Help! Slow crop/sour crop or something else?!

[Lola1609]

Hi all,

sorry if there are already posts about this elsewhere but I’ve spent the last 4 hours researching and am finding mixed answers. Here’s what’s happened so far to my lovely Henny:

2 days ago my OH noticed she was quiet, hunched up and wanting to be near him when we let her and her sisters (2ducks) out to roam our paddock. She went to bed fine that night.

Yesterday, I noticed her hunched up and facing the wall of their large enclosure. I went to pick her up (she enjoys this!) and liquid poured from her mouth. After much research I messaged her crop (it was soft and liquid-y) and without even tipping her, fluid came out, although it was not smelly at all. Her crop then flattened. We immediately created a little area in our utility for her with water, oyster shell grit and some of her usual food. She also ate scrambled egg with gusto.

This morning her crop was empty and I was so relieved! She seemed much perkier than the day before, although her comb is still limp and flaccid. She has had access to fresh water and has been pecking at her food and has had some warm porridge too. She is quieter than usual (she would normally be escaping and exploring the utility) and is happy to be sat in her drawer filled with bedding. She is pooping, it is white with black lumps or sometimes just watery but white looking.

She is my first hen and we rescued her and her sisters although they’ve all been hand-reared by previous owner. I have no idea what to do next. She seems happy to stay inside which is unlike her. She hasn’t laid an egg now for near on a week and she is a routine layer.

I’ve read that this full crop can be a secondary symptom of something more serious but I can’t see signs of what (or what to look for!). I have bought some worming treatment online as they’ve not yet been wormed while in my care.

Any advice or help would be most welcome. Thanks in advanve

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Photos of your hen and her poop may be helpful.
Can you feel inside her vent for an egg?
With her hunching up, I would suspect that she may be having trouble passing an egg or is having some reproductive issues.

 

[Lola1609]

Photos of your hen and her poop may be helpful.
Can you feel inside her vent for an egg?
With her hunching up, I would suspect that she may be having trouble passing an egg or is having some reproductive issues.

Thanks so much for your reply. I’ve just felt inside her vent, about an inch or so and can feel nothing at all in there.
When I said hunched over, it’s not that she is squatting it’s more like her feathers are fluffed up? I’ve taken some pictures so thanks for taking the time to reply and look at these.

I left her with some food out last night and this morning her crop is maybe half full but not liquid, more like dough. I’ve messaged it and she burped a bit but no liquid. I let her out on the patio and she had a scrape around but I’ve brought her back in with just clean water. Not sure whether to let her back with her sisters or keep her inside?

In the pics, her tail feathers are down and that’s how I find her when I go in. When I’d checked for an egg and popped her back in, she was perched and looks perkier in that pic (probs thinking wtf have you done to me! Lol!)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I left her with some food out last night and this morning her crop is maybe half full but not liquid, more like dough. I’ve messaged it and she burped a bit but no liquid.

I would re-check the crop first thing in the morning. If she had food overnight, she may have been eating(?) so take out food overnight.

A doughy crop, I would give her some coconut oil, massage the crop well and let her have plenty of water and a bit of wet mushy food.
It's up to you whether to let her with her sisters - I usually don't isolate a bird since they seem more depressed if removed. It can take longer for a crop issue to resolve if you don't though since you can't always control what they eat if they range around the yard.

You may find the 2 articles below helpful as well.

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

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

 

[TwoCrows]

So sorry about your hen!

Do you know if she has been wormed lately? Worms can definitely slow down a crop and entire digestive tract. Worming them never hurts and it rules this common issue out.

Are her butt feathers stained with a lot of urates?

Can you need the crop like bread dough and does the dough get bigger by drinking and not eating? Or is it just hard like a tennis ball? Is there any grass in the poop at all?

 

[Lola1609]

I would re-check the crop first thing in the morning. If she had food overnight, she may have been eating(?) so take out food overnight.

A doughy crop, I would give her some coconut oil, massage the crop well and let her have plenty of water and a bit of wet mushy food.
It's up to you whether to let her with her sisters - I usually don't isolate a bird since they seem more depressed if removed. It can take longer for a crop issue to resolve if you don't though since you can't always control what they eat if they range around the yard.

You may find the 2 articles below helpful as well.

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

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

I removed all food this morning and about an hour ago I massaged her crop although, miraculously, it was flat and felt so much better.

I have then just gone to check she has water and found this in her bowl. I’m not sure if she has brought this up or if it’s come from her other end but she seems perkier in herself! I’m going to keep an eye on her crop and check first thing in the morning after giving her some scrambled egg for supper. I’d love to let her back with her sisters tomorrow as I agree, they can become depressed and I think they’re likely missing each other.

thanks so much for all your help. I’ll keep posting progress or changes!

 

[Lola1609]

So sorry about your hen!

Do you know if she has been wormed lately? Worms can definitely slow down a crop and entire digestive tract. Worming them never hurts and it rules this common issue out.

Are her butt feathers stained with a lot of urates?

Can you need the crop like bread dough and does the dough get bigger by drinking and not eating? Or is it just hard like a tennis ball? Is there any grass in the poop at all?

Thanks for taking the time to reply about my hen! Unfortunately, they’ve not been worked since I’ve had her, although I’m expecting a delivery of wormer this week coming. I’ve also ordered some better disinfectant for their coop (Their previous owner said to rinse the coop every month or so with just water but I’m trying a non-toxic cleaner to rid of mites!).

I’ve noticed some poop around her feathers but as she lives with ducks, she doesn’t always roost on her perch, they huddle up together, and I wondered if this might mean her droppings don’t fall... I’ve seen no grass in her poop since she has been poorly, it’s more white and black.

Earlier, I massaged her crop even though it felt empty and flat compared to this morning. I’ve then checked her water and found this inside (see attachment) so I’m wondering if it’s worked it’s way up. Either that, or she’s pooped in her water lol.

Thanks for taking time to reply. It’s scary when they’re much loved pets but complex as they’re outdoor animals!

 

[TwoCrows]

That looks like it came from the "other" end.

You can keep her with the others as long as they are not free ranging (she should only be eating her chicken crumbles, not hard seeds, grass or foliage,) and she isn't so sick she needs heat.

She would benefit with plain yogurt or probiotics in her water. Do not withhold feed, she needs to eat. You can dampen the feed to help it digest quicker.

And I would still consider worming her.

 

[Lola1609]

Wormed that was meant to say!

 

[TwoCrows]

Wormed that was meant to say!

Spell check is brutal.