Sour crop

[pwand]

I read to put backing soda in the water, its been used to flush the crop. I bought a syringe and a tube to go on the end from the Vet office. You will need another person to help you with the flush. I stopped giving yogurt and boiled eggs. She looks at it and shakes her head at it. The yolk of the boiled egg is nice we're it disolves. I started giving my hen her crumble softened up and she is loving it. She had a normal small poop about an hour ago. I think that's a good sign, I'm concerned about the goop. I think it's blocking her from absorbing her food. I have only smell sour crop yesterday, however, the previous days no smell. It's been day 8 I think. Losing track. I see you have been at this for almost three months. You must be exhausted. I dewormed her as well. She did have worms. Tinny ones just in case that was part of her problem. Shes fluffed up for two days. That worries me.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Welcome pwand.

Shell & Pwand: when my babies were born they were born 4 weeks early and hadn't learned their sucking reflex yet and we started them with some small feeding tubes (kind of works like straws) except formula and milk dribbled through them. I do believe these are fairly common and should be fairly easy to acquire from a Home Health store. In the U.S. you need an Rx for even the simplest things. But other countries like the UK or Canada may be more lenient with a feeding tube. They're pretty simple tools. I'm sure your local vets can get their hands on some for you as well. Probably just a phone call to your local pharmacist, he'd probably have some too.

Pwand in that link: Baking soda and water is the alternative to Alka Selzer, if you don't have it. There is a formula in that link that gives the proportions safe for a bird. Alka Selzer seems to have more effervescense though if you ask me and might be better at bubbling out that coating of yeast. Also Pwand if you've had trouble with worms I've read some great information on Ginger Beer's affect for deworming. Not sure if I've ever seen it on shelves around where I live but maybe it's more readily available where you are.


Gosh wouldn't it be wonderful if that Alka Selzer does the trick?!

 

[shell3]

well i didnt do the alka seltzer last night. was just too worried about the crop not being empty. so i hit the books. found info i a recently aquired health book and it says epsom salt solution followed by copper sulphate. ive been given this advice on her previously so thought i might go for that instead.sounds very simular to alka seltzer but makes no mention of the crop having to be empty. i had hoped it would be empty tgis morning but no. so its all guns today as cant leave her with no food any more. its 7:30 morning here and im waiting for shops to open at 9 then ill be out hunting tubes syringes epsom salts and copper sulphate. i have no help thou hubbys at work since 5 and im left only with a four year old! not ideal! may have to pay vet to help if i cant rope in a neighbour !!
pwand- yes exhausted!! and bit down but soildering on! we cant give up, the cures right round the corner im sure xx

 

[shell3]

ok shops are rubish!!! found epsom salts and thats all! will have to order copper sulphate online and goodness knows when that'll arrive! anyhow as i couldnt get a tube ive syringed 1 tsp epsom salts disolved in 1 fluid ounce water into her mouth.she didnt like the taste but was quite cooperative she shook her head a bit and i got some in my mouth and eye! dosnt taste good! now im waiting an hour then gonna feed her mash. shes starving. dont know if this is gonna work as ive realised i have other problems! shes plucking feathers from her body and eating them!!!! this could be the reason shes blocked up!! dont know how to stop her . i may have to upend her and try to get them out idk if they'll digest?? im very frustrated right now and if this dosnt work i dont know what to do! ill check back in an hour or so x

 

[shell3]

well mits been 30 mins and i cant take any more im convinced shes eating feathers now because shes starving and i figure mash is better than feathers!! so ive given her a tiny amount of mash with some amino + mixed in (0.5ml) the thread i read about epsom salts said you can mix it with food or water so i figure the food should be fine and its had half an hour to sit alone in there (other than a lot of feathers!!

)
so its now a waiting game to see if she starts pooping and emptying that blasted crop! think im going to feed her every hour or two just a tiny bit of mash. i cant risk anymore weight loss. of course if its not emptying then feeding her is just pointless as shes not getting any thing passed the crop. my electrolites arrived this morning (two week wait from the US) still waiting for crop bra though at this point how much thats gonna help i just dont know. might put electrolites in water but dont want anything to interfere with the flush so might hold off on that till tonight.
i realise im rambling now! thinking out loud as bogtown would say

just trying to get all avenues clear in my mind.
Come on Bombie!!

 

[shell3]

not good not good

shes had diarhea which was expected with the flush but the crop has not gone down any! i just upended her over the loo and vomited her and my god! theres a lot of feathers in there!! really worrying , ive got out as much as i could but how many more are in there idk and whats to stop her eating more! ive given her mash hoping if shes not hungry she wont do it and also ground up some mealworms and scattered them in there trying to get some in the crevises of the cage in order to keep her attention longer but i fear as soon as thats gone she'll be back to the feathers. i dont want to over feed her but im seriously considering giving her pellets as the feathers are a huge problem. and at least pellets are food! im so lost right now

im thinking of putting her outside so shes not bored. ive taken away the bedding and anything she could eat and shes still finding bad things to eat ! actually plucking herself so maybe shes better of outside eating dirt and pellets.

 

[RangingChicks]

I hope she feels better soon

 

[shell3]

thanks ranging chicks me too x

ive put her outside shes got pellets out there and is eating off the floor but i dont think it makes much diffence as hopfully what she eats out there is edible and not feathers. im thinking if its the same tomorrow ill empty crop again and go from there .

 

[Bogtown Chick]

First of all one of the above for you today and all your efforts.

Copper sulfate is often found at greenhouses or flower shops. and That's where alot of us US folks find that compound.

For Bombies feathers: Do you have access to a small or baby t-shirt. Maybe you can cut wing holes and or fashion that so it covers a majority of her body and she can't pluck on her favorit spot as easily.

Green diahrea is a sign of "starvation" in birds--I think I read on another sour crop thread. Strong word when I know you are feeding her. Tomorrow is your vet appointment? I'm thinking epsom salts will give the poohs too. So maybe it's already that working too.

I think this is your time to either do the wine or the alka selzer. Start flushing this stuff. Then begin again in with soft food. Shell how frustrating and frazzled you must be. Remember these birds are the armoured tank of the avian world. If she's still got spunk there's hope yet. I hope you can remain positive. Hard when you're tired.

Perhaps your Vet can help you through with some of this other information to clear her and get her on her way.

 

[shell3]

yeah vets in the morning so ill see what he says. also might get him to empty her crop for me as his obviously better at it than i !!
im defeated today im afraid so shes having a day ouside with pellets. and ill recharge and start over tomorrow x