My precious 15 week old buff orpington roo weak

[tjs22]

Update: he was extremely weak all day. I bought some monistat to try, but I knew chances were slim that he would make it, his comb got like a dark cherry color also, and he barely could walk or open his eyes. I mashed up the medicine with a touch a peas(baby food) and opened his beak and out a little bit in at a time.He was so weak he was basically lifeless. Went out for a few hours came back and he had passed away.
Is it normal for sour crop to kill so fast? I literally just noticed yesterday, and I am very observant of my birds. I'm wondering what the under lying problem may have been.

 

[tjs22]

I'm tempted to open him up and check his digestive track....anyone ever do this? I know how to process birds...it's really bugging me...curious if he ate some metal or something...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry for your loss.

I'm not sure if he could have died with a sour crop in 24-48hr. it may have been cause by another underlying disease that he may have been exposed to, that went unnoticed.
The only way for sure if to send him for necropsy to find out what was the cause of death.

http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm tempted to open him up and check his digestive track....anyone ever do this? I know how to process birds...it's really bugging me...curious if he ate some metal or something...

Yes, many people do.
I have never done it, but here are some links that may help you "how to"

http://vet.uga.edu/oldvpp/programs/afvet/attachments/how_to_necropsy_a_bird.pdf

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/focus/contents/ceva_necropsy.pdf

 

[casportpony]

I'm tempted to open him up and check his digestive track....anyone ever do this? I know how to process birds...it's really bugging me...curious if he ate some metal or something...

Sorry for your loss. I would open him up for sure.
[ATTACHMENT=675]Poultry-necropsy-Manual.pdf (1,860k. pdf file)[/ATTACHMENT]

 

[tjs22]

Didn't get to check him out like I wanted, but I did get into the crop, (easy quick access) had kid watching duty. Just fluid no impaction there. His comb did get that dark color yesterday, and got slightly darker today. I'm reading that signifies a possible impending death?
Oh well, it happens. He did a very slight odd shape to his body. More rounded than normal, noticed it since we got him at a day old. Maybe some kind of deformity that cause a malfunction of an organ.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Didn't get to check him out like I wanted, but I did get into the crop, (easy quick access) had kid watching duty. Just fluid no impaction there. His comb did get that dark color yesterday, and got slightly darker today. I'm reading that signifies a possible impending death?
Oh well, it happens. He did a very slight odd shape to his body. More rounded than normal, noticed it since we got him at a day old. Maybe some kind of deformity that cause a malfunction of an organ.

Interesting. Was the fluid in the crop rancid/sour at all?

@casportpony knows much more about these things, but if I'm not mistaken if the comb was darkening/bluish it could have been heart/liver problems(?)

 

[casportpony]

Quote: Crop stasis is often just another sign that the dying process has started. So many things it could have been, and without opening the abdominal cavity there is no way to even begin guessing, but I doubt that cause of death had anything to do with the crop, it rarely does.

-Kathy

 

[tjs22]

Thank you everyone for your replies. In the least I have learned much! And know that I have somewhere to go for help should I need it.

Ps. Yes his crop was sour, I emptied it earlier in the morning yesterday, sour milk smell and white. But I'm thinking that was a symptom and the dying process was well on its way. Going to learn as much as I can, so next time something like this happens I can preform a proper autopsy and actually know what I'm looking for.