I'm pretty sure my hen has sour crop, need advice

[TwoCrows]

Ah, that makes much more sense. So probiotics not the yogurt itself. Excellent advise - thank you!

Keep me posted on her condition! If you need more help, you know where I am at.

 

[sagechickens]

OK - this am her crop went down almost 1/2 from last night. More of a firmer, squish ball feeling. She ate all her soft food today and it's all bloated again. She will not "burp" up anything since yesterday. She seems more alert than yesterday though. Took the soft food away for the evening and just giving her organic apple cider vinegar in the water. Anything I'm missing?

 

[TwoCrows]

OK - this am her crop went down almost 1/2 from last night. More of a firmer, squish ball feeling. She ate all her soft food today and it's all bloated again. She will not "burp" up anything since yesterday. She seems more alert than yesterday though. Took the soft food away for the evening and just giving her organic apple cider vinegar in the water. Anything I'm missing?

You can't judge a crop during the day as they can feel funky all day long. The only time you can really make a good judgement is in the morning. All birds go to roost with a full crop. So let her do so as well. It is whether or not the crop can empty during the night.

So check on the crop first thing in the morning before she has had anything to eat or drink. So take away all food and water at roosting time if she has access to it before you get there in the morning. If it is bloated, vomit as much as you can get out of her. Only hold her in the vomit position for 2 or 3 seconds max so you don't aspirate her. Give her a short break and vomit her again.

Keep her on wet damp feed tomorrow. Sour crops can take a week to heal over so if her breath still smells ok by tomorrow morning, she is probably on track for quicker healing. Keep up this program until she can go 2 mornings with nothing in her crop. She can then go back to her regular routine of diet, free ranging, etc...

 

[sagechickens]

OK - my girl is all better. Thank you again for the advise. Such a blessing!

 

[sbrooks88]

Just

I have also since learned that you do not want to use oil for impacted crop cases. Water water and more water!!

Just wanted to comment that I LOVE your profile pic! I have one hen who looks exactly like that nobody likes her but me because they say she looks like a crow. I think she's beautiful. Her feathers have a shiny green tint in the light.

 

[TwoCrows]

Just
Quote: Thanks! I love chickens that look like Crows!

She is a young Black Australorp named Tillie, She was about 2 months old or so there. She is 3 years old now and STILL a ham for the camera. LOL Love my Aussies! If you like chickens that look like crows, you need Sumatra's! WOW they really look like Crows, at least the hens do. Roo's not so much. Sumatra's are next on my list of Must Haves!