sick roo...sour crop?

[eastbaychicks]

This is so sad. Someone should help him, this is such a slow sad way to die!!!! Maybe his crop is impacted or it's just sour crop. Apple Cider Vinegar could help... do a search on sour crop and see if any of these things work...

 

[BWchicken]

I'm no expert, but here's what has worked for me in the past. The rooster will probably need several days of care, so be prepared. These are things that worked for my birds, I hope it helps this roo too. Isolate him in a cage in the house if possible and withhold all food for 24 hours, he can have a little water as needed. After he's been without food for 10-12 hours, check his crop. Depending on whether it's empty determines what to do next, the options listed below:

--If the crop is empty after 10-12 hours-- give him free access to water with raw Apple Cider Vinegar in it, use Bragg's brand, 1 tablespoon per gallon, but no food yet. After the full 24 hours is up, slowly start feeding him very SMALL amounts of soft food such as scrambled egg a few times a day, making sure the crop is emptying. Increase the food amounts and frequency over a couple days, then slowly introduce his regular feed. Keep checking that the crop is emptying. After a few days, he should be ok.

--If the crop is still full and firm/hard after 10-12 hours-- give him olive oil by mouth, about a teaspoon in his beak (or you can mix the oil with a tiny bit of baby food if he'll eat it that way on his own). Once the oil is in the crop, massage the crop, mixing the oil in with the crop contents. Then keep massaging every so often. Repeat the oil one more time if the crop hasn't shrunk after a few hours. Keep massaging. During all this, he can have free access to water with raw Apple Cider Vinegar in it, use Bragg's brand, 2 tablespoon per gallon. When the full 24 hours is up, if his crop isn't emptying, repeat the oil and continue massage. Once the crop empties, start feeding him very SMALL amounts of soft food such as scrambled egg a few times a day, making sure the crop is emptying. Slowly increase the food amounts and frequency over a couple days, then slowly introduce his regular feed. Keep checking that the crop is emptying. The crop should be back to normal after a few days. Note: the oil may give him runny poo, but should get better once he starts eating again.

--If the crop is still full, squishy and large after 10-12 hours-- give him free access to a strong mix of the raw apple cider vinegar (Bragg's brand) and water, 1-2 tablespoons per quart, make sure he's drinking this often, or give some by mouth, and gently massage crop, mixing the vinegar with the crop contents often. After the full 24 hours, the crop should start going down. If not, make the vinegar water a little stronger, and keep at it. When the crop does empty, keep him on just the strong vinegar water only for another 12 hours or so, then slowly start introducing VERY small amounts of soft food like scrambled egg (no dairy) a few times a day, and free access to the strong vinegar water. After a couple days, reduce the vinegar water to regular strength, 1 tablespoon per gallon. VERY slowly increase the food amounts and frequency each day for 3 or 4 days, then very slowly introduce his regular feed. Keep checking that the crop is emptying. Note: If there is no improvement in the large squishy crop after trying this for a few days, he may have a severe case of sour crop and he'll need a specific medication. It's called Nystatin and I think you can only get it from a vet.

I hope this helps. I'm no expert at all, but with help from BYC and trial and error, these things have worked for my birds. But like I said, if what he has is sour crop and it's really bad, you may need real medication (Nystatin) to save him. Please keep us updated and let us know how he's doing.

 

[hilareee]

thanks for all the advice everyone!!

well he's still around. we tried the apple cider vinegar thing and now he's hiding in the nest box.

it's been a week now. he's basically droopy and his breath is rank, but he's hanging in there. how long can a roo survive with sour crop? we considered the home surgery thing, but both my landlady and i are feeling too nervous to actually do it. he IS a loved pet, so cutting into his gizzard is just something neither of us wants to try. meanwhile, his 3 lovely ladies seem to be comforting him.

 

[cochinbantam-lover]

I sure hope he's gonna make it, he is so beautiful!!! I'll be thinking good thoughts for Otis!

 

[hilareee]

I sure hope he's gonna make it, he is so beautiful!!! I'll be thinking good thoughts for Otis!

thanks! not holding my breath here, but we'll see.​

 

[hilareee]

i've got him inside in a box covered with blankets, checking every once in a while to see if he's breathing. already dug a hole, and i don't expect him to last much longer. poor guy. we tried what we could.

 

[BWchicken]

I'm sorry to hear he's no better. I know it's hard to see a loved pet so sick. Are you still emptying his crop? I know a lot of people here do it, but it scares me, it could cause the bird to choke to death. If he's still alive I'd withhold all food and try mixing the vinegar water really strong (half and half) and see if that helps him at all. That may help kill the fungus that has taken over his crop. It may even help if it's a bacterial thing, but I'm not sure. This is so sad because with the proper medication sour crop is very treatable. Does anyone know of ANYTHING that might help this beautiful rooster (if it's not already too late)? Other than seeing a vet, I'm out of ideas. If anyone else can help please do. It's a shame for this poor rooster to die this way.

 

[BarkerChickens]

If his crop is squishy, it is likely sour crop. Massage it in a downward motion several times a day. He will likely have masty, acidy smelling burps. Withhold solid food as it is a yeast infection in the crop and it will cause the new food to spoil as well. Give water with Apple Cider Vinegar for the regular water source. Then, if you have an irrigation syringe, fill it 1/2 and 1.2 with ACV and water and give a full syringe full at least once a day if not more (this is a slow process as you don't want him to choke).

Good luck!!!

 

[hilareee]

thanks again for all the advice. i think if we'd caught it sooner, we might have saved him.

Otis passed away late last night. i'm so glad he's out of his misery and pain, but i will miss him.

we only had him by accident, but never bothered to cull or re-home, even though it's illegal to have a roo within city limits. neighbors never complained. he was about 2 years old. RIP you beautiful roo!

already, the yard is too darn quiet!

 

[BarkerChickens]

I am so sorry!!