Crop problem

[CarlisleCluck]

I have a female maran who is about 5 months old. I noticed yesterday that her crop is REALLY large. It feels like a balloon full of sand and liquid. It is NOT hard, but full and gritty feeling. I have massaged it, given her vegetable oil via syringe, massaged some more, given her a baking soda/water mixture via syringe, massaged some more and then tried to massage the crop upward toward her beak while holding her body and head downward. Yellow liquid with some feed comes up, but it isn't enough to make a difference. The crop was even larger in the morning. I tried the procedure again this morning, same results, with the added problem that I think some of the water/baking soda got in her lungs as she immediately started a gurgle sort of sneeze/cough, like she is trying to cough something up.

Also, while she eats she regurgitates a mucous-like fluid (about 1/2 tablespoon).

I have been feeding a mash of plain greek yogurt, plain applesauce and feed - which she loves. She is also eating plain feed - which is organic. She is in a coop with straw bedding. Yesterday they were also in the attached run that has a lot of straw on the ground.

I have read a lot about sour and impacted crop, and I am not sure that this is either. She eats, drinks and acts normally (as of now), but her body seems thin, and I am wondering if the food and nutrition isn't getting past the crop. So, what to do?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Eggcessive]

The straw can cause impaction if it is eaten. I've seen where it is not advised to turn them upside down when massaging the crop because of aspiration problems like you have just experienced. You seem to have done all the things I know of so far. There are some people who have attempted crop surgery, and their are some threads on here about it. Hopefully you will receive more helpful advice by just keeping up the posting about it. I haven't experienced this yet.

 

[CarlisleCluck]

Thanks. I found another idea to try, which I started this morning. Scrambled eggs (protein), vegetable or olive oil, and whole plain yogurt (for fighting bacteria). ACV in the water. We will see! The minimal amount of fluid in the lungs seems to have resolved itself.