Crop Squishy

[Wyorp Rock]

Friends, here we are again. Pearl has started to have crop issues again. I have treated this 3 times and it clears for a week or so. Then starts up again. I fear there is something major wrong. However, I did worm her once with the goat wormer and forgot to repeat. That might be a last ditch effort to try again before culling her??

I'm sorry Pearl is in decline again.

You can try deworming to see if it helps. Sometimes a crop problem can be chronic and due to underlying conditions.

Have you tried giving an Epsom Salts flush to see if that makes a difference?

To give an Epsom Salts Flush read post #2, post#10 of this thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/miconazole-dosing-question.1617350/

 

[charlotteda]

Thank you I will read up on that. I’m trying the 5 day safeguard treatment now. She seems to feel pretty good - just noticeable crop enlargement.

 

[charlotteda]

@Wyorp Rock if the worms were the problem. how many days would you expect it to take to see results? She feels fairly marvelous. I’m just noticing that she’s not quite herself and she has an enlarged crop that’s rather squishy. She is eating and foraging. I’m on day three of the wormer.

 

[charlotteda]

This afternoon she is okay but not at her peak. Makes weird head movements like trying to swallow. You know her comb is not pale…which has me rethinking the worms. I’m too timid to tune her. What about the 1/2 tsp of epsom salts in 1/2 cup water given orally 2 times a day?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@Wyorp Rock if the worms were the problem. how many days would you expect it to take to see results? She feels fairly marvelous. I’m just noticing that she’s not quite herself and she has an enlarged crop that’s rather squishy. She is eating and foraging. I’m on day three of the wormer.

This afternoon she is okay but not at her peak. Makes weird head movements like trying to swallow. You know her comb is not pale…which has me rethinking the worms. I’m too timid to tune her. What about the 1/2 tsp of epsom salts in 1/2 cup water given orally 2 times a day?

Usually, should see improvement by the end of treatment if worms are a problem.

The head movement may be adjusting the crop. You've looked inside the beak for Canker, plaques/lesions right?

Epsom Salts flush can help with Sour Crop or impaction.

It may be she has something else going on that is causing the crop symptoms.

 

[charlotteda]

Yes her mouth looks clear.

 

[charlotteda]

She did make a poop yesterday. I didn’t see it happen but my husband saw her do the potty squat. I didn’t see any worms .

 

[LLvida]

How did this turn out for you? Dealing with crop issues and read your journey. I have never seen signs of worms but am thinking of trying that route

 

[charlotteda]

I want to give everyone an update on this thread about Pearl. We are battling sour crop again for the last 2 weeks with her slowly declining more and more.

I had previously tried to monistat route (with yogurt etc) which improved the situation but did not clear it completely. She would relapse a few weeks later.

This time - I decided I had to do something different. I had some LA200 on hand - so just in case it was bacterial - I gave her a shot. But, I still felt that the problem was likely fungal.

Thanks to some wonderful advice on this forum I wanted to try nystatin - which I could NOT find anywhere local. Luckily, a nearby homesteader (Missy at Mountain Valley Farm - Pickens SC) said she had some that I could borrow.

She also suggested the ACV water (which I have done before) and she brought me a big handful of fresh herbs from her garden to sprinkle on her food. This was Thursday evening.

She said to cage her (in the coop) with fresh ACV water and no layer food. Treat with the nystatin 2 x a day and feed her soft foods like fried egg.

I did so- frying her an egg in coconut oil, added small pieces of the rosemary, oregano and thyme she gave me - with a sprinkle of "rooster booster" on top for good measure.

Friday - she felt poorly - I had her outside for a minute - I figured this was the end. But I continued the regime.

Saturday morning - she felt so much better she was jumping around wanting out of her cage. I continued the regime and let her out to free range with supervision for a few minutes.

Today (Sunday) she feels marvelous. She has had 6 doses of nystatin and no regular feed. Her crop is not squishy.

Tomorrow morning will complete 8 doses (4 days) of nystatin. When can I start her back on her laying pellets (even wetted?).

I know this problem may come back but I want to make sure I've given her the best chance to kick it out this time.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad to hear she's improving!

I'd slowly reintroduce her normal feed if she's been off of it for a while. Maybe give a little as a wet mash along with the egg that you have been feeding her and see how she does.