sour crop... most tramatic thing... Surgery!!--UPDATE- wrong twice!!

[ladrholman]

when i went out today i found my americauna girl acting off. she was moving her head/chest in an odd pattern and sticking to herself. When i picked her up i found her crop to be huge. I immediately starting massaging it holding her upside down. she proceeded to bring up sour smelling fluid. I did this until her crop felt more empty. she is currently sitting on my lap. (as my typing must show) i have read about using yogurt and water only. some step by step guide would be appreciated. she seems quite bright generaly.

 

[ladrholman]

anyone out there that can help. I have read some places that say only clear fluid till seems to be clear. I took away her yogurt. She only has water now. Still bringing up a bit of stuff. wandering around the room. ANYONE???

 

[Reyvaughn]

My 8 day chick had sour crop. Her lump was all the way up her throat, so I made her throw up as well. Afterward, I gave her olive oil and would massage for 15-20 minutes at a time until she pooped (yours may not poop as my girl mostly had water in her crop). I left her eat and drink normally, but kept an eye on her crop to make sure it wasn't backing up again. Basically, that's all I did. Massage, oil and repeat as needed. It took me 2 days to get her cleared up.

 

[ladrholman]

Thanks. I will try some oil. She has had 2 ceceal stools, but no other ones. I thought maybe she was trying to have a poop earlier, but out popped an egg instead. Thanks again.

 

[ladrholman]

Update... and bump... I gave her the oil and massaged for a while. She has had many watery with bits poops and is active and drinking well. I gave her some kale broth this morning. She still feels like there is a lump of stuff in her crop. Do I wait until she feels empty completely or until she has passed a normal looking poop? When should I add in more softs? solids?? Anyone?

 

[common coop]

Hey Ladrholman --

You type well with a chicken on your lap!!

I had the same thing happening all last week !! I did the olive oil and yogurt mix and massage -- and for 4-5 days my girl looked bright -- but slowly -- she was losing color in her comb and her feathers became really dull. She was making some wet poops but it was becoming clear she was not able to pass that lump in her crop -- so I knew I had to do something. If you bring this condition to a vet - they will likely charge about 150. for surgery. If you do nothing you will likely loose your hen. If you do the surgery yourself -- she's got a good chance of surviving the problem and your beginner skills as a chicken doctor. I read several posts here on BYC on how to do it -- and it went just fine. Though I am going to upgrade my medical supplies to include a scalpel and some small forceps for pulling clumped masses out of a crop.

Poke around BYC for details on the procedure -- get someone to hold the hen -- and then get to it. What is amazing is that the hen didn't flinch much - they have limited pain receptors in that area... My girl was even trying to pull the grasses out of herself as they stuck out of her incision while I was pulling them out with tweezers. I asked her not to eat them while I was in the process of removing them surgically!! She understood. It's been 3 days now - and she is doing great - almost ready to join the flock.

It just depends on how big the mass is -- and what it's made of -- and whether or not she can eventually pass it - one way or another....

If not -- you're going to have to go in and get it...

There is a link somewhere in here - about a tablet to give her that can help break up crop masses -- here's a link ..

http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=189



Good luck - keep us posted ...

 

[ladrholman]

Thanks for the info, I am hoping that will not be necessary. Before I left today she was doing the head rotating thing where she would stretch up tall and then you could hear what sounded like a growling stomach. Then she would do it again. I am thinking this was her passing the lump. I have yet to feel her crop again since I came home, but she had passed a watery stool, a soft formed stool and a formed stool. I am hoping this was what was in her crop. Still seems bright. I am giving her apple sauce right now. Lovin that. I plan to keep her in for a while and if the lump is gone I will taper up her diet. I did not try it, but wondered what cola would do.... it is used to remove blockages in feeding tubes in humans!!! Will keep posting how she is doing! All my other girls and boys are loving the warmer weather this lovely spring day in NS.

 

[ladrholman]

yes.. and now there are 2. My americauna girl seems much better... her stool look like whatever she has been eating.... applesauce... crop feels squishy and no hard lumps to b felt. But I noted one of my red girls was also acting off.... low and behold sour smelling breathe and large crop. I finally got her to puke some up. She is now on water with apple cider vinegar and will hope she does as well. I noted late in the day so she is in with my americauna girl. I am wondering if it is related to them being outside more... more greens and such to be eating.... I have grit and they have dirt and stuff around as well. Hoping it is only the 2 and they will be better in a few days. Americauna seems to have passed her lump well. has anyone else noted an increase in this since spring and free ranging began again??? This is my first spring since I got my girls last May. Thanks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

don't know for sure but they are probably gorging on all kinds of goodies since spring has gotten here many areas. Hope they both do well and you don't have to do the surgery.

 

[ladrholman]

Thanks Miss Lydia. As do I. They have been having a hay day out and around the yard. I am hopeful that they will both do well. My red girl did so well. She would just stand there and let me massage her crop and I would gently lower her head for her to puke!!! A bonding experience!!