Crop Illness

[Bantamtam]

Dear all,

I'm a bit worried for one of my little bantams (the one in my picture) - she's usually the most peckish of the bunch. Symptoms:

1) Less energetic - she spends a lot of time sitting about. Some days she is very energetic and appears fine, but others not so much.
2) 'Wretching' - she looks like she is trying to be sick, but nothing comes up.
3) Day 1, her crop was, I think, impacted - first thing in the morning, it was very solid. I held off food and water, and massaged her a bit. Next morning, her crop was soft and squishy (making me suspect sour crop). The morning after that, it was mostly empty. Most of the time her crop is soft and squishy, but I can feel pellets in there.

I give her little massages, have her eating yogurt, and she has apple cider vinegar in her water, but it doesn't seem to be helping. I know one option is to make her be sick, but I'm scared to risk that in case she aspirates it. Plus some days her crop is quite empty.

Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks!

 

[The Chicken-Boy]

You are doing all the right things! I had one bird like this and she stayed the same for 2 weeks and then just got better. You can also try using a homeopathic mixed in to a little water. You would have to do some research about what type, dosage, ect. If you already have some the bottles will say what they are for. Ones like "digestive issues" work. Another indispensable item for you, your birds, anything, is a red light unit. If your interested I can give you more info.

Hope she feels better soon!

The Chicken-Boy

 

[Bantamtam]

Just to update all, sadly she had to be put down. We took her to the vets, who said that they could operate to remove the blockage, but it's likely she wouldn't survive long, and even if she did, her quality of life wouldn't be great. Given that she loved being active and eating lots, we decided we wouldn't let her suffer any more, and she was euthanized. She had a great life, and will be missed.

So, if anybody finds this thread at a later date, if you suspect a crop illness, I would get your chicken to the vet as soon as possible, before it turns sour. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but sometimes yogurt and cider vinegar just don't work.

 

[sweet6chicks]

So sorry about your chicken I had a Light Brahma die from something wrong with her crop. Had her at the vet's and they flushed her crop, but it didn't help, she had stopped eating and just didn't recover.