*Expelling Sour crop advice needed

[Nksg75]

last night I noticed one of my hens having A hard time jumping onto her roost. I decided to help her and noticed that her crop was enormous. I started touching it and felt that it was huge and squishy like full of water. Since it was almost dark at that point I put her on the roost. I'm getting ready to go check her again. I have read all about sour-crop, impacted crop and so forth.
My question is since it apparently is dangerous to try to make her vomit has anyone ever tried sucking the liquid out with the tube?
I have the supplies available to tube feed a chicken but can it be used in reverse to suck out the liquid from sour crop? With this be less dangerous than trying to induce vomiting?
If anyone has any experience with this please let me know.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Just make sure you are dealing with sour crop before you start doing things----some chickens---like humans just over do it. I have been raising chickens for over 50 years---most all the time I have around 100, some times 1000 and more and any where in between. I have yet to have a chicken with sour crop or if it had it I did not know it and it corrected its self, But I do 'Hear' it Can happen.

 

[Nksg75]

I agree. I will definitely make sure before I do anything. I am leaning towards sour crop because I stupidly gave the girls too much bread and corn Cobb for the last few nights.
Last night when I had her in hand I thought I smelled something foul, however it could have been me!
Her crop was hanging down significantly.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I agree. I will definitely make sure before I do anything. I am leaning towards sour crop because I stupidly gave the girls too much bread and corn Cobb for the last few nights.
Last night when I had her in hand I thought I smelled something foul, however it could have been me!
Her crop was hanging down significantly.

Hope she looks better this morning. And "IF" you think it Might Be You smelling Foul----a shower might help!!! LOL

 

[Nksg75]

Ok, I checked on her, and the crop seems to have gotten a bit smaller. I say bit. I did notice it was smaller, however it still feels like it has liquid in it. I tried smelling her breath, however she wasn't cooperating.
She has lost weight, so I need to take action. Any suggestions?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would place her in a crate or cage with only water--add electrolytes if you have some. Later if it has emptied some, add some raw egg and a tsp of plain yogurt and mix well. Try to massage her crop, but be a little careful, since that can cause vomiting and possible choking if there is liquid in the crop. I never had impacted or sour crop either for 5 years, but last year had 2 within a few days. Grasses, straw, eating things they shouldn't can get stuck and rot, causing infection. If they are big eaters, they can stretch out the crop where it won't empty fully. Most crop problem info is from other's experience. Read different links, and decide what is best. If you have a vet experienced with it, take the chicken in. Do not attempt to vomit a chicken unless you do it right, and even then it can cause choking to death. But many things affect crop functioning, and limiting whole grains, providing granite grit for free choice, and checking the crop for emptying overnight in a sick chicken is what I would do. Here are the articles to read:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...d-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments.67194/
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/answers-from-chicken-vet-on-impacted.html
https://www.purposefullysimple.com/how-to-treat-impacted-crop-sour-crop-and-pendulous-crop/
https://www.tillysnest.com/2012/01/crop-issues-html/

 

[Nksg75]

Ok, thank you. I put her in a crate inside the pen. I free range everyday during the summer, so it's probably a mix of me feeding too much starchy treats and who knows what they eat when they are out and about.
My one concern is that many of these sites suggest getting the liquid out.
Yes, I know making her vomit is very dangerous, and I am not going to do that, however I do have expierence tube feeding, and know exactly where the tube goes. Would it be advisable to pull the liquid out via small catheter?
Or is the stuff in there going to be too chunky to extract?
Am I jumping the gun, and just need to wait and see how she tomorrow?

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes removing crop contents with a large feeding tube would be much safer than vomiting her. Water with electrolytes would be good to give after removing the fluid. Just see how it goes. I attempted to empty a crop in one with impacted crop, but my hen died the next day because she may have been sick too long. Casportpony has a lot of experience with tubing and crop problems. Usually you can PM her with questions, or look up some of her threads or posts. Antifungal medications such as Nystatin or Fluconazole may be helpful if it is a fungal infection. Some also claim that using 1/3 of a Monistat suppository twice a day may help. I have no experience there. You can get Nystatin from a vet or online at FirstStateVetSupply.

 

[Nksg75]

Thank you for all your help Eggcessive! I am sorry you lost your hen! I get very attached to my girls, and often find myself going overboard with treatments to help them.
For instance I had a hen with Mareks that I just couldn't bear to let go. I kept her in the house for three weeks tube feeding her after she got really bad. I kept reading about different magical cures(I knew in my gut that it wouldn't work) however if I didn't try it, then I would always wonder.
Anyway after all that I knew she was miserable,and the time came that I had to let her go.
It is never easy that's for sure!!