Sour crop

[rjohns39]

Just as an fyi... Your eggs are about 12% protein and they do have the perfect balance of amino acids for your girl. Since I don't really understand sour/impacted crop, I generally don't give feed advice while they're being treated. Those who understand the problem are better equipped to provide advice.

 

[rebrascora]

Great that your sister is a nurse and might be able to help you with surgery if it comes down to it.... but hope the medicine works and it isn't necessary.

I'm not sure what the percentage is on those human protein shakes, but wonder if they might get some liquid nutrition into her without clogging her up.

 

[heatherlaw]

Go get some Katee baby bird hand feeding formula. Its a “protien shake” for birds. Pet stores carry it. I have used it for a bird with a simmilar sour crop situation before. Its highly nutritious so whatever does get through will at least be giving her some vitamins and protein. Its powder that you mix with water and you can mix it thin so that it will get through the blockage easier

 

[rebrascora]

Great idea. I'm not familiar with that product.... not sure we have it here in the UK.... although I have seen it mentioned on BYC before when people were advised to tube feed sick birds. I just wasn't aware that it came in powder form.... sounds ideal!

 

[JacksonPearce]

Nothing new to report here. My closest pet store didn’t have Katee hand feeding formula, but another nearby does, so I’ll grab some tomorrow!
I also think I may try a chicken enema, as we’re getting to the “nothing to lose” point. She definitely isn’t getting any worse, but she doesn’t seem to be improving overall. I’m wondering if perhaps the impaction is farther down in her system, as I don’t feel any obvious lumps or tangled when I massage her crop. Anyone ever done this?

 

[casportpony]

I would not do a chicken enema because you might force fluid into her reproductive tract which would probably cause an infection there, and spread any yeast in her intestines there. If yeast is in the repro tract you would need ketoconazole to treat because.

I've suspected from the beginning that the crop problem is further in. Questions... Has she been de-wormed? When did she lay her last egg? Have you tried the stool softener yet?

 

[JacksonPearce]

Thanks, @casportpony. She laid regularly and without issue up until winter, when all my girls stopped or slowed significantly. She was dewormed mid-summer, along with all the others. I did try the stool softener— I split the gels and added the contents to a tiny bit of food to get her to eat it yesterday. I did this twice yesterday, since I couldn’t find any good dosage info for chickens!

 

[casportpony]

Thanks, @casportpony. She laid regularly and without issue up until winter, when all my girls stopped or slowed significantly. She was dewormed mid-summer, along with all the others. I did try the stool softener— I split the gels and added the contents to a tiny bit of food to get her to eat it yesterday. I did this twice yesterday, since I couldn’t find any good dosage info for chickens!

What wormer did you use?

 

[JacksonPearce]

What wormer did you use?

Merck animal safe guard, 25g paste. Everyone got a pea-sized dollop.

 

[casportpony]

Merck animal safe guard, 25g paste. Everyone got a pea-sized dollop.

That could be part of the problem. A pea size amount *might* treat large roundworms, but it will not treat other worms, especially capillary worms. One pea sized dollop has only 25 mg fenbendazole in it, so it's like giving 1/4 ml of the liquid, which is not enough for a 5-pound bird.