Sour Crop

[Lacy Duckwing]

I think Jewels my Speckled Sussex has Sour Crop. This is what's been going on with her: Extremely liquidy poop (which stinks really bad), extreme thirst, she will just randomly twitches her head to one side like she's chocking but she's not, she'll randomly puke liquid and drink it back up, she had a very bad breath smell tonight when I massaged her crop because of her head twitching (massaging her crop gets her to stop her head twitching), she often acts tense, and sometimes she can't get to sleep because she's acting uncomfortable. Does she have Sour Crop? Is there anything else that I should be looking for? What is a good way to treat her? You people who has had chickens with Sour Crop, what worked the best for you? Also, where can I get a good chicken bra for her?

 

[theoldchick]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-with-bad-breath.825213/

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

That's another thing. A couple of times of her acting like she's chocking but she's not and I've massaged her crop, her crop felt like it was full of liquid and made a bubbly sound.

 

[theoldchick]

Open her mouth and look inside.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Open her mouth and look inside.

I'll have to do that in the morning, because she's sleeping right now (it's currently night where I live). I've just heard of white spots to the whole month being white, so is that what I should be looking for?

 

[theoldchick]

Yes.

 

[The Angry Hen]

I actually had recently experienced this as a first time with my Orpington hen. She was acting quite sluggish, and she's up there in age, so I thought for awhile I would lose her.
She was drinking a lot of water, but not eating much at all. When picking her up, she had the same issue as your Sussex hen, the crop was very soft, and when applying the slightest pressure, she'd spit up. (This was back in November).
As a routine, I'd gently massage her crop and very gently lift it upward. She'd spit up each day as much I could get her to, then I'd promote eating more food with nutrition, as opposed to just water.
What came from her beak always smelled sour, so I cut back on adding vinegar to her flock's water (I do this for immune system boosting, but halt when fermenting is an issue in the summer)...

I then separated her every night and fed her as she needed, so the others wouldn't pick on her while she ate, and continued keeping water very fresh, but not letting her crop get so full that holding her loosely would make her drool.
Here she is, her crop firmer and her feeding routine more energetic.
I'd recommend continuing the massaging, and maybe promoting the spitting, only if it's liquids that come out. If you see signs of food being spit up, set her back down and wait until she seems content and is properly digesting. She may need to regroup after the routine, but keep her in a warm spot, and watch her reactions to the regimen.

Best of luck and hope she feels better soon!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I actually had recently experienced this as a first time with my Orpington hen. She was acting quite sluggish, and she's up there in age, so I thought for awhile I would lose her.
She was drinking a lot of water, but not eating much at all. When picking her up, she had the same issue as your Sussex hen, the crop was very soft, and when applying the slightest pressure, she'd spit up. (This was back in November).
As a routine, I'd gently massage her crop and very gently lift it upward. She'd spit up each day as much I could get her to, then I'd promote eating more food with nutrition, as opposed to just water.
What came from her beak always smelled sour, so I cut back on adding vinegar to her flock's water (I do this for immune system boosting, but halt when fermenting is an issue in the summer)...

I then separated her every night and fed her as she needed, so the others wouldn't pick on her while she ate, and continued keeping water very fresh, but not letting her crop get so full that holding her loosely would make her drool.
Here she is, her crop firmer and her feeding routine more energetic.
I'd recommend continuing the massaging, and maybe promoting the spitting, only if it's liquids that come out. If you see signs of food being spit up, set her back down and wait until she seems content and is properly digesting. She may need to regroup after the routine, but keep her in a warm spot, and watch her reactions to the regimen.

Best of luck and hope she feels better soon!

Thank you so much for all this information!! One question: You're saying something about separating her, due to the cold weather, I'm concerned that she would get too cold by herself. I don't have a basement or anything like that to place her for her warmth either. And I don't think that it would be approved by some if she moved into my house, and if she was to, she'd get used to the temperature and not be able to go back out until spring. So what can I do about separating?
Thanks again!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

So this morning Jewels' crop was completely empty and she was doing well. I think massaging her crop last night helped her. I looked into her mouth and I didn't see any white spots.

 

[The Angry Hen]

Thank you so much for all this information!! One question: You're saying something about separating her, due to the cold weather, I'm concerned that she would get too cold by herself. I don't have a basement or anything like that to place her for her warmth either. And I don't think that it would be approved by some if she moved into my house, and if she was to, she'd get used to the temperature and not be able to go back out until spring. So what can I do about separating?
Thanks again!

Well, the specific hen I mentioned is the lowest on the pecking order, meaning that there are times when the others won't let her eat properly, or even when they do, she's too skittish. Separating isn't completely necessary if the others don't seem to make her situation worse. I used a brooding box and only divided her from the flock at night, unless during the day, she acted sluggish and cold.
Do what you think is right- and I'm so glad to hear the positive update!!