Help; chick with possible sour crop

[claudiabostic]

I had one hen who had repeated problems with sour crop. She had no caution when it came to eating greens and would swallow huge pieces of leaves or long blades of grass where the other hens pecked them into pieces first. One thing that helped her was to separate her in a dog crate in the run and give her a little molasses dissolved in her drinking water. Or I would give her a little epsom salts in her drinking water. No feed for a day or so and that would usually do the trick. Then some yogurt and she'd be fine for some weeks.

 

[murphynhazel12]

I had one hen who had repeated problems with sour crop. She had no caution when it came to eating greens and would swallow huge pieces of leaves or long blades of grass where the other hens pecked them into pieces first. One thing that helped her was to separate her in a dog crate in the run and give her a little molasses dissolved in her drinking water. Or I would give her a little epsom salts in her drinking water. No feed for a day or so and that would usually do the trick. Then some yogurt and she'd be fine for some weeks.

Okay, thank you! I don't believe that's why my chick is acting off, we don't really have any long grasses or large greenery in their run, they ate it all a while ago.

 

[TwoCrows]

She is with other Silkies, so she doesn't really get bullied, she just gets to the food last. I will probably just let her be with them, but if she gets worse, I will separate her within the run with a cage. She is very adorable! This is kind of an old photo though. (She is even cuter now!)View attachment 2360054

Awww....she is adorable!! Just try the suggestions I left for you and see how she does in a few days. Watch the poop, it should get larger, drier and more frequent. Keep us posted!!

 

[murphynhazel12]

Awww....she is adorable!! Just try the suggestions I left for you and see how she does in a few days. Watch the poop, it should get larger, drier and more frequent. Keep us posted!!

Okay, I will! Thank you so so much again!

 

[murphynhazel12]

Awww....she is adorable!! Just try the suggestions I left for you and see how she does in a few days. Watch the poop, it should get larger, drier and more frequent. Keep us posted!!

Well, I just went out to check on her, and she keeps throwing up water. I'm nervous, is that normal?

 

[TwoCrows]

Well, I just went out to check on her, and she keeps throwing up water. I'm nervous, is that normal?

She's probably trying to drink and her crop is too full of water. It helps for her to vomit up all that gunk in her crop. If you want to hold her while standing, with one hand on her crop and very quickly lean her, beak forward to help empty her crop, she will feel better. But do NOT hold her there long, just a moment so she doesn't aspirate on the liquid. Don't do anything you are uncomfortable doing though.

 

[murphynhazel12]

She's probably trying to drink and her crop is too full of water. It helps for her to vomit up all that gunk in her crop. If you want to hold her while standing, with one hand on her crop and very quickly lean her, beak forward to help empty her crop, she will feel better. But do NOT hold her there long, just a moment so she doesn't aspirate on the liquid. Don't do anything you are uncomfortable doing though.

Okay, I will try that. I just want her to get better. I think she needs that because she keeps just drinking it. She does this thing where she looks like she's about to throw it up, then drinks it instead (I can tell she's drinking it because she does that swallowing thing.)

 

[claudiabostic]

Throwing up water is not normal. If her crop is very full you can help her empty it by holding her upright, press gently but firmly in and up and lower her head below the crop. Do this for just a moment at a time. She needs a chance to breathe. Once her crop is less full, I would put her in a crate without any food or water for half an hour to an hour. Then offer some water with either epsom salts or molasses to help get her system moving again.

 

[murphynhazel12]

She's probably trying to drink and her crop is too full of water. It helps for her to vomit up all that gunk in her crop. If you want to hold her while standing, with one hand on her crop and very quickly lean her, beak forward to help empty her crop, she will feel better. But do NOT hold her there long, just a moment so she doesn't aspirate on the liquid. Don't do anything you are uncomfortable doing though.

Ok, I will do it tomorrow morning, if there is still a lot of fluid in her crop. It will also give me a chance to see if her crop is moving any faster now.

 

[TwoCrows]

Ok, I will do it tomorrow morning, if there is still a lot of fluid in her crop. It will also give me a chance to see if her crop is moving any faster now.

Definitely let us know how she is tomorrow!