Sour Crop?

[My1stChickens]

Young hen looked droopy, and comb was starting to flop over. She was still on the roost rather than on the coop floor with her friends. Seemed to have lost weight, breast bone was easily felt when I lifted her. Brought her into hospital cage for observation and supportive care. No interest in food, but drank some electrolyte water. Noticed that crop seemed squishy. She drank a LOT of water, never touched food. Whitish/yellow liquid with minimal signs of normal green poop in it.

Day 2. still not eating, still drinking, and confirmed that crop was all squishy and full. Removed all food and water, for overnight, and started miconizole cream orally.

Day 3. Crop was so full she was overflowing liquid from mouth. I got her to vomit/drain liquid- it was smelly. Mostly clear but some solids (meal worms, grass) in the mix. returned water cup to cage, she drank a lot. Crop refills. She's "pooping" fairly frequently, and as the day progresses, I see a bit more green, but it's still a mostly liquid and white/yellow.

So she keeps refilling her crop with water. There is some stuff progressing out the other end but she's looking a bit like Dolly Parton from refilling her crop with water. I'm getting concerned that she has not eaten for 3 days. I don't find a hard mass that would indicate a blockage or impaction, the crop is very squishy, and high. Is there anything I should be doing that I'm not?

She is still strong enough to put up a big fight over taking the miconizole cream, and alternates between standing, and laying down.

Several weeks ago, this same hen seemed "off" and she spent a few days in the cage. Never figured out what it was, but she did not eat or drink and just seemed droopy. Wondering if that was a slight case and now she's relapsed.

 

[micstrachan]

Does she have access to granite grit? I’m wondering if she could have a blockage in her gizzard. It seems she might be drinking excessively to clear it.

Let’s ask @azygous her thoughts, but my hunch is to finish out the sour crop treatment AND possibly do a molasses flush. Can those be done at the same time?

I would also try to get her to eat something soft and easy to get through her system, like scrambled egg, for some energy to help her fight this.

 

[azygous]

The floppy comb and weight loss, and lethargy preceding the sour crop point to an avian disease that may be causing tumors. These will cause gradual shutdown of bodily functions including crop.

The miconazole should have started to work by this time and you should have seen improvement. But you should continue it regardless.

A molasses flush during sour crop isn't what I would recommend. On the chance she has a functional blockage in her gizzard, you might try coconut oil, two hefty teaspoons. I like the unrefined virgin type since it has an enjoyable flavor and most chickens will gobble it up without having to force it down them. Measure it out, divide into smaller morsels, chill slightly and offer it to the hen.

 

[My1stChickens]

Thank you so much for weighing in. Overnight she left me three green stains. Can’t really call it poop because it’s just liquid.
her cr0p was squishy but I don’t think there was quite as much volume today. The spit out was pale yellow without bits of solids. She has not touched a bite of scrambled egg this whole time. I offered some coconut oil and she went after it, she’s had a few good bites- so she has it available. Hoping she’ll get 2 teaspoons voluntarily since she fights like crazy.

They always have grit but don’t touch it. (They go through lots of oyster shell but no interest in grit). They are outside for most of the day so have sand and dirt to scratch in.

I hope it’s the gizzard and the oil will help clear it. I do think that there’s more moving through her, which I assume is a good sign? Thank you again for your advice and help

 

[My1stChickens]

I'm slowing coaxing her to get more coconut oil. If this works how will I know? Will she start pooping? Start wanting to eat?
I'm wondering if I should move the hospital cage to the coop so she has company. I doubt she's contagious and I can still medicate her.

 

[azygous]

Improvement in poop and behavior will tell you she's improving. You should see her perk up and produce more solid poop. Appetite will also improve.

By all means move her so she has the company of the others. She will be much happier and that will benefit her overall condition.

 

[My1stChickens]

It took her a while, but I think she ate about 2t of coconut oil, plus or minus 15%. Today not much excreted, but seems a bit brighter. (tail up rather than tucked, and she stood all day rather than setting) Emptied crop, it was a bit darker yellow, but just fluid, no solid bits.
I set up a hospital cage in the coop (it's 11x13, so plenty of room) She perked up when she got outside, and showed interest but did not eat feed from the dishes. She scratched around a bit, and talked to the others, and wanted to go outside with them so I let her. I realize this means that I won't be aware of every morsel she eats and every bit of poop or lack thereof, but it's mild weather and she did not isolate, she was with the little flock. They were not picking on her (they are not mean girls). She looked happy and okay, so I'm going with it.

Questions:

is the coconut oil something to continue, or just a one time deal?

She's still drinking a lot of water, and it's still mostly staying in her crop rather than moving through. Should I stick with clear water (no additives?) I'm concerned that the miconozole and coconut oil aren't getting where they need to be if they are floating on all that water, but I don't ever like to withhold water.

Thinking tomorrow might cage her for a bit, so I can tell whether she's eating at all. She honestly has not had a morsel of food for four days now. She had her feed, and scrambled eggs available, didn't want anything.

 

[azygous]

Her behavior tells us that she's starting to feel better, and that may be because things are beginning to move in her digestive tract. Once she poops out the obstruction that's causing her crop not to empty, she should feel like eating.

Your instincts are good. Listen to them. I don't know how often I see people here say they've read that you should withhold food and water with crop disorders. Water should never be withheld. A chicken will eat what they need, so unless a chicken has just had crop surgery, there's no reason to withhold food.

If her crop empties and she starts eating again, that is a very good sign that she's cleared the obstruction. But it may take her a few weeks to gain weight.

 

[My1stChickens]

She put herself on the roost for bed. I gave her more miconazole and offered a bit more coconut oil-- which she accepted. Comb is still flopped over, and she still had a squishy crop, but at least now she's eaten something. Hoping for a huge mess of a poopy spot under her section of the roost in the morning.

 

[My1stChickens]

This morning she looked pretty good. There was nothing much under her spot on the roost (I have a shelf under the roost covered in PDZ powder-- under her spot appeared to be liquid only) Gave her monoxadine, the others had some grubblies but she did not eat any. Her crop seemed to be pretty normal, not squishy. It's going to rain, so they are hanging out in the coop. So far, so good. I might be imagining it, but I "think" her comb is just a bit less floppy.
Mid morning I fixed 3 scrambled eggs and tossed in some raw unsalted sunflower seeds, then sprinkled vitamins/electrolytes, and tossed it over into the pen. She trotted right over and ate with the others, which made me smile. Starting to feel more hopeful for a good outcome.