Sour crop woes!!

[vtester]

I have been battling sour crop with my 13 week old pullets. All seem to be fine now with the exception of two. I have a buff Brahma that lost a lot of weight and seems weak at times. She is eating like crazy, drinking ok and poops look normal. There are times when she is lethargic and that is my biggest concern. Is this just a matter of getting her strength back or something else? Btw her lungs sound clear.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have they been eating long strands of grass? Sour crop usually happens after a bout of impacted crop. It seems unusual to have several with crop problems all at once. Do they have grit to digest their food? Have they had any signs of coccidiosis--lethargy, standing hunched over, poor appetite, ruffled feathers, and diarrhea (with or without blood?) Here is some info on crop problems and coccidiosis:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken.html
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/answers-from-chicken-vet-on-impacted.html

 

[vtester]

We have fixed the blocked/sour crop issue, the last one yesterday. I have added some extra grit and probiotic water. She is pooping normally, eating like a little pig and drinking plenty. She is just still very droopy. At times I have to force her out of the temporary cage and other times she hops up and runs out. It has been on the hot side here this weekend too, I am stumped, the others are acting normal.

 

[vtester]

This morning my Tweet is alert and bright eyed, I am pretty sure she got too hot yesterday. But she is having trouble getting herself into a standing position. When I put her on her feet she sits down, if I let go before she gets steadied, she falls over. If I am help her and keep standing her up, she takes off and does her chicken thing, with a little wobble. She was fine before this impacted/sour crop ordeal so, I am hoping that time and probably vitamins will straighten her out. Am I right here? Should I do something different?

 

[Eggcessive]

Keep an eye on her walking and balance problems. Hopefully it is just weakness, and she will get stronger, but Mareks disease could also be a problem. Chickens with Mareks can have slow-emptying crops sometimes.

 

[vtester]

I have been watching her crop closely, I took food away at bedtime last night and her crop was completely empty this morning. So hopefully this is a good sign. I am going to get some vitamins for her water today and keep my fingers crossed. Thanks for all your helpful advise! This is the best chicken website there is! This chicken is my sweetheart, and I lost her sister last week at the beginning of this whole mess, so I really want to save her if I can.

 

[vtester]

I am happy to say that my Tweet is doing great! Back to her little hen ways. I still have her separated until she gets a more weight back on.