Chronic Sour Crop

[Rocinante]

I ave an older hen who started suffering from sour crop several months ago. I treated with Nystatin. It cleared up only to return in a few weeks. I tried withholding food for 24 hours, isolation and a special diet. It cleared up only to return again a few weeks later. The hen has not laid for some time due to age and I am wondering if I want to continue this cycle. Can it be passed to my other chickens? Is the chicken suffering without treatment? It has definitely lost weight. Is it time to euthanize?

 

[azygous]

I had a hen like that years ago before I heard of pendulous crop. She had a huge crop that sagged below her chest wall, and wasn't capable of emptying overnight as a crop should. If I had known, I could have tried a crop bra on her to see if that would remedy her issue. Instead, she became weak with starvation, and I euthanized her.

Older hens also can have underlying health issues that lead to slow crop. Usually the problems extend far beyond crop function, such as cancer or a chronic reproductive infection.

You can try a crop bra. If that's her only issue, the crop should start emptying each night, after a few adjustments of the bra, and she should regain her appetite and regain her weight.

Here is more information. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Rocinante]

Thank you for this. I think she is suffering and want to euthanize. Husband and daughter say let her pass on her own. I ordered a crop bra and will give it a try.