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

[Lola1609]

You left us with a NO!
I wouldn't massage a crop that is full of liquid - did she poop overnight, what was that like?

Unable to tell which poop could be from during the night but once she had expelled liquid this morning (some harder, black bits came up also) she had a poop and it was made up of black firmer pieces and a more runny white. Since she has brought this liquid up she’s been much perkier. I’m just unsure what to do for the best now. No food or food? Start on Nystatin or not? Poor girl!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would treat for Sour Crop, if you have Nystatin, then use that.

Any idea what the black bits are?

 

[Lola1609]

I would treat for Sour Crop, if you have Nystatin, then use that.

Any idea what the black bits are?

No, unfortunately I couldn’t see them on the grass after she brought them up. They weren’t huge, maybe the size of grains of rice. I’ll go with nystatin but any tips on how to get them to open their beaks?! She closed her eyes and snoozed when I did it earlier must have liked being held and the beak massage with syringe lol!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No, unfortunately I couldn’t see them on the grass after she brought them up. They weren’t huge, maybe the size of grains of rice. I’ll go with nystatin but any tips on how to get them to open their beaks?! She closed her eyes and snoozed when I did it earlier must have liked being held and the beak massage with syringe lol!

Do you have Nystatin tablets or is it the powder?

I just pull down on the wattles to open the beak.

 

[Lola1609]

Do you have Nystatin tablets or is it the powder?

I just pull down on the wattles to open the beak.

I’ve got an oral liquid and a mini syringe thing I’ve ‘sterilised’ in boiled water.

I’ll try the wattles! I’m so scared to hurt her but needs must! Thanks so much

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’ve got an oral liquid and a mini syringe thing I’ve ‘sterilised’ in boiled water.

I’ll try the wattles! I’m so scared to hurt her but needs must! Thanks so much

They can be stubborn, so take it slow.
I'm right handed, so I like to stand my birds on a table (let them stand on their own), drape my left arm over them, pull them to my body. You can sort of "wedge" them in with the elbow. Then you have your left hand free to reach and pull wattles/control the head and use the right to administer medication.
If a bird has a full crop, something like reproductive problems or a condition that may make it harder for them to breath - then them standing on their own seems less stressful for them (and easier on my back too!)

OK so you are going to syringe the medication. I still usually give mine just a few drops at a time in the beak and let them take it in.
Another option is IF you have a small syringe (I see you have mini!) then you could open the beak and put the syringe in the esophegous. See the photos and video in the link below. It's not that hard to do, I've done it either way, but most of the time I give it by drops so I can watch how they swallow and I spend more time with them LOL

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...er-construction-check-back-for-updates.73335/

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hi, @Lola1609 I have not read the whole thread (I will) but I moticed in your OP you said you provided "oyster shell grit" and I wondered if you meant you provide both oyster shell and grit or just oyster shell. Thanks.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry to butt in, you're in good hands here.

 

[Lola1609]

Hi, @Lola1609 I have not read the whole thread (I will) but I moticed in your OP you said you provided "oyster shell grit" and I wondered if you meant you provide both oyster shell and grit or just oyster shell. Thanks.

Hi thanks for your message. I will double check when I go out but i think it’s a mixture of oyster shell and grit. I got it from an animal shop, they recommended for hens and ducks. Should it be both or just oyster shell? They have access to semi-free range (a large enclosure) and I assumed they’d pick up bits of grit/small stones/insects along the way too. Interestingly, I changed some of their feed recently as the usual supplier didn’t have any available. I’m wondering if that’s added towards this issue. Although I do definitely need to worm them as well. I’ve purchased Flubenvet and it’s delivery is imminent!

 

[Lola1609]

They can be stubborn, so take it slow.
I'm right handed, so I like to stand my birds on a table (let them stand on their own), drape my left arm over them, pull them to my body. You can sort of "wedge" them in with the elbow. Then you have your left hand free to reach and pull wattles/control the head and use the right to administer medication.
If a bird has a full crop, something like reproductive problems or a condition that may make it harder for them to breath - then them standing on their own seems less stressful for them (and easier on my back too!)

OK so you are going to syringe the medication. I still usually give mine just a few drops at a time in the beak and let them take it in.
Another option is IF you have a small syringe (I see you have mini!) then you could open the beak and put the syringe in the esophegous. See the photos and video in the link below. It's not that hard to do, I've done it either way, but most of the time I give it by drops so I can watch how they swallow and I spend more time with them LOL

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...er-construction-check-back-for-updates.73335/

Thank you so much, this really is invaluable advice!! I have got my partner to hold on to her and tried pulling the wattle. This did work but she didn’t like me for it! I’m going to try your method on my own and see if that provides more control over her neck and head movements... we’ve had a few moments of it missing it’s target!

The link you’ve sent me is fantastic. I’m worried that she would move so quick and I’m not confident or firm enough to try the syringe down her oesophagus but it looks the easiest method for ensuring she gets the full dose.

Love your positive spin on the drops in the beak though- I’ve loved spending some quality time and cuddles with her during all this!