First experience of sour crop

[Liam H]

Hi,

One of my hens, "Lulu", a red star / golden comet around 2 1/2 years old has developed sour crop. I only noticed this yesterday, because she was all puffed up and very lethargic when I went up to the run in the morning (normally they all come running down because daddy=food!). I put her symptoms into google, which led me here and I read about sour crop. I went to check her for this, and as soon as I picked her up, a load of liquid came out of her beak. It had a red/brown hue to it and came with a sickly sweet smell. her crop feels like a water ballon, but I can´t detect any sign of an impacted crop...is this normal? I can´t figure out what has caused the problem, as if there is a blockage somewhere, it needs fixed. She shows no signs of being egg bound and she will eat and drink a little.

I have started giving her clotramizole cream, as suggested in one of the articles. It was when I went to give her the second dose of this that I noticed her crop is starting to go purple. Is this a symptom of sour crop, or does it point to something else?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[GracePoultry]

separate her from the other chickens and give her some water but no food. You can try draining some of the liquid by gently pushing on her crop but it's very easy for some of the liquid to go into her long and her die. A vet could drain it but I know how rare/expensive poultry vets are. you may need to make her a chicken "bra" to help hold her crop up. I know it sounds weird but if you search it up on yt some results should pop up. Also Here is a natural remedy for sour crop that works great.

best of luck!

 

[Liam H]

separate her from the other chickens and give her some water but no food. You can try draining some of the liquid by gently pushing on her crop but it's very easy for some of the liquid to go into her long and her die. A vet could drain it but I know how rare/expensive poultry vets are. you may need to make her a chicken "bra" to help hold her crop up. I know it sounds weird but if you search it up on yt some results should pop up. Also Here is a natural remedy for sour crop that works great.

best of luck!

Thanks Ingrid,

I did drain some of the liquid by holding upside down and squeezing the crop, but limited it to short bursts (2 seconds) as suggested by one of the threads on here.

I know from other posts that sour crop can take a few days to sort out, but I am worried about the purple comb, as I´m told this is a sign of lack of oxygen. I´m concerned there may be something else going on...

 

[GracePoultry]

Thanks Ingrid,

I did drain some of the liquid by holding upside down and squeezing the crop, but limited it to short bursts (2 seconds) as suggested by one of the threads on here.

I know from other posts that sour crop can take a few days to sort out, but I am worried about the purple comb, as I´m told this is a sign of lack of oxygen. I´m concerned there may be something else going on...

ofc! Applying some VetRx on her beak and a bit in her mouth can help clear up her air-way. here's what is looks like

 

[Wyorp Rock]

One of my hens, "Lulu", a red star / golden comet around 2 1/2 years old has developed sour crop. I only noticed this yesterday, because she was all puffed up and very lethargic when I went up to the run in the morning

I have started giving her clotramizole cream, as suggested in one of the articles. It was when I went to give her the second dose of this that I noticed her crop is starting to go purple. Is this a symptom of sour crop, or does it point to something else?

When was her last egg?
Does she have any bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen below her vent between her legs?

I would not try to empty the crop, this can cause them to aspirate and die if not very careful.

Instead treat with the Clotrimazole, make sure to give it 2X a day for a full 7 days.

Do provide normal feed/water.

Her "Comb" is turning purple (not crop right?), this can indicate lack of oxygen or she may have aspirated, perhaps she has some fluid or...
VetRX is not going to remedy a purple comb, you need to address the symptom of the crop.

Often there's an underlying condition that is causing the hen to be lethargic and the system to slow down. Reproductive disorders, worms, infection, etc. are some common conditions that affect the overall health of the hen.



https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Liam H]

When was her last egg?
Does she have any bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen below her vent between her legs?

I would not try to empty the crop, this can cause them to aspirate and die if not very careful.

Instead treat with the Clotrimazole, make sure to give it 2X a day for a full 7 days.

Do provide normal feed/water.

Her "Comb" is turning purple (not crop right?), this can indicate lack of oxygen or she may have aspirated, perhaps she has some fluid or...
VetRX is not going to remedy a purple comb, you need to address the symptom of the crop.

Often there's an underlying condition that is causing the hen to be lethargic and the system to slow down. Reproductive disorders, worms, infection, etc. are some common conditions that affect the overall health of the hen.



https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Hi,

Thanks for the advice!

As far as I'm can tell, she hasn't laid an egg since this started (and maybe a couple of days before). I've checked the vent and abdomen, and all seems normal. Yes, definitely the comb is starting to go purple, but there is still some red there.

I'll keep going as you suggest. Thanks!

 

[Liam H]

ofc! Applying some VetRx on her beak and a bit in her mouth can help clear up her air-way. here's what is looks like
View attachment 3988109

Thanks!

 

[Liam H]

When was her last egg?
Does she have any bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen below her vent between her legs?

I would not try to empty the crop, this can cause them to aspirate and die if not very careful.

Instead treat with the Clotrimazole, make sure to give it 2X a day for a full 7 days.

Do provide normal feed/water.

Her "Comb" is turning purple (not crop right?), this can indicate lack of oxygen or she may have aspirated, perhaps she has some fluid or...
VetRX is not going to remedy a purple comb, you need to address the symptom of the crop.

Often there's an underlying condition that is causing the hen to be lethargic and the system to slow down. Reproductive disorders, worms, infection, etc. are some common conditions that affect the overall health of the hen.



https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

...just been up to check on her again. The comb is more purple and her wattle is going purple too. I´ve stared her on tetracyclin in case yhere´s an underlying infection. No sign of worms, and we always have a worm preventative in their water.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

...just been up to check on her again. The comb is more purple and her wattle is going purple too. I´ve stared her on tetracyclin in case yhere´s an underlying infection. No sign of worms, and we always have a worm preventative in their water.

What do you put in the water?

 

[Liam H]

This is the stuff we use:

https://www.amazon.es/FINCA-CASAREJ...fix=worm+preventative+chickens,aps,123&sr=8-4