Sour crop support needed

[skyedobb]

I'm not familiar with the parrot food mentioned, but it occurred to me that if it's a powder that you reconstitute with water, I'm thinking you could make something similar w/pellets. Use a mortar/pestle or anything to grind the pellets into dust (if no mortar/pestle, is helpful to do in several layers of baggies or something to keep it contained) and then reconstitute the resulting powder. As we all know, crumbles are formulated to provide all the nutrients our birds need, and by grinding it and reconsituting it, the nutrients are there plus added the added water to help everything move through and not get stuck in the crop. Of course, all of the other goodies we provide encourage sick ones to eat when eating may not seem so appealing.

 

[ipana]

LampreyGirls, I surely am sorry your chicken is having this sour crop issue. This must be more widespread that we thought as quite a few people here have mentioned having it. At this point in time, it would appear that you will be waiting for the wine to work. If you gave it around noon today, she may be having some results already. If not, give it until morning. From what we've experienced, even though it is just a few cases, I think it will work. Upthecreek mentioned that this was an old-timey thing and quite frankly, as an old-timey myself, those ideas seem to work well. Anyway, by morning, her crop should be emptied if the wine has worked. My hen pooped a burst of a soft liquidy bunch after 4 hours and from then on, things went very well. I'll watch the posts to see how things are going. Feel free to PM me if you have questions. I don't know much but I'll be glad to share anything that I've learned.

 

[ipana]

skyedobb, what a great idea to crush the food that we have and then add water. That makes perfect sense! Thanks for the idea. I'll keep it under my hat, hoping I won't have to use it. I looked at PetSmart for the Harrison's food that was recommended but they didn't have it. This seems like a better idea anyway since it's formulated for chickens specifically.

 

[ultasol]

The recovery formula is formulated to be easy to digest and higher in nutrients for birds that are under the weather. Trying to feed ground food or crumble did make my birds crop go sour again which is why I had to use the recovery and wean back to crumble. If there is a next time I will try the wine thing.

 

[ipana]

Good to know, ultrasol. Maybe I'd better order some of that after all...just in case, but hoping never!

 

[LampreyGirls]

Thanks again. Yes, we had kept her from food for 24 hrs. at the start of this. Yesterday we gave her applesauce and the red wine then some fine mash with oil. There were poops as a result of the wine yesterday but this morning just white ones under her from overnight and her crop is still soft and big. We're thinking we're going to feed her mash and see what happens. Do some hens have unusually large crops? Is her gizzard the problem? We don't feel any hardness in her crop when we massage it. Any suggestions and info would be appreciated since we are first time chicken raisers.

 

[ipana]

The presence of some droppings is a good sign. It may be that she has a soft crop because she's eating soft food. One suggestion of a way to make certain that her crop is working is to withhold food until her crop has a chance to empty. If they're not fed at night, the crop will empty so 8 hours or so without food should tell the tale. I would not continue feeding this bird until it was established that her crop is working properly, but that's just me. I'm new at this, too. This was my first experience with sour crop...or any sickness with them...so I'm just going on what I experienced and what I think should be normal. Hang in there.

 

[ultasol]

I also withheld food to check and see if crop could empty- then small but frequent meals.

 

[upthecreek]

When giving wine - do not feed for a day thereafter or until craw is empty(not longer that 24 hours) .
What happen was the food you gave after the wine - invalidated the wine and it's ability to clean your bird out .
Shannon

 

[cnj-tx50]

I may have to treat my girl again. Noiced this a.m. that she looked a little swollen, but they do eat before they are let out for the day. I am going to catch her again and start all over. I did not wait a full 24 hours before feeding her after the wine. It was only about 4 hours. So I will try again.