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Urgently need help before it's too late!**IT IS SOUR CROP**

Discussion in 'Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures' started by marlene, Dec 20, 2011.

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  1. Dec 20, 2011 #1
    marlene

    marlene Songster

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    This is the 3rd time i've posted for this pullet and still she is not well, i fear if i don't get to the bottom of whats wrong with her i will loose her soon.
    Would of liked to add my last post about her but don't know how to.

    I now think she might have impacted crop, How do i check for sure, what are the signs and symptoms?
    I noticed this morning her crop looks very big, she is standing very upright and her comb seems smaller and is flopping over to 1 side.
    Would she keep eating if her crop is impacted? she is eating loads.
    I did manage to catch her on sunday and feel her crop, it felt soft and i did not feel any hard lumps, it was quite soft and pliable.
    She has been doing this, pulling her head up and wiggling her neck round and then she drops her head and neck back down, she has been doing this for over a week now. I posted a video in my last post and some one said it's like she is adjusting her crop, she is now doing this constantly.
    How long do i have to sort her out if it is an impact? She has been like this for over a week and it is getting worse by the day, really don't want to loose her, please help!

    UPDATE I caught her and bought her in, while in my arms she was a little sick, it was watery, her crop feels watery. What shall i do?
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2011

  4. Dec 20, 2011 #2
    Mahonri

    Mahonri Urban Desert Chicken Enthusiast Premium Member

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    The only help I can give you is what I have done in a similar situation with impacted crop.

    Give her some olive oil and then massage the crop regularly. Keep her isolated and giver her mash to eat.

    Good luck.

    BTW... lots of hens (and roos) have combs that flop over and that isn't always a sign of sickness.

    When it comes to combs, usually it's the color that matters when determining health.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2011
  6. Dec 20, 2011 #3
    justbugged

    justbugged Head of the Night Crew for WA State

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    When is the last time you wormed the hen?
     
  8. Dec 20, 2011 #4
    marlene

    marlene Songster

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    I started with wormer 3 days ago.
    Got her on my lap now, have given her a suringe full of olive oil and i'm massaging her crop, it feels really soft and watery?? it feels full of liquid, is that normal?
     
  10. Dec 20, 2011 #5
    stoopid

    stoopid Chicken Fairy Godmother

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    You said pullet, her comb may be flopping because she is getting ready to lay?
    Sometimes, a crop may lose muscle tone, they make crop bras for that.
    They get all floppy, and they need to keep readjusting to this thing hanging off their breast.
    It seem you are doing everything you can....
    I would limit the amount of feed for a while, to see if that's not what is going on.
    Maybe another something to look up in the emergencies section?
    Good luck with her.
     
  12. Dec 20, 2011 #6
    marlene

    marlene Songster

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    Quote:She is about 25-28 weeks old and has been laying for about a month now. Her comb has been bright red and upright but the last few days i've noticed its slightly shriveld up, paler and flopping over to one side.
    She was a little sick,( watery) when i bought her in earlier and i've just seen her be sick in the garden.
    What could this mean??
     
  14. Dec 20, 2011 #7
    Highlander

    Highlander Tartan Terror

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    If the crop hasn't emptied by morning and is full and hard then it's impacted. If it's squishy and there is a bad smell coming from her mouth then it's sour crop. I would try very carefully to turn her upside down and massage the gunk out. You need to be very careful not to let her aspirate on the stuff coming out. You may need to do this a couple times a day for a few days until it's clear.
     

  17. Dec 20, 2011 #8
    ChickenCanoe

    ChickenCanoe Free Ranging

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    What breed is she? Not all breeds have erect combs, there are many that flop over and are supposed to.

    Sounds more like sour crop than impacted.

    If she eats anything besides layer feed make sure she gets adult size granite grit. Also, try some plain full fat yogurt.
    ETA: and I would limit her food intake some till it clears.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2011
  19. Dec 20, 2011 #9
    marlene

    marlene Songster

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    She is a blue marans.
    Would sour crop feel watery and squishy and would it make her be sick? i checked her crop this morning when i let her out and it was full and squishy then, it felt watery and i'm sure i could hear the liquid in it, i can only feel a few grains low down in her crop.
     
  21. Dec 20, 2011 #10
    Sjisty

    Sjisty Scribe of Brahmalot

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    I have two black copper Marans hens and both their combs are floppy. Smell around her mouth. If it's sour, you will smell it. As Chickencanoe said, some plain yogurt might help. I wouldn't give oil.
     
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