SOUR CROP: How to help hen?

[Sunny Side Up]

I keep posting updates for the benefit of anyone else dealing with this issue, either now or at a future date.

The good news is that this morning Cherry Pie produced a very healthy-looking poop. Just like our human babies, our chickens tell us a lot about their well-being by what comes out of their butts. So I'm encouraged about her recovery, in addition to the fact that she continues to look well, good posture, bright color in all her face-flaps, bright interested eyes.

Threehorses, I took your advice about NOT offering solids -- I had planned to offer her dry chick crumbles, a favorite food for all my adult chickens, but instead fixed her a small bowl, about 1/2 cup, of yogurt, finely-grated apple, and mixed in a small amount of chick crumbles just to give it a little body. She ate it all!

So I whipped up another bowl with about twice the amount. She's eaten a bit more of that, and I'm keeping the rest fresh in the refrigerator. Her crop is filling at the bottom, doesn't feel as fluid as before.

So I'm going to continue to keep her in the hospital/spa pen & monitor what goes in & what comes out. My hope is that her appetite will continue to increase, her poops will get more regular, and eggs will be laid. If that happens, I should be able to return her to her flockmates.

Thank you for your imput.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

actually you did not use the
1/2 cup of baking soda in 1 pint of warm water enough

you do have to flush the bird at least three times

and HERE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART

have the chicken on a table so you can come up under the crop area with your full hand
PUSHING THE SOUR STUFF OUT OF THE CROP THRU THE BIRDS BEAK

CHICKENS DO NOT THROW UP

you have to push the stuff out the chickens beak

also the idea of using baking soda is to flush the sour stuff out of the crop and do away with the sour problem
baking soda nulifies the sour stuff

but you have to clean the crop with the baking soda till it is cleaned out

then the best thing for the chicken would be just the egg yolk

DO NOT FEED FOR 24 HRS AFTER FLUSHING

then only enough egg yolk to keep it going

then the chicken will need the wet mash probiotic with Vit E to help its gut restore gut flora

this is not just a one time thing but takes several weeks for the chicken to get better
email me for the recipe
or any questions

email me any questions

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
How long of a time period do you recommend between the flushes? I flushed her three times in a row, the third time there wasn't much more to push out and her crop was flat & felt empty. Should I have waited some time between flushes?

DO NOT FEED FOR 24 HRS AFTER FLUSHING
then only enough egg yolk to keep it going

Well, I did offer her food the next day, but she didn't eat much, I hope I didn't hamper her recovery.

this is not just a one time thing but takes several weeks for the chicken to get better

How do you know when she's fully recovered? I was going to wait until I saw her eating well, pooping normally, and laying eggs. Right now she's still looking all right, good posture, color & attitude, but not eating or pooping much, and still not eating a whole lot of her yogurt/applesauce/chick crumbles. I don't want to make her empty her crop again unless she shows those other symptoms, lethargy & a full squashy crop.
But several weeks to recover??!!

Shoot, that's a lot of time to be serving special breakfasts in bed, she better lay a LOT of eggs for us in return for this special treatment!​