Impacted Crop turned Sour?

[Kkakes414]

I’ve had my flock about 2 years and have never experienced an impacted or sour crop before. I noticed my Speckled Sussex Frittata was moving very slowly one day when I was putting everyone back in the coop. She was doing her own thing and felt her chest and realized it was rock hard… I separated her she’s in my garage in dog crate and since Friday 28NOV25 and I had tried a cinnamon water and other spices remedy with no luck as syringe feeding made me nervous. I would also massage it. Yesterday 1DEC25 it was still hard but I could tell it was getting smaller and I came across an old thread on here about feeding them a scrambled egg SATURATED in olive oil where people expressed much success. So I did it and then massaged her crop about 15 min later and I could feel it shrinking. Now today 2DEC25 it is smooshy I can still feel a grainy substance in it but it’s definitely very smooshy and full. Should I assume it’s now sour crop and treat with Miconazole? Just not sure what to do this process has been very slow cause idk what to do and only want to help her in a way I know I can help her without accidentally hurting her.

Also want to add she is eliminating waste if that helps.

 

[Eggcessive]

Are you checking the crop first thing in the morning, when it should be empty? Impacted crop takes time to advance into sour crop. Is there a bad or sour odor from her beak? How long has her crop not been emptying normally? Does she have granite poultry grit available to help her gizzard work? What do you feed? Usually if a crop is not emptying and hard we offer a little chilled coconut oil, cut into small pieces to peck. If the crop is becoming sour, and is full and puffy in early morning before she eats or drinks, then you can give her 1/2 inch of miconazole twice a day. Here is a good article to help you:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Kkakes414]

Are you checking the crop first thing in the morning, when it should be empty? Impacted crop takes time to advance into sour crop. Is there a bad or sour odor from her beak? How long has her crop not been emptying normally? Does she have granite poultry grit available to help her gizzard work? What do you feed? Usually if a crop is not emptying and hard we offer a little chilled coconut oil, cut into small pieces to peck. If the crop is becoming sour, and is full and puffy in early morning before she eats or drinks, then you can give her 1/2 inch of miconazole twice a day. Here is a good article to help you:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

I usually try to check it after taking care of my kiddos in the morning. She hasn’t eaten feed since Friday as everything I read said don’t let them eat as it will make it worse the most she’s eaten was the scrambled egg, she does have water available to her. I don’t have grit available but I let my girls out frequently enough to forage I didn’t believe it was necessary as it’s been 2 yrs with no issues. I can get some though. She does have a smell I’m not familiar with and it isn’t pleasant. And her crop hasn’t been emptying since Friday that I know of and it wasn’t until today that is was squishy. So maybe tomorrow will be a better tell if she’s empty in the morning? For the miconazole how do you administer it. Just rub it in their mouth or with they eat it on their own. Should I continue massaging? She just drank a bunch of water.

I will also read the article.

 

[Eggcessive]

You give the miconazole directly into the beak.
Crops should only be massaged if they are firm. If they are squishy, massaging the crop can push liquid back up into the throat, causing choking. I would offer her a little bit of chicken feed mixed with a lot of water to eat after you check her crop in the am.

 

[Kkakes414]

You give the miconazole directly into the beak.
Crops should only be massaged if they are firm. If they are squishy, massaging the crop can push liquid back up into the throat, causing choking. I would offer her a little bit of chicken feed mixed with a lot of water to eat after you check her crop in the am.

Sounds like a plan, thank you for your help! I will let ya know in the morning

 

[tlcmurphy]

I’m going through this now as well, I just put a line of Monistat on the tip of my finger, open her beak, and scrape it off onto her tongue. She actually seems to enjoy it

 

[Kkakes414]

Sounds like a plan, thank you for your help! I will let ya know in the morning

Okay, so this morning when I checked her, the crop was hard and full. As it was last night before I went to bed. I massaged her for about 5 min before bed hoping it would help and she seems about the same as then. I doesn’t seem overly full but it’s definitely not emptying. I guess my next move will be the try the chilled coconut oil. I am feeling very defeated right now, it’s gonna be going on week of this pretty soon and I just want her to be able to be with everybody else. I wish I had an outdoor hospital coop at least for her so she wasn’t stuck in the garage.

 

[Eggcessive]

After the coconut oil, continue to massage the crop a few times today. Offer some fluids. I would also let her out with her flock so she doesn’t get picked on when she goes back after too long a time.

 

[Kkakes414]

After the coconut oil, continue to massage the crop a few times today. Offer some fluids. I would also let her out with her flock so she doesn’t get picked on when she goes back after too long a time.

Will do thank you again!

 

[Kkakes414]

Will do thank you again!

Okay I have completed administering the coconut oil the best I could she wouldn’t peck at it so I have to place it in her mouth which obviously isn’t an easy task I massaged her crop and as I was doing it it still felt hard but not the normal hard I’m feeling. So now I’m wondering my inexperience has me thinking her clavicle (if I’m correct) is the hard spot. Cause her crop does feel small now but she also hasn’t eaten yet this morning since it still felt full this morning. Should I try feeding her a little feed with water?