Sour Crop Question

[katelk]

I am currently treating 2 hens with sour crop. They are older (like 2 years) and they are the first cases of sour crop I have ever seen.
From searching online, I tried to vomit them- got a little bit of gross yellowish-white fluid out, but stopped and was not able to empty the crop. They were stressed and I just did not feel good about it.
I separated them and put them with only water in their cages. At this point it has been 24 hours. I have also dosed them 3 times with Clotrimazole cream (hidden in a tiny amount of chick food).
I have also given them plain yogurt 3 times. - by the way they are both still pooping like normal.

This morning I checked their crops. Now instead of them feeling like giant water balloons, they feel smaller and more firm. I am thinking the infected fluid has been flushed through their system.

Does this mean there is a blockage or partial blockage or what? I thought if they were blocked they wouldn't poop? Now what?

I think the culprit is long grass. We had a death in the family and were busy and did not mow for a couple weeks recently and the birds free range. Definitely took care of that problem now!

Thanks for any advice

 

[yinzerchick]

Sounds like you have it licked. As long as they're eating, drinking, pooping and acting alert and normal, you should be good!
I just lost a hen to what I think was sour crop, and nothing was working. She stopped eating and drinking, I tried everything I had...
I decided to open her crop and see if there was something like string, or anything that would clarify what caused it, but found nothing but grass, scratch, and a couple of bug parts. My hens free range too, so sour crop is not something I usually deal with. This was my second girl I lost the same way in a month. I thought for sure I would find something they both got into. No luck.
Glad your girls recovered!

 

[katelk]

Sounds like you have it licked. As long as they're eating, drinking, pooping and acting alert and normal, you should be good!  
I just lost a hen to what I think was sour crop, and nothing was working. She stopped eating and drinking, I tried everything I had...
I decided to open her crop and see if there was something like string, or anything that would clarify what caused it, but found nothing but grass, scratch, and a couple of bug parts. My hens free range too, so sour crop is not something I usually deal with. This was my second girl I lost the same way in a month. I thought for sure I would find something they both got into. No luck.
Glad your girls recovered! 

They are indeed alert and wanting food. They chowed down on the yogurt. They are clearly very hungry and I hate withholding food.
I feel hopeful now that you say they sound pretty good.
Their crops are still not empty like they should be though. They feel like they just gorged themselves at dinner time, but have been off of feed for 24 hours. I don't think they are out of the woods yet.
I am kinda confused because it started out feeling like sour crop and now it's almost like impacted crop. I have no idea if they go hand in hand or what.

 

[yinzerchick]

Are the crops full in the morning? Any smelly breath, or neck twisting? Maybe try some bread dipped in olive oil, and massaging their crops. I think eating anything is a good sign. Mine had stopped eating anything.

 

[katelk]

Are the crops full in the morning? Any smelly breath, or neck twisting? Maybe try some bread dipped in olive oil, and massaging their crops. I think eating anything is a good sign. Mine had stopped eating anything.

Well I worked late tonight and one of them seemed worse when I got home. This morning they both seemed better, crops were much smaller and more firm- not like the water balloon feeling. I still kept them off feed today, only providing plain yogurt and medicine mixed with just a sprinkle of baby feed so they would actually take it.
The one who is now worse is also the one who is basically refusing to eat yogurt. She will eat the medicine with baby food so it is not as if she refuses all food- just apparently does not like yogurt and that's basically all I have been providing. However, her crop is once again swollen HUGE and very squishy like a water balloon. So even with not having eaten anything, it has swollen back up with fluid during the day. What does this mean? What should I do? She will get up and seems alert and interested in food, but prefers laying down. Although with as big as her crop is, I would want to lay down too! What should I do? The other seems to be recuperating fine, this one I am worried about.

 

[Frizzle Chicken]

Let me tell you, im no expert, but using common sense i get the
feeling that she, as you said, does not like yogurt. I would try giving her sour cream, or yogurt with chicken feed, or maybe just make something yourself that will serve the same purpose of the yogurt. I really hope your girl gets well and that i can help.

 

[katelk]

It seems important to withhold normal amounts of feed during the process of treating sour crop and/or impacted crop. How long can these hen's go with no food? Today is day 3.
Today they have gotten yogurt mixed with chopped garlic and a little chick feed.

The one who seems worse also passed what looks like a clump of grass this morning. That seems to be a good sign, but her crop is still swollen and full of fluid. So I don't know?