Swollen crop. Is it sour crop or something else?

[Genevieve Automaton]

My hen, Mischief, has an issue with her crop. It's swollen and squishy, but has no smell to it that I've been able to notice. She's a bit of a mess right now, going through her first adult molt at 2 and a half years old. And it's been a hard molt so she's dropped a lot of feathers in a very short time. Her appetite has also been all over the place. Sometimes she wants lots of feed and other days she turns her nose up at everything I offer her except for treats. Three days ago, I noticed her crop was swollen and felt kind of squishy. The first day I noticed it, I decided to just keep an eye on it as I thought maybe she just ate a lot of feed and needed time to digest it. I did try to massage her crop but it's not easy with her being all pin feathers and not keen on being handled. Yesterday it was still swollen and squishy, so I gave her some coconut oil and massaged her crop some more, much to her displeasure. I also picked up some Monistat 7 and gave her her first doses today and am planning on giving it to her for 7 days. I've been following the information in this link, as a guide to what I'm supposed to be doing, but I feel kind of lost and am worried that I am going to lose her to this.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/?page=12

Her crop is still swollen and squishy today. As a side note, I am not comfortable trying to vomit her. I would like to try to treat this myself, though the vet is an option if I can't get it to clear up. My vet is pretty good, but getting an appointment with her takes about a week.

More information that I can think of. Mischief has not been eating much, a few nibbles here and there. Her poop is mostly urates. Minimal solids. She is still drinking. What else can I do to help her?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

Sometimes the crop seems to slow during molt. I'd continue to treat the symptom just like you are, giving the Miconazole twice a day for 7days.

Try to encourage her to eat her normal feed, try it wet or dry and see that she's drinking well. Provide Grit (Crushed Granite) free choice.

Unless she's being picked on or bullied, I'd leave her with the flock and just pull her aside daily for treatment.

Vomiting is not recommended, they can aspirate easily, so I would avoid that.

If possible, see if you Vet will do a fecal float on a sample of her poop to rule out worms as part of the problem. If they are, then treating with Albendazole (Valbazen) would be a good idea. Avoid using Fenbendazole (Safeguard/Panacur) during molt since it is known to affect feather quality in molting birds.