Sour/Impacted Crop *Newbie Here*

Date sort Score sort
NeuroticVirgo

NeuroticVirgo

In the Brooder
5 Years
Apr 20, 2014
30
0
22
After inspecting my chicken I'm pretty sure it is one of these. Where the crop is feels like a giant water balloon. I've seen different kinds of advice on here. Some of these seem to be the main ones I've seen.

- remove food 24 hrs
- remove water 12 hrs
- massage crop
- feed yogurt (some called for a yogurt egg mixture)
- give olive oil and warm water

So a few things. We live in Arizona and its hitting about 110 degrees now. So no water seems like a bad idea. If she has full access to water will it make it worse?

And I'm totally new to chickens (and birds in general) how do you massage the crop to help empty it? And how do you know if your doing it right? I found a video but I feel like if I were to squeeze as hard as it looks in the video I would hurt my chicken.
sad.png



Also we have grass in our run. Its kept cut, but could this be what caused it?

Thanks for any assistance.

- Worried Chicken Mom
 
I'm not sure I'm going to be much help as I'm going through this right now myself and am new too... My rooster has what I believe is an impacted crop. I got 10cc of straight olive oil down him and massaged his crop gently. Almost immediately it softened up. He is still lethargic and laying down a lot but he is much better than he was (I was convinced he was on deaths door earlier today). His crop was hard like a hockey puck. I just massaged it gently like make a light fist and then release. If he squawked out I went lighter, but kept it up for 15 minutes the first time and then 5 the next two times.
 
NeuroticVirgo said:
After inspecting my chicken I'm pretty sure it is one of these. Where the crop is feels like a giant water balloon. I've seen different kinds of advice on here. Some of these seem to be the main ones I've seen.

- remove food 24 hrs
- remove water 12 hrs
- massage crop
- feed yogurt (some called for a yogurt egg mixture)
- give olive oil and warm water

So a few things. We live in Arizona and its hitting about 110 degrees now. So no water seems like a bad idea. If she has full access to water will it make it worse?

And I'm totally new to chickens (and birds in general) how do you massage the crop to help empty it? And how do you know if your doing it right? I found a video but I feel like if I were to squeeze as hard as it looks in the video I would hurt my chicken.
sad.png



Also we have grass in our run. Its kept cut, but could this be what caused it?

Thanks for any assistance.

- Worried Chicken Mom
Click to expand...
Here's an outstanding page for just this problem:

http://www.windywillowhomestead.etsy.com/

Chicken Anatomy: The Crop, Impacted Crop & Sour Crop




I hope this helps you!!
 
Well we brought her inside so that her need for water wasn't so high. No food or water for more than 12 hrs now and no change. I've tried massaging it a few times but nothing comes up and I don't really feel anything in there (like how people say they can feel grit or grass or a lump). It feels like I'm just massaging a water balloon or stress ball. A friend of a friend said to start her on tylan50 antibiotics or she could die in a week. That did not really help my situation. Her poop is watery almost like gel with some white and brown. Not sure what to do.
 
I've heard a couple of people who have written about sour crop and they said nystatin and some other antifungal can do great things. I know that yogurt can help as well. I'm using apple cider vinegar added to the waterers and I gave him a few syringes full of water and apple cider vinegar last night and he has greatly improved. Still acting ill, but taking in minute bits of water (no food yet). How did you suspect she was ill? Is she acting funny or you just noticed the crop?
 
She was throwing up which was got me on the search. At first I assumed she was just gorging herslef on water and it was coming back up. (It is very hot during the day) Then she kept throwing up and was doing some weird head bobbing. And that led me to info about the crop. So I went out and felt it and it was big, a bit bigger than a golf ball. This is our first set of chickens, and sadly she is the only one left as we lost our other 2 to dogs while we were on vacation. I was really hoping she was just full and that this morning it would be empty. She was eating but she would throw it back up.
 
Okay. That def sounds more like sour crop vs impacted. My roo was doing the neck bobbing thing too (still is today, but is too fast for me to catch him to massage it again---a sign he is perking up a little).

I want to double check some info, but I think I know what you might need to do. Just a sec
 

Similar threads

A
Sour crop, don't know whose advice to follow
Replies
1
Views
336
EggSighted4Life
EggSighted4Life
E
Should I trust the vet for crop issue?
2
Replies
11
Views
741
The Tiny Homestead
The Tiny Homestead
B
    • Like
Crop not emptying and limping
Replies
3
Views
373
babybop11
B
calhounchix
Chicken has impacted crop and round worms
Replies
2
Views
682
just0430
J
L
Huge Impacted crop? Love her!!!
Replies
6
Views
847
just0430
J

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom