Sour crop (?)

[CricketP]

I am pretty sure our chicken Red has sour crop

her crop is swollen and feels like jelly. She hasn't been great for about a week but she hasn't eaten hardly a bite for the last 2 days and I have to give her water with a syringe

what I have tried so far

ACV
-stopped it

Massaging her crop. she did throw up once and seemed a bit better but now I can't get her to throw up and am not so sure it is a good idea.

I now have an over the counter probiotic in her water which we are feeding her.

On hand we have Tetracycline Hydrochoride for animals, should i try that in case she has an underlying condition and should I feed her wet chicken feed?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some good articles to read about crop problems, and others may chime in as well:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...d-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments.67194/

 

[CricketP]

Thanks so much for those links! I put some tetracycline in her water 1/2 teaspoon to 2 cups and she is drinking again. I thought that may be too much so I diluted it some, I used warm water, maybe that helped her to start drinking. I don't know if I should dilute it more, I don't want to overdose her.

She was ready to pass away, I could tell from the other chickens we have had that have had problems that is how it always goes so I figured it wouldn't hurt to try.

I may introduced some soaked chicken feed after a few hours

or maybe give her untreated water I am not sure

Fingers crossed

 

[micstrachan]

Do you have access to poultry grade acidified copper sulfate? If so, make that up as directed and fill any and all waterers with it. If not, can you administer lemon juice with cayenne and cinnamon with a syringe? Do you have vaginal yeast cream available? Any pharmacy should carry it. I had luck with Clotrimazole.

Is your girl drinking excessively?

Also, don’t let her eat bread or grain right now. Kale, egg and tuna are your friends. Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[CricketP]

Thank you!

yes she is drinking a lot tonight when I put the antibiotic in her water

I don't have that cream available no.

But At what point should you stop trying?

I feel so bad for her but I have had a few chickens go to sleep and never come back and I tried like heck with them

I am hoping for her but I am not optomistic

thank you

 

[Cragg Klefor]

I would stop trying once I have exhausted all options for unblocking that crop. Until then, it may simply be an impacted crop which has gone sour.
Crop issues can, and often are, a symptom of an underlying illness/issue. But, sometimes it is simply something they have eaten which they could not pass. Have you flock access to grit?

I had a chicken with a bad case of sour crop. After trying lots of suggested remedies I resorted to using acidified copper sulphate. It took a full 7 day treatment but it fixed her right up.

I had followed instructions given in this post which has already been provided by Eggcessive : https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...d-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments.67194/

 

[CricketP]

after some tetracycline for 2 days which she barely drank (had to use a syringe) and feeding her some wet feed and eggs (thanks for the suggestions on feeding!) she is almost back to 100%. no egg yet, i don't think we'll eat the first one she lays again (if she does that is)

i am happily surprised but I wish I knew what caused it and cured it so I can avoid it in the future. We did get new hay and she scratched it away from underneath her, i wonder if maybe it was treated with chemicals...

i really appreciate all the help this board is the best!

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Great to hear she is improving. I would keep her on that diet for another few days until you are sure the crop is emptying fully.
Make sure she has access to grit going forward. Otherwise anything other than normal chicken pellets/crumbles can cause an impacted crop - which turns into sour crop if untreated. The grit will break down what she eats therefore keeping her crop emptying. You can purchase grit in most feed stores. I hope she continues to improve!

 

[CricketP]

thanks for that advice

we gave her a few treats, corn and a bit of tomato but we'll stop for now

she has oyster shell, we have left a small pile in her coop

 

[mew317]

Can you show us a pic of the poop or? Also, good job on keeping her okay!