If the crop is squishy it probably crop stasis, not crop binding. The hard part is finding out what the cause is as most crop problems are secondary to something else like worms, bacterial infection, fungal infection, disease, any type of obstruction between the crop and the vent. Is she pooping? If so, what does it look like?
-Kathy
While the bit I bolded is true, (well all of this post is true, I'm just referring to an exception here is all) --- I'd just like to offer a bit more info... The reason I suggested it might be crop binding despite the typical sourcrop appearance.
This place I've moved to has some kind of environmentally widespread crop stasis in all the wild birds. It's transient and resolves within usually 24 hours, sometimes a few days, without intervention.
My chickens caught it after coming here. The ones affected have squishy crops, full of fluids, but when I carefully feel around at the entrance where the crop opens into the chest, I always find something hardened and mobile that was plugging the hole.
It's not sourcrop, but certainly presents as it, according to the examination rule of thumb.
Once I shift that lump, the fluid accumulation subsides and the crop stasis runs its course, and so far all have recovered without any further intervention. One hen actually did have typical crop binding, but she arrived in a state, multiple problems.
ETA: just wanted to clarify, it's technically crop binding, yet technically isn't, because the lump that is blocking them up is only a problem because they're in stasis; it's no larger than, nor different to, the normal foodstuffs that pass through that orifice all the time, the only real problem is that their peristalsis is temporarily paralyzed. Hope this clarifies.
Best wishes.
Thank you for the information.Chook4Life
Sorry I wasn't more specific, but you're welcome anyway. Seems to me that there are a lot of ways to treat this disease.
Kathy here is probably one of the people with sufficient experience with it to help you treat it. I've not had true sour crop and it's more complicated to treat by far than crop binding is.
Best wishes.
