Sour crop

[Chriswells2324]

Hello everyone. I’ve had chickens for years. I’ve never had any issues - disease, mites, etc. In the past month I’ve had 2 chickens who’ve developed sour crop. The first one went on to develop a crop impaction and died. It was my fault as I wasn’t paying close enough attention to the way she was acting. Yesterday I noticed another hen acting funny. Not rushing over to eat, tail down, staying away from the other hens. Her crop feels like a water balloon. I wasn’t able to feel much food in there, so I don’t think she’s impacted. She’s been isolated in a cage for about 12 hours now (over night). Her crop is still the same. She’s been drinking water (containing Hydro Hen) and pooping normally. I’ve read quite a bit on sour crop. Does anyone have any advice on anything else I should be doing? Also, I just find it strange that we’ve never had any issues and now 2 of my hens have been sick. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[azygous]

It is strange you are having so many with crop issues. When that happens, you need to consider they may have an exposure to mold. Check the feed supplies. Mold smells bad even if you see nothing. Another source of mold exposure can be compost piles. You'd be surprised what chickens will dig up. Damp bedding in the run or coop can be another source. Continued exposure can lead to serious illness and death.

Impacted crop and sour crop are two different issues, but impacted crop can turn into sour crop because food is sitting in the crop longer than is healthy. Chickens that over indulge on things like grass or other things high in cellulose can suffer from impacted crop.

Have you read my article on crop disorders?https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Eggcessive]

I never had any crop problems for the first 5 years of chicken, but then had a few that were difficult to treat. My chickens were 5+ years old, and may times crop problems can be a secondary issue when they are having a reproductive disorder. Make sure that your chickens have plenty of water in more than one location, and having granite poultry grit available to them is helpful. Azygous is the go-to person for crop problems.

 

[Chriswells2324]

It is strange you are having so many with crop issues. When that happens, you need to consider they may have an exposure to mold. Check the feed supplies. Mold smells bad even if you see nothing. Another source of mold exposure can be compost piles. You'd be surprised what chickens will dig up. Damp bedding in the run or coop can be another source. Continued exposure can lead to serious illness and death.

Impacted crop and sour crop are two different issues, but impacted crop can turn into sour crop because food is sitting in the crop longer than is healthy. Chickens that over indulge on things like grass or other things high in cellulose can suffer from impacted crop.

Have you read my article on crop disorders?https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Thank you! I have read your article, I started miconazole this morning, and have another dose this evening. She has the fresh water with Hydro Hen. Should I go ahead and give her a boiled egg? None of their food smells bad. I give fresh laying pellets daily. The only thing I can think of is that they are digging in wet hay. My goats and chickens are in the same enclosure. It is about a half acre fenced in. I used to let them free range but we had some foxes come in and nearly wipe out my flock. We’ve had this arrangement for at least 4 years now though. I change out the hay in the nesting boxes regularly. Thank you again!!!

 

[Chriswells2324]

I never had any crop problems for the first 5 years of chicken, but then had a few that were difficult to treat. My chickens were 5+ years old, and may times crop problems can be a secondary issue when they are having a reproductive disorder. Make sure that your chickens have plenty of water in more than one location, and having granite poultry grit available to them is helpful. Azygous is the go-to person for crop problems.

My chickens are fairly young, less than a year old. I recently bought some poultry grit after what happened with the first chicken, I just haven’t put it out yet.