Well, after months of crop issues I think Red has finally had enough. She's no longer roosting, she's shaking and looks to be having a hard time balancing herself. Very weak. It makes me so sad to see her this way.
It all began last summer when she gorged on a few clumps of grass I stupidly threw into the run thinking it would be a great snack while at work. For anyone thinking of doing this... don't. Trust me... lesson learned.
A few days later I noticed Red's crop was full of stinky liquid so I rushed to BYC for some answers and suggestions. That's when I first heard the words that have plagued me for months... "sour crop".
I raced to the store, purchased acv and plain yogurt, borrowed my neighbors dog crate and separated her immediately. She got better within a few days so she rejoined the group. a few weeks later, same thing. once again I went through the routine of separating her, acv, massaging crop, etc, once again she got better and rejoined the group.
This has been her life since late last summer except I finally started getting brave and tipping her up-side-down to vomit her. I've given her probiotics, high doses of acv in her water. Hand fed her with an ear syringe. I have sat with her, massaging her crop for hours at a time. She has been a great patient, I will say that.
I may have been ignoring her a little in the last few weeks which may be why she has not rebounded. we got a new puppy a few weeks ago so I have not been paying as much attention to the girls. Also, we just got a new batch of meaties who are currently taking up the brooder where I would isolate Red until she was better.
Monday evening I noticed her roosting a few steps below on the ladder, not in her usual spot high on the bar. Her crop was filled with liquid so I vomited her as usual. I did notice it was mostly water... no food.
Tuesday night, when I went to close up the coop I noticed she wasn't there at all. I braced myself for the worst and found her laying in the run, underneath the ramp. I picked her up, gave her some Gatorade (I have a feeling she didn't drink much yesterday) and a crop rub, she had some projectile diarrhea which made me think she is not absorbing any nutrients. She also felt very thin. I noticed her crop felt empty and there was a hard object in there. I'm wondering if there is something else that's been lodged in there this whole time. we do have a lot of glass and debris where the coop is located (old owners used it as a trash heap). I gave her a cozy spot next to the brooder and the heat lamp for the night which she gladly accepted.
This morning she was sitting under the feeder, all the other girls letting her be. I again gave her some Gatorade and made a mash from layer crumble and water. she looked as though she was eating, but not sure how much she actually took in.
when I left her this morning she was looking pretty bad. I feel like if she doesn't rebound soon, I should help end her suffering. I have an experienced chicken owner on standby. It will be my first chicken fatality since starting the flock last April.
Any words of wisdom from my fellow BYCers on how to handle this?
Thanks
It all began last summer when she gorged on a few clumps of grass I stupidly threw into the run thinking it would be a great snack while at work. For anyone thinking of doing this... don't. Trust me... lesson learned.
A few days later I noticed Red's crop was full of stinky liquid so I rushed to BYC for some answers and suggestions. That's when I first heard the words that have plagued me for months... "sour crop".
I raced to the store, purchased acv and plain yogurt, borrowed my neighbors dog crate and separated her immediately. She got better within a few days so she rejoined the group. a few weeks later, same thing. once again I went through the routine of separating her, acv, massaging crop, etc, once again she got better and rejoined the group.
This has been her life since late last summer except I finally started getting brave and tipping her up-side-down to vomit her. I've given her probiotics, high doses of acv in her water. Hand fed her with an ear syringe. I have sat with her, massaging her crop for hours at a time. She has been a great patient, I will say that.
I may have been ignoring her a little in the last few weeks which may be why she has not rebounded. we got a new puppy a few weeks ago so I have not been paying as much attention to the girls. Also, we just got a new batch of meaties who are currently taking up the brooder where I would isolate Red until she was better.
Monday evening I noticed her roosting a few steps below on the ladder, not in her usual spot high on the bar. Her crop was filled with liquid so I vomited her as usual. I did notice it was mostly water... no food.
Tuesday night, when I went to close up the coop I noticed she wasn't there at all. I braced myself for the worst and found her laying in the run, underneath the ramp. I picked her up, gave her some Gatorade (I have a feeling she didn't drink much yesterday) and a crop rub, she had some projectile diarrhea which made me think she is not absorbing any nutrients. She also felt very thin. I noticed her crop felt empty and there was a hard object in there. I'm wondering if there is something else that's been lodged in there this whole time. we do have a lot of glass and debris where the coop is located (old owners used it as a trash heap). I gave her a cozy spot next to the brooder and the heat lamp for the night which she gladly accepted.
This morning she was sitting under the feeder, all the other girls letting her be. I again gave her some Gatorade and made a mash from layer crumble and water. she looked as though she was eating, but not sure how much she actually took in.
when I left her this morning she was looking pretty bad. I feel like if she doesn't rebound soon, I should help end her suffering. I have an experienced chicken owner on standby. It will be my first chicken fatality since starting the flock last April.
Any words of wisdom from my fellow BYCers on how to handle this?
Thanks
