post sour/impacted crop... still not emptying right...

[ladrholman]

I have had 2 girls in sick bay for about a week. Both had to have surgery for impacted crop. One of my girls seems to be doing well (had to go in twice since I did not clean it out well enough the first time). My other girl (americauna) I cleaned out really well, but she has been sour again since and her crop seems to be large and baggy. I have been rationing the feeds (yogurt, apple sauce, eggs). I am wondering if she is still staying sour maybe from a yeast infection. She is happily eating and seems fair, her crop just fills and does not seem to empty very well. I thought maybe a treatment of nystatin would help... I don't know doses though. Any thoughts??? Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

been searching trying to get you some answers maybe this will help. this came from the B&YC archives


There are already great suggestions here for the treatment of two different crop issues, but I would also add that every day the crop stays distended makes it harder for it to return to normal ~ both due to the stretching and to the danger of food poisoning from the fermenting food that does not exit the crop.

My own experience with this last year with an adult Australorp hen was a non-emptying crop that turned out to be caused by a yeast infection that affected her upper GI tract, rather similar to what toddlers can get. The vet suctioned her crop to empty it completely (not fun at all, but it probably saved her from poisoning), then we went on soft foods and 2x/day, 10-day treatment with Nystatin liquid (again, the same antifungal used for toddlers). I am very fortunate to have a good Avian vet nearby!

I am not offering a diagnosis of your hen here, but I hope this information helps. Please keep us posted on how she does.


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Standards ~ Black Australorp, Silver Ameraucana and one crazy EE
Bantams ~ Blue/Black Cochins, Buff Silkies, Golden Neck Belgian d'Uccle and Butterscotch Booted Bantams, BBS Ameraucanas, Quality EEs



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[KatyTheChickenLady]

you had two hens get impacted crop at the same time?

 

[ladrholman]

Thanks and yes I did. Throw worm treatment into that too!!! Bad week and a half!! Both had grasses and straw and seeds and such. About a half a cup or so. They had only been getting out to forage for about 2 weeks when I found them. It was a few days between them, but after being wrong that I thought they had cleared the blockage I ended up doing surgery on both (twice on my red girl- first time I was too nervous to open her up much and I had not cleared it all). The red girl does not seem to have the same issue with the crop getting large and not emptying... the americauna does.... though she was the first to show symptoms but the second to get surgery... covered it up better!!! I have only been giving them small meals, frequently... though that only works out to about 4 a day ( yogurt, buttermilk, apple sauce, eggs). They gobble it all up when brought to them. I don' t have an avian vet nearby and the vets around don't deal with birds. I think I can get some nystatin tomorrow and think I will try that to see if that helps. Any idea on dosage though???

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

very strange that they would get it at the same time. I have hundreds of birds and have only had it happen twice ever, and one came to me with it. Usallu the culprit is people feeding already cut grass or hay. There was a very interesting thread on here about using red wine to treat, several people noted sucess with it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=352813
good luck

 

[ladrholman]

they have/ and soon will be a had... straw for bedding in the barn. Getting sawdust soon. I suspect they were eating too much of this..... for some of the things they have eaten before I am amazed they did not have it before.... I will check out the link. Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have read so many times of impacted crops full of straw, never will I use straw.

 

[ladrholman]

Yeah I learned this the hard way. Oh why do chickens eat what they do???

 

[schellie69]

I have used straw for over a year now and no problems, I wonder if it depends on the chickens.