Emergency Crop Problem- Help Needed ASAP!

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Hi everyone! This isn't a problem with one of my chickens, but a problem with the flock of someone I know. This person doesn't have BYC currently, so I am posting for her because she is in a dire situation.

So she has a flock of 4 chickens. 2 EEs (One hen, one rooster), 1 RIR, 1 Brahma. She is currently raising more babies to fix the rooster to hen ratio. They are about 8 months old. All hens are laying.

The problem is with one of the EEs. The EE (Rosa) has had problems with her crop for a few months now. It has been in a cycle of sour and impacted crop. Rosa has been to the vet multiple times to get her crop drained. The vet prescribed probiotics and ACV in the water which is what the owner did. The whole flock is still on the ACV/Probiotic water.

The problem is, the crop keeps getting sour. I suggested that there could be some sort of blockage preventing the crop from emptying even if the food was being ground up from grit. She said that the vet had checked for a blockage after they drained it, and couldn't find a blockage.

I went and visited the flock today to see if I could help. Rosa's crop is about the size of the baseball but feels like a balloon filled with water. While I was there, Rosa threw up. It had a foul stench and looked very gross- Light orange liquid with pieces of feed, seeds, mealworms, etc. I asked the owner if she gave her chickens grit. She told me that there was supposedly grit in the food, and no one else had ever had a problem. I told her to supply some extra grit just in case.

I also brought up the situation of pendoulous crop. The crop didn't seem out of place, but I have heard that this cycle can be caused from a pendoulous crop. Thoughts?

Thank you in advance for the help! Any thoughts on what could be wrong or how to treat is highly appreciated. Thanks again!

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

I'm going to tag a few people... Thanks for any future help!

@The Angry Hen @keesmom @Eggcessive @WVduckchick @Pyxis @lazy gardener

 

[The Angry Hen]

Hello,

I can try to help...

I have a hen with possible Pendoulous crop. Sadly, I am not quite sure of the cure. But she seems to be getting much better.
Hm... I might not be too helpful due to not knowing the cure exactly. But one thing that helped, is a tablespoon of Apple Cider vinegar (more often better with the added Mother) into their water daily (refresh the water daily too).

Sorry to hear your friend is having this issue with her hen. I sure hope you both find the right cure and hope my info helps the slightest bit.

-K

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Hello,

I can try to help...

I have a hen with possible Pendoulous crop. Sadly, I am not quite sure of the cure. But she seems to be getting much better.
Hm... I might not be too helpful due to not knowing the cure exactly. But one thing that helped, is a tablespoon of Apple Cider vinegar (more often better with the added Mother) into their water daily (refresh the water daily too).

Sorry to hear your friend is having this issue with her hen. I sure hope you both find the right cure and hope my info helps the slightest bit.
Thanks for responding! What do you mean when you said:
-K

That is definitely helpful! Thanks again! I will let you know on Rosa's progress!

 

[The Angry Hen]

That is definitely helpful! Thanks again! I will let you know on Rosa's progress!

No problem! Thank you, I am looking forward to hearing any further progress.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

No problem! Thank you, I am looking forward to hearing any further progress.

One question. What did you mean when you said:

more often better with the added Mother

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

One question. What did you mean when you said:

What is an added MOther? Am I missing something utterly obvious?

 

[The Angry Hen]

One question. What did you mean when you said:

Well there is apple cider vinegar, most likely store brand, that syas mother-less. The one (Braggs or Whitehous for example are a few brands) say "with added Mother" it's a bacteria that develops on certain liquids. Some companies remove it meanwhile the one I mentioned leaves the substance. (It's a healthier bacteria ).

Here is am image of the bottle to look for:

I hope this answers your question.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Well there is apple cider vinegar, most likely store brand, that syas mother-less. The one (Braggs or Whitehous for example are a few brands) say "with added Mother" it's a bacteria that develops on certain liquids. Some companies remove it meanwhile the one I mentioned leaves the substance. (It's a healthier bacteria ).

Here is am image of the bottle to look for:

I hope this answers your question.

Yes thanks!

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Some vinegar comes "with the mother". Braggs is a favorite around here.
I'm wondering if it's to much vinegar? Or could the vinegar be souring the yogurt if it's eaten the quickly followed by vinegar?
I've heard of a crop bra. Basically a sling to help keep the crop up and pulled back a little.

Those are my random ramblings on the problem. Maybe they will get some brainstorming going.