Sour crop?? Please help!

[ChickenDog0421]

Hi all! I have a 2 year speckled Sussex and she’s been acting very strange the last couple of days. She hasn’t been acting like a chicken at all, she hasn’t been foraging or scratching like she usually does. She kind of just stands there. Sometimes she moves her head in a kind of gagging way, her beak isn’t opening so she’s not gasping for air but it’s like she’s trying to swollen something. She has very runny poop, there is nothing solid in it. I threw treats out for all my girls and she wasn’t interested which is extremely strange. It’s been going on for a couple of days. When I first noticed the gagging movement I have her some oil and thought maybe that would help her swallow whatever she has stuck in there. She stopped doing it for a couple days but now she’s back to doing it again. I brought her home and she’s in a kennel now, she has water with ACV mixed in it and access to grit but I’m not giving her food because I’ve been doing research and I’m pretty positive she has sour crop. She has a huge crop and it’s squishy like a water balloon, her poop smells sour and so does her mouth. Am I right about what this is or could it be something else?

 

[ChickenDog0421]

She was also doing this about an hour ago and did it a couple times but then stopped. Is this just yawning or stretching? Is she choking?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings ChickenDog0421,

How is your girl doing today?

The contents in her crop are fermenting, this is why she is trying to regurgitate, or throw up.

Extreme care must be exercised when a hen regurgitates the contents of her crop. Also, if you decide to tip her, to empty the contents. If any fluid gets into her air way she will aspirate/choke. You have to be prepared. At that time a hen can pass out or can just die from shock and suffocation. She will open her beak gasping, close her eyes, and the comb and wattles will start to darken. So, at this point, you must do CPR on the chicken, if, this happens.

Emergency CPR: While holding the chicken with one arm, give gentle but firm, pats to the chest/crop area, with your other hand, with same hand hold open the beak, blow soft puffs of air into her mouth, alternate pats to chest and puffs of air, to revive her.
(If she has more to throw up, let her do it. As, she may regurgitate automatically. She may cough or sneeze to clear her throat and nostrils of any fluid.)

It will be touch and go, and you will have to stay with it, and not panic. Use your best judgement. It's not always possible to revive them when this happens, but if you do nothing, she'll die.

1. Once she opens her eyes, you can stop.
2. Keep her upright while holding her.
3. Keep talking to her, and patting or gently rubbing the crop, till she recovers. At this point you can put her into a crate or box, and let her rest, and stabilize.

Now, back to her crop issue. The contents only has two ways to go down through the digestive system, which is preferable. Or, out through the mouth.

Medicines can be administered to help her clear the contents and kill the yeast, which are causing her crop to be gaseous.

• Nystatin or Oznystatin are my choice, along with Lactulose to get things moving, but the Nystatin must be prescribed by a vet, in California.
• Some keepers have had success with over the counter anti fungal medications like Monistat (Miconazole Nitrate)
• Copper Sulfate is another remedy used by keepers. It is sold at farm/feed stores, I have never used it myself. It cannot be used in metal containers, and dosage must be accurate, as it can be toxic to chickens, if not used properly.

There are many remedies online that may or may not be effective. But, the main thing is to get the contents moving down the digestive system.

You should keep massaging the crop to get the contents to go down. Do not feed her till the contents have cleared the crop and she poops. It may take a day, then tiny soft meals, and small amounts of wet mash, with fresh water available. Electrolytes in the water, and a dose of vitamins is also helpful. A course of Probiotics is also good.

She may also have a pendulous crop, which will make her more prone to this condition, again. Many keepers use a crop bra on the chicken, to support her crop, and keep it emptying properly. Each morning you must, check the crop to be sure it has emptied during the night. Once she is pooping normally, you'll know she is digesting properly.

This is a deadly condition, if left untreated.

I hope I covered everything. By the way, I performed CPR on one of my hens last Summer, for this same situation, it saved her life.

Other members will give advice, please consider them too.

God Bless and peace to you.