Crop issue

[Leevy]

I have a 2 year old hen with I believe to be sour crop. I massaged the crop earlier today and accidentally made her vomit. The crop flattened. She has had no food and only a few drops of water and yet her crop is now back like it was. Water balloonish. Why is it filling again? Should I let her sleep or keep massaging?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC
Is she lethargic or acting sick? The crop is not emptying completely overnight (your checking it first thing in the morning before she's had anything to eat or drink)?

Make water available to her, but if the crop is Sour, then don't massage. You can give some coconut oil, but treating the yeast infection would be important. Vaginal yeast cream or an athlete's foot cream can be used as described in the article below.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Leevy]

Thanks for your reply. I apologize I got the email but then couldn’t figure out how to get back to the post. So this started on Saturday evening and Sunday is when I figured out that her crop was full. I read a dozen articles and all of them said to massage the crop so I did. I also accidentally made her vomit. There was no way I was going to turn her upside down but I just leaned over with her to pick something up and she let it fly! I was concerned because she had no opportunity to eat and yet her crop filled back up again. It is now flat. There was so much conflicting advice about what to give her so we went with the options we had available. She’s getting dropper fed FAGE yogurt that is lactose free. She has access to water and I do see her drinking a little bit of it from time to time. There’s been no poop today. I tried offering her some hard-boiled egg yolk but she was not interested. At first she did not like the yogurt but now it seems like she’s opening her mouth to get some instead of me having to poke it at her. Initially she was very lethargic and I was totally freaked out but yesterday she started getting her attitude back. We did the Apple cider vinegar in the water and we have alternated that with oil of oregano. Now I’m wondering how long it is before I give her access to her normal food.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have her separated?
She's not pooped in a day?

IF the crop is flat/empty, then I would offer her a little wet feed with bits of scrambled egg. See how that goes through her.

It's o.k.! There's a lot of different opinions and suggestions about treating crop issues. I've been there trying to figure out what to do. I've tried a few things and have found what works for me, so I stick with that. You will too - as you move along in your journey of keeping chickens, you will become more comfortable and confident when you need to treat them.

 

[Leevy]

Do you have her separated?
She's not pooped in a day?

IF the crop is flat/empty, then I would offer her a little wet feed with bits of scrambled egg. See how that goes through her.

It's o.k.! There's a lot of different opinions and suggestions about treating crop issues. I've been there trying to figure out what to do. I've tried a few things and have found what works for me, so I stick with that. You will too - as you move along in your journey of keeping chickens, you will become more comfortable and confident when you need to treat them.

She has not pooped in a day. She is isolated. I have offered her hard boiled egg yolks but she is not interested. She does seem to be enjoying the yogurt when I feed her with a dropper and is drinking. Still making some gassy grumbling noises.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She has not pooped in a day. She is isolated. I have offered her hard boiled egg yolks but she is not interested. She does seem to be enjoying the yogurt when I feed her with a dropper and is drinking. Still making some gassy grumbling noises.

How is she doing?
If she's not pooped in a day, that's not good at all. Can you tell if she might have an egg stuck?

Not eliminating waste, they will not last long, so if she's not pooped, then you can try a molasses flush to see if that will help get things moving. Mix 1tsp molasses to 1/4 cup warm water. Try to get all of it into her. IF there's a blockage, this can help move it, but be prepared that it could be explosive too.
And as always, provide fresh plain water for her as well.

 

[Leevy]

I tried offering her food today and she’s still not interested I also tried to do the yogurt and she didn’t want any and I felt her crop and it was full and squishy again to the point that when I lightly smooshed on it she puked up all the fluid that she had been drinking yesterday. She has been drinking on her own but I don’t think anything is getting through and this is been going on for several days now. I will try the molasses and hopefully it doesn’t just sit there.

 

[Leevy]

Working on getting the molasses into her a little at a time. Lots of gurgling happening. How long before something happens?

 

[Leevy]

Working on getting the molasses into her a little at a time. Lots of gurgling happening. How long before something happens?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It sounds like she may have a blockage.
Often there is an underlying condition like a reproductive issue that is causing the crop to not empty. Have you felt for an egg or can you tell if her abdomen is swollen or bloated?