Enlarged craw…normal or a concern?

[PesterJay]

Update when you're able to check her breath?

Very sour. It seems like it’s only getting bigger. I couldn’t get a very good pic and hold her at the same time but here’s my best shot.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Very sour. It seems like it’s only getting bigger. I couldn’t get a very good pic and hold her at the same time but here’s my best shot.

Okay, I'll tag a few people who can help you with sour crop.

 

[MysteryChicken]

@Wyorp Rock
@azygous
@Eggcessive

 

[azygous]

Everything you need to know to treat your hen. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

About 4 weeks ago, my local feed store ran out of the chicken feed I had been using so I bought a different brand. It had the same protein content, etc. I didn’t realize I was supposed to change food slowly so I just loaded their feeders with the new feed. Well…long story short, three hens died.

Sorry for your losses, that's very uncommon to have several hens die just by changing to a different brand of feed. I've had to change feed brands/types on several occassions and never had any issues.
Did the 3 hens show any symptoms before they died?

I agree, treat her crop problem following the article as linked previously.

It’s also not normal for chickens to die due to a feed switch. Maybe the feed was moldy or expired?

I never introduce new feed slow, I put my birds on it right away, never had problems.


What feed did you use?

 

[PesterJay]

Sorry for your losses, that's very uncommon to have several hens die just by changing to a different brand of feed. I've had to change feed brands/types on several occassions and never had any issues.
Did the 3 hens show any symptoms before they died?

I agree, treat her crop problem following the article as linked previously.

One was sick for several days before she died but the others were perfectly fine one night and dead by the next morning. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with the sick hen. Her comb and waddles stayed healthy looking until her second to last day and she couldn’t even walk. The only thing I could link it to was the feed change.

 

[PesterJay]

Everything you need to know to treat your hen. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

I have one question concerning this quote from the article. “Following treatment for sour crop, offer plenty of plain fresh water and boiled egg to get the crop operating again. I like to also give a probiotic or Greek yogurt to restore good microbes in crop and intestines.” Kinda sounds like a dumb question but does it mean to just to give them eggs and Greek yogurt immediately after the treatment or as their only food during the entire treatment?

 

[azygous]

It's up to you and your patient what you offer and what they wish to eat. I'm adamant that some food be provided both during treatment and following the completion of treatment. Others have the notion that no food must be given, which I find to be counterproductive. I've never had a patient eat something that made their crop worse.

The crop patient will take what they need of whatever foods you offer, and probiotics and yogurt are good for the crop at any stage of treatment.

 

[PesterJay]

Is it normal for the hen to be acting sick after the first and second treatment for sour crop?

 

[azygous]

It would help if you were to describe her behavior in more detail. But, it may require two or three days of treatment before she starts acting more like her old self if her problems are limited to just her crop.

If, however, there is an underlying issue causing the crop issue, such as egg binding, then that must also be addressed or the crop issue will not get better no matter how many treatments she has.