Hen with Sour Crop, But Not Responding To Treatment

[Chapmangc1]

Hello everyone!

I have a hen who is 4 years old. Over the past year, she has had spouts of not feeling well, but once I softened my flock's feed with water, she would eat it and be totally normal the next day, and continue to be normal. I think because I don't free range, and only let them out to roam for an hour a couple times a week, she eats something that her system can't handle and then she doesn't feel well, but once she eats her normal food, it gets the stomach upset out of her system. I had another hen of the same breed who had this same issue.

So, three days ago (Friday), I noticed that she was acting a bit off. I checked her crop in the afternoon, because I did lose a hen to sour crop (that developed while I was on 5 week vacation and wasn't treated in enough time to help her recover), and it mostly empty. I massaged it a little bit and then I made up some mash (chicken feed soaked with water) and gave it to them, which she immediately started eating. Then on Saturday, when I checked on her she was still lethargic and when I felt her crop, it was a large water ballon. I separated her from the others and started her on a fast and only gave her water that she had access to all the time. On Sunday morning, her crop had emptied by about half, however when I checked her after church, her crop had grown again. At this point, I also started syringe feeding her diluted apple cider vinegar. I fasted her until this afternoon, when I did give her a little bit of scrambled egg because I she is starting to weaken a little bit. I also started her on diluted Epsom salt water given by a syringe. At this point, I don't know what to do next because the fasting didn't decrease her crop and I need to get it under control before it saps her energy. Her poop is just liquid at this point and she did spit up a little bit of liquid from her crop and it appeared to be clear.

Any and all advice would be appreciated! I do not have access to a poultry vet, so I am on my own. My next step is to try Clotrimazole unless anyone has any other ideas. Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

4 years old. Over the past year, she has had spouts of not feeling well, but once I softened my flock's feed with water, she would eat it and be totally normal the next day, and continue to be normal.

I checked her crop in the afternoon

I made up some mash (chicken feed soaked with water) and gave it to them, which she immediately started eating. Then on Saturday, when I checked on her she was still lethargic and when I felt her crop, it was a large water ballon. I separated her from the others and started her on a fast and only gave her water that she had access to all the time. On Sunday morning, her crop had emptied by about half, however when I checked her after church, her crop had grown again.

I also started syringe feeding her diluted apple cider vinegar. I fasted her until this afternoon, when I did give her a little bit of scrambled egg because I she is starting to weaken a little bit. I also started her on diluted Epsom salt water given by a syringe.

I would provide her with her normal feed and water, let her eat if she's willing to do so.

When was her last egg?
What's her poop like?
Does she have access to Grit (Crushed Granite)?
When was she dewormed?

Is she being picked on by the flock? Is she too weak or sick to be with the flock? If she's able to be with the flock and manage o.k., I'd put her with her friends, then just pull her out a couple of times a day for treatment.

A fluid filled crop is probably Sour Crop. Treatment is with an anti-fungal/yeast medication. Miconazole is commonly used or you can use Clotrimazole or Nystatin. Details on treating the crop are in the article below.

Do keep in mind that often a crop problem is a Symptom of an underlying condition like reproductive disorders, infection, worms, coccidiosis, etc. With her having bouts of not feeling well for a year or so, she may have something else going on.

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

 

[Chapmangc1]

I would provide her with her normal feed and water, let her eat if she's willing to do so.

When was her last egg?
What's her poop like?
Does she have access to Grit (Crushed Granite)?
When was she dewormed?

Is she being picked on by the flock? Is she too weak or sick to be with the flock? If she's able to be with the flock and manage o.k., I'd put her with her friends, then just pull her out a couple of times a day for treatment.

A fluid filled crop is probably Sour Crop. Treatment is with an anti-fungal/yeast medication. Miconazole is commonly used or you can use Clotrimazole or Nystatin. Details on treating the crop are in the article below.

Do keep in mind that often a crop problem is a Symptom of an underlying condition like reproductive disorders, infection, worms, coccidiosis, etc. With her having bouts of not feeling well for a year or so, she may have something else going on.

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

I am not exactly sure when her last egg was, however I do know that of my flock, she has been the least consistent over the past year. Her poop is just liquid, no solid form to it at all. She has access to a little bit of grit, however I will make sure to add more grit to their feed. I have been using ACV in their water, however that is the only type of deworming I have done. I had been adding 2 TBS of ACV to my 5-gallon waterer each week, but the past two weeks before she developed this issue, I had not put any in, hence why I think partially this problem started.

She is still in the run with the other hens, I just put up a wire barrier up so the others couldn't pick on her.

Her crop was greatly reduced today with only a little bit of fluid in it, but she is still lethargic and off.

I am thinking I have a worms problem because she has also lost weight over the year and I have been trying to figure out why she wouldn't put it back on. I have checked her poop over the past year, but no worms were present, hence why I didn't think about worms.

As a natural dewormer, I am planning on adding some garlic, cucumber seeds, and DE to their food for the next few days. Is there anything else you would recommend?

Thank you so much again for all your help!