Possible sour crop?

[Mercyr79]

Hi. I have read the sour crop posts and article links. I need some help determining if it is sour crop or something else. My 7 year old hen is not doing well. She started by what we thought of being broody 3 weeks ago. Then she stopped laying. In the beginning of this week she was pooping water and behaving differently. Yesterday liquid came out of her mouth, she was slow and waddling. She would try to eat but it’s like she couldn’t coordinate the food and would peck the ground. She also would shake her whole body off a lot like they do after dust bathing. Her crop was full of liquid before bedtime. This morning her crop is empty but she looks weak and her comb is losing color. Do I isolate? Remove food? Give monistat? Give coconut oil? Some say massage and others say she could aspirate…. I really don’t know which way to go. Can it be old age? Any advise would be helpful Thank you so much.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

@Eggcessive

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She started by what we thought of being broody 3 weeks ago. Then she stopped laying. In the beginning of this week she was pooping water and behaving differently. Yesterday liquid came out of her mouth, she was slow and waddling. She would try to eat but it’s like she couldn’t coordinate the food and would peck the ground. She also would shake her whole body off a lot like they do after dust bathing. Her crop was full of liquid before bedtime. This morning her crop is empty but she looks weak and her comb is losing color.

Do you have photos of her and her poop?

I'd check her over for lice and mites.

When was her last egg? She may be having some production difficulties. I'd consider giving her extra Calcium for several days. Give 300mg Calcium Citrate+D3 once daily, pull down on her wattles, pop the pill into the beak and let her swallow.

Re-check the crop for several days to see if it's emptying overnight. If it's empty in the mornings, generally there is not a crop problem. Water coming back up could be because she drank a lot and it just came out.

Has she been dewormed?

I'd focus on her drinking well, give her a bit of sugar water or electrolytes to see if she perks up a bit. If it's been hot weather she may be dehydrated. Offer wet mushy feed.

If she's not getting picked on by the flock, you can leave her where she's most comfortable. Don't withhold food or water during waking hours.

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

 

[Mercyr79]

Thank you. She bounced back after a couple of days!

 

[CCsGarden]

I have some treatments I use for sour crop. I can post them if you'd like?

 

[Mercyr79]

I have some treatments I use for sour crop. I can post them if you'd like?

Yes please! It’s always good to have remedies

 

[MagicL]

I have some treatments I use for sour crop. I can post them if you'd like?

I have some treatments I use for sour crop. I can post them if you'd like?

I have some treatments I use for sour crop. I can post them if you'd like?

Yes please! It’s always good to have remedies

I have some treatments I use for sour crop. I can post them if you'd like?

 

[MagicL]

I have some treatments I use for sour crop. I can post them if you'd like?

I have some treatments I use for sour crop. I can post them if you'd like?

Yes please! It’s always good to have remedies

I have some treatments I use for sour crop. I can post them if you'd like?

 

[MagicL]

Absolutely. I have a girl with it now and I’d appreciate any suggestions.

 

[CCsGarden]

Yes please! It’s always good to have remedies

Absolutely. I have a girl with it now and I’d appreciate any suggestions.

Here it is:

I gave my hen homemade electrolytes 10ml every other hour followed by 10ml epsom salt water every other hour. Before I gave her the electrolytes or epsom salt water, I made her vomit a little each time by tipping her ( not fully upside down) but just a little keeping her neck towards the ground and messaging the food up so it comes out. Hope that makes sense .

Electrolytes :
4 cups water
1TBSP Apple cider vinegar
1/2 + 1/4 tsp Molasses
1/4 tsp salt
mix together and keep in a cool dark place.

Epsom Salt water
1 cup water
1 tsp epsom salt.

I do every other hour, so it would be for example:
I start at 1:00pm, I will not make her vomit the first time before I give her anything.
1:00 give the Electrolytes
2:00 before, try to get her vomit just a little. Then give her the Epsom salt water.
Keep doing the same for the next hours. I started doing this treatment at 9am and ended it for the day at 7pm.

The more you stay on track, the fast she'll get better. It took me about 2-3 days to empty most of the crop 5-6 days at the most. Then I gave her some milk to help her stomach get back to normal once her crop emptied almost to nothing. Raw milk would be the best.
Keep all food away from her. I left mine without food for the full treatment. Which took around 5-7 days. Feeding her will make it worse and eventually cause her to over fill herself.
For her to recover fully, it may take around 1 week.

After that, you may have to force feed to get her back to her normal schedule.

I hope all this makes sense. Feel free to ask me more questions!