Sour crop - how do I know if it's empty?

[citychicks99]

My cockerel wasn't eating yesterday, head was down and tail too and seemed listless. I thought it might be coccidiosis but when I checked his crop this morning, I felt a squishy lump. His comb was also a little floppy and a little purple at the top. I massaged his crop for 5-10 minutes and slowly, some liquid came up. It was a dark green color. I massaged some more and about a quarter cup of that stuff came up. It smelled so bad. I massaged a little more to make sure and nothing else came up. His crop is not completely flat but it feels smaller. How do I know if it's empty enough? Should I try again in 30 minutes or in a few hours just to make sure before I give him any water or yogurt or hard boiled eggs? Would I have to do this again tomorrow until it's completely flat? It looks like I will also have to treat him with yeast infection cream.

@Wyorp Rock

Edit: I read an article on here that says to not feed a chicken with sour crop food and water for 24 hours and to massage the crop every hour. Is it okay if nothing comes up every time? Should I give him coconut oil if nothing comes up? I massaged it an hour later and it started to feel bigger but nothing came up.

Should I put some probiotics and electrolytes in his water the next day for about a week? He just had antibiotics last week so it may have caused this.

 

[cherrynberry]

My cockerel wasn't eating yesterday, head was down and tail too and seemed listless. I thought it might be coccidiosis but when I checked his crop this morning, I felt a squishy lump. His comb was also a little floppy and a little purple at the top. I massaged his crop for 5-10 minutes and slowly, some liquid came up. It was a dark green color. I massaged some more and about a quarter cup of that stuff came up. It smelled so bad. I massaged a little more to make sure and nothing else came up. His crop is not completely flat but it feels smaller. How do I know if it's empty enough? Should I try again in 30 minutes or in a few hours just to make sure before I give him any water or yogurt or hard boiled eggs? Would I have to do this again tomorrow until it's completely flat? It looks like I will also have to treat him with yeast infection cream.

@Wyorp Rock

Edit: I read an article on here that says to not feed a chicken with sour crop food and water for 24 hours and to massage the crop every hour. Is it okay if nothing comes up every time? Should I give him coconut oil if nothing comes up? I massaged it an hour later and it started to feel bigger but nothing came up.

Should I put some probiotics and electrolytes in his water the next day for about a week? He just had antibiotics last week so it may have caused this.

Do not let him barf!

Are you sure he has sour crop? Was his crop empty in the morning? Wyorp Rock is definitely a good person to tag. You should definitely feed him also, but make sure to read the article below.

Okay, not sure which article you read, but this one is the one I would look at: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

It is best to use an anti-fungal medication. Monistat 7 could be found in a Pharmacy and are great for that.

 

[citychicks99]

Do not let him barf!

Are you sure he has sour crop? Was his crop empty in the morning? Wyorp Rock is definitely a good person to tag. You should definitely feed him also, but make sure to read the article below.

Okay, not sure which article you read, but this one is the one I would look at: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

It is best to use an anti-fungal medication. Monistat 7 could be found in a Pharmacy and are great for that.

He already barfed twice. I just massaged his crop again and very heavy, thick, blockage came up, about half a cup. I think it was his feed. His crop feels a lot flatter now. It was round and squishy in the morning and he smelled like diarrhea. I really didn't know what else to do but massage his crop. I didn't force him to throw up. It just came up and I tilted him upside down. I think it was too much at one point because he did aspirate a little bit.

I got my information from these two articles:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/sour-crop.75785/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

One of the articles say to massage every hour. Should I keep doing that? Or just start giving him the Monistat 7, no massage, and give him water + electrolytes + probiotics?

 

[cherrynberry]

He already barfed twice. I just massaged his crop again and very heavy, thick, blockage came up, about half a cup. I think it was his feed. His crop feels a lot flatter now. It was round and squishy in the morning and he smelled like diarrhea. I really didn't know what else to do but massage his crop. I didn't force him to throw up. It just came up and I tilted him upside down. I think it was too much at one point because he did aspirate a little bit.

I got my information from these two articles:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/sour-crop.75785/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

One of the articles say to massage every hour. Should I keep doing that? Or just start giving him the Monistat 7, no massage, and give him water + electrolytes + probiotics?

@Wyorp Rock helped me with my bird.

Do not massage his crop and tilt him.

