spirits are up.

 

[DeeZ4]

Thank you so much for your post. It gives me some hope. Unfortunately, Moxie was just starting to get her feathers back after a pretty good moult so she already a bit under weight because she barely eats when she's moulting.

Now with the sour crop she's barely eating again. I've been trying all her usual go-to food when she's off her feed but not having a whole lot of luck. I haven't tried 'soft' boiled egg though so will give that a try in the morning. She usually loves cucumber and mealworms but not right now. She doesn't like yogurt or mushy warm feed either. I'll try crumbling the mealworms to see if that works.

I really appreciate the tips. We have a few more days of Miconazole so I need all the help I can get.

Will post tomorrow if there's any change and if I can get her to eat anything.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This started with an impacted crop about 9 days ago. Tried treating it with doses of olive oil and messages (which I've had success with a couple of times in the past). Managed to get it loosened up but two days later it turned sour. Then tried many of the home remedies: apple cider solution, Epsom salt solution, blackstrap solution, much massaging the crop, tried to get her to vomit several times but it didn't work, and lastly Miconazole for about 4 days now. Her crop is much smaller and very soft and squishy but not empty.

Give the Miconazole twice a day for a full 7 days.
Make sure she's drinking well and offer her food to eat. Normal feed that is wet or dry. Soft cooked bits of egg to help entice her.

A crop issue can be hard to resolve sometimes. Rarely corrected within a couple of days. It can take weeks sometimes and sometimes the issue is never truly resolved. A lot depends on what is cause the SYMPTOM to begin with.
Often a crop problem is due to underlying conditions like Reproductive Disorders, Worms, Coccidiosis and Infection.

Do the best you can, work on the crop. Stick with One Method of treatment until it's finished before jumping to another. Consistent persistent treatment and patience can be key to helping a hen get better.

She's eating and drinking a little every day but not near the amount she used to eat.

Many of the posts I've read have stated that their chicken was much better in a couple of days. Does it take much longer sometimes?

 

[DeeZ4]

I fully intend to finish the Miconazole. We have 4 more days to go. I give her 2 ml twice a day. Is that enough, too much, not enough?

The thing that has me really worried is the squishy crop that almost feels like it's full of water.

Thank you for your advice it's much appreciated.

 

[GracePoultry]

I fully intend to finish the Miconazole. We have 4 more days to go. I give her 2 ml twice a day. Is that enough, too much, not enough?

The thing that has me really worried is the squishy crop that almost feels like it's full of water.

Thank you for your advice it's much appreciated.

i don't know if anyone has mentioned this but you could try holding her upside-down and pressing on her crop to get her to throw up all of the clear liquid in her crop but I would only recommend this as a very much a last result as it is very easy for her to become aspirated and die

 

[DeeZ4]

I have tried that a few times but couldn't get anything to come out. Haven't tried it for a couple of days because it kinda scared me.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I fully intend to finish the Miconazole. We have 4 more days to go. I give her 2 ml twice a day. Is that enough, too much, not enough?

The thing that has me really worried is the squishy crop that almost feels like it's full of water.

Thank you for your advice it's much appreciated.

That should be fine.

If it doesn't clear up, give her some tomato juice twice a day to see if that helps. Give about 10ml twice a day. She probably will drink it on her own.
I've never tried tomato juice, but a couple of others have used it and it seems to help get things moving.