Sick chicks! Help!

[rebrascora]

ACV will not treat a yeast infection, it is more of a preventative. Does her breath or the liquid smell sour? Acidified copper sulphate is one of the recognised treatments for sour crop.

No sour crop should not be contagious but if there is a problem with their diet or the feed, then it is likely to affect more than one of them. Have they have access to any fibrous material like longish (4+ inches) grass or hay or straw. Is their feed in good condition and in date.... hasn't got damp and gone mouldy. Did they run out of food? Have you been feeding them bread or scratch grains? Do they have access to grit? These are things that can cause their system to get out of balance.

Be very careful when you are massaging her crop that she doesn't inhale any of the refluxing liquid as that will make matters a lot worse.
Good luck with her and let us know how you get on.

 

[HfgChicken]

yes her barf smells sour we let them run around outside for a little about once a week. their food is still up to date but it got left open so i think mice might've gotten into it. would that cause problems?

 

[HfgChicken]

just massaged her crop again she barfed light brown liquid this time. I'll see if we can grab some Acidified copper sulphate on the way home today

 

[HfgChicken]

just got home. the weather dropped 10 degrees while I was gone! When i flipped Eggsy over she let out a alarmingly large amount of liquid. Question- should she water in with her? I have some in with her. and should I give her food tonight? I don't think that she will get better today and I don't want to starve her.

 

[HfgChicken]

Just massaged her crop for a full minute and nothing came out- not sure if that’s a good sign or a bad sign. Here is a pic of Eggsy in the “sick chick coop”.

 

[micstrachan]

If multiple birds in your flock are having crop issues, I think maybe we should examine diet. What are you feeding them? Do they have access to anything (like long grass or straw) that could be impacting their crops? Do they have access to grit? Could their feed have gone moldy?

 

[rebrascora]

I'm not sure why you are "flipping her over" to massage her crop unless you are trying to vomit her. I usually just tuck them under my right arm in an upright position, cradle them with the left arm and use the right hand to massage it, a bit like a stress ball.,,, firm but gentle. If you are vomiting the bird, holding them upright (ie not on their back) but with their head lower than their body and tipped slightly to their right, is the best position. I usually hold them upright against my body and then lean right forward myself so that we are both "head down". Then I can watch her reaction closely and judge better when she needs a break. Gently massaging in that position helps to loosen the debris and sediment in the bottom of the crop. You have to watch out for them splattering vomit all over you though!

 

[HfgChicken]

Here are answers to Micstrachan's questions

1. (What are you feeding them?) I am feeding them Dumor 24% chick starter
2. (Do they have access to long grass of straw?) we put them in a 5X5 portable coop about twice a week, no the grass in not long
3. (Could their feed have gone moldy?) I have checked several times, their food is not damp or moldy.