Possible sour crop

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Still working on it! I dosed her with paraffin on Saturday. Today her crop is slightly smaller, but still not fully empty, and that damned straw is still in there! It's not a ball any more, which is something, and she's still bright with an appetite and doesn't smell like she did. Gassy, though. If it doesn't clear by tonight I'll dose her again.

I've been giving her small meals of layers pellets soaked in water with ACV and probiotic in it as she's not drinking much. She was feeling lousy yesterday so didn't eat all of it but she'd had a peck at a few oats this morning so I'll try again - she has eaten the other meals right down so I'm assuming that was down to the paraffin.

Sounds like you are doing everything right! If I would critique anything, it would be the probiotics. Those are usually only used when chickens are weak/stressed. I think that in this case, probiotics would do more harm than good.

 

[nikirushka]

Still not winning. I've taken the step of vomiting her today as she just wasn't emptying and the straw hasn't shifted. It's starting to come together again too. Two lots of paraffin haven't helped and she's not taken it in any grit either.

So, I've emptied her, and given her a little bowl of the mash (without probiotic, still with ACV, with a small pile of bread pieces, each one squished around a few pieces of oyster shell and grit which she's eaten with gusto! Hopefully that will start shredding the straw, helped by not having a big crop full of liquid to waft about in. She's still bright and happy in herself and hasn't lost too much weight, thankfully.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Still not winning. I've taken the step of vomiting her today as she just wasn't emptying and the straw hasn't shifted. It's starting to come together again too. Two lots of paraffin haven't helped and she's not taken it in any grit either.

So, I've emptied her, and given her a little bowl of the mash (without probiotic, still with ACV, with a small pile of bread pieces, each one squished around a few pieces of oyster shell and grit which she's eaten with gusto! Hopefully that will start shredding the straw, helped by not having a big crop full of liquid to waft about in. She's still bright and happy in herself and hasn't lost too much weight, thankfully.

Hopefully she handled the vomiting well. I wouldn't suggest doing this often. Sorry for responding so late, I've been disconnected for the past few days. I would not add ACV to the mash, as it is not getting diluted the same as if it was added to the water. If she still isn't improving, my only other idea would to take her to a vet. They would be able to remove the blockage. Good luck!

-Chatty

 

[nikirushka]

It's not something I like doing, very risky. But she hadn't been emptying for a little while and I didn't want her to go full sour crop if possible - plus taking all that fluid out got everything closer together so hopefully the grit can do its job better/faster.

The ACV is still diluted - I've got a jug in the fridge with water with 20ml/L ACV. vets unfortunately isn't an option as I just can't afford it right now - self employed, work very slow at the minute - so I've just got to keep on hoping! She's had some more grit-bread today and has wolfed that down, so hopefully that will be grinding up that straw nicely.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

It's not something I like doing, very risky. But she hadn't been emptying for a little while and I didn't want her to go full sour crop if possible - plus taking all that fluid out got everything closer together so hopefully the grit can do its job better/faster.

The ACV is still diluted - I've got a jug in the fridge with water with 20ml/L ACV. vets unfortunately isn't an option as I just can't afford it right now - self employed, work very slow at the minute - so I've just got to keep on hoping! She's had some more grit-bread today and has wolfed that down, so hopefully that will be grinding up that straw nicely.

Sounds like you are doing everything right. My chickens don't have access to straw, so when we did have a run in with sour crop, it wasn't too difficult to clear it up. I'm sorry I could not be of more help, but I will "call" some other members to see what they can do. Keep us updated!
@Wyorp Rock @sourland @casportpony @WVduckchick @Ridgerunner

 

[StacyWilliams950]

Prayers for Prannett

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Prayers for Prannett

I believe Prannett is better now, and that was just another member telling a story. The OP of this thread is dealing with a different problem.

 

[nikirushka]

No, the names got mixed up - Prannet is indeed my girl Thank you Stacy!

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

No, the names got mixed up - Prannet is indeed my girl Thank you Stacey!

Ah well that's great! I hadn't seen a name in your first post, so I just assumed that the other poster was referring to her hen! Sorry for the mixup!

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Ah I see now. Mixed the names up, my bad!