I just used plain water and fed a balanced feed (no treats) and wetted the feed a little. And yes, if you have Monistat 7 use it. Have you read the article I linked?

 

[cherrynberry]

He already barfed twice. I just massaged his crop again and very heavy, thick, blockage came up, about half a cup. I think it was his feed. His crop feels a lot flatter now. It was round and squishy in the morning and he smelled like diarrhea. I really didn't know what else to do but massage his crop. I didn't force him to throw up. It just came up and I tilted him upside down. I think it was too much at one point because he did aspirate a little bit.

I got my information from these two articles:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/sour-crop.75785/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

One of the articles say to massage every hour. Should I keep doing that? Or just start giving him the Monistat 7, no massage, and give him water + electrolytes + probiotics?

Follow this exactly:

 

[citychicks99]

Follow this exactly:

Ahh I did read that before I tried to treat him. For some reason, every other source said to massage the crop so that was stuck in my mind and I started doing it. I won't be doing it the rest of the day then. I gave him some water with electrolytes, probiotics and Poultry Cell. He wouldn't eat the feed or hard-boiled eggs. He's just drinking water and he'll have some yogurt but that's it. Can sour crop make his comb purplish?

 

[cherrynberry]

Ahh I did read that before I tried to treat him. For some reason, every other source said to massage the crop so that was stuck in my mind and I started doing it. I won't be doing it the rest of the day then. I gave him some water with electrolytes, probiotics and Poultry Cell. He wouldn't eat the feed or hard-boiled eggs. He's just drinking water and he'll have some yogurt but that's it. Can sour crop make his comb purplish?

That I am not sure. I have only dealt with sour crop once. Wyorp Rock may know, but she usually comes on at the end of the day or during some pieces of the day.

A picture may help Wyorp Rock to help you better. A purple comb usually indicates lack of oxygen. Is his crop squishy, hard, or doughy?

 

[citychicks99]

That I am not sure. I have only dealt with sour crop once. Wyorp Rock may know, but she usually comes on at the end of the day or during some pieces of the day.

A picture may help Wyorp Rock to help you better. A purple comb usually indicates lack of oxygen. Is his crop squishy, hard, or doughy?

I tried taking a picture but the lighting isn't so great so it's difficult to see. Okay, I think that would make sense. He and the pullet was sick last week so I kept them indoors. I was working on rebuilding their coop because there was mold on the inside so I took it apart but didn't have time to rebuild it yet. It's also going to rain this week. So they've been indoors for 2-3 weeks. I wonder if maybe that may contribute to it. I try and let them out for a bit but that may not be enough. I just opened both windows in their room all the way. I hope that will help. His crop was squishy. The pullet isn't eating much either but hers felt empty.

Edit: here's some pictures where you can kind of see the discoloration at the top of the comb and how it's droopy. It just started this morning.

So I'm not sure if this is because I made him vomit earlier but I think he's been vomiting water all over himself after that. I tried giving him water, yogurt, and the Miconazale 7 and it looked like he couldn't keep anything down. Maybe this is why we're told not to vomit them. He kept shaking his head, making a honking noise, and threw up some water. He then just walked over to the corner, stuck his face in and laid down. He's a tough little guy and has gone through so much but I honestly am not sure about this time I feel so bad for vomiting him even though I read a previous thread where Wyorp Rock said multiple times not to. I've been so stressed and tired from his previous illness and trying to rebuild their coop and I couldn't sleep last night. I just haven't been thinking clearly. Poor guy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would not massage the crop and make him vomit anymore. You risk him aspirating fluids or even him choking.
I would follow this article for treating his sour crop.
Do make water available, you can offer a little wet feed or boiled egg.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[citychicks99]

I massaged his comb last night with a little VetRx and opened up all the windows in the room and that seemed to help with the purplishness. His comb seems redder today but still a little floppy. I noticed that he drinks a lot of water at once so that may be why he's been throwing it back up. He must be very dehydrated for some reason, not sure why. I put some probiotics and electrolytes and Poultry Cell in his water. He's also been pecking at rain drops on the fence. He won't eat anything but pumpkin seeds and grass. I did get him the Monistat 7 and giving him that twice a day. I hope it helps.

Update: After I gave him his second dose of Monistat on day 2, along with some raw egg yolk with Poultry Cell, he started eating his feed again in about 1-2 hours.