why did I just lose my hen to sour crop?

[corrae]

My buff orp hen just died in my arms--I'm 99% sure it was sour crop. i'd spent today massaging her crop, giving her water w/apple cidar vinear, and I just brought her out of the crate, set her on my lap, when she suddenly threw up lots of water, some partially digested food, had a spasm, and died right there. what did I do wrong and how do I prevent this in the future. I'm in tears over my poor poor hen--I was thinking she was on the mend....

 

[Chick-a-roos]

I am new chicken owner. But, I am sure someone here can help you. Sorry, for your loss.

 

[corrae]

Thanks for the moral support. As I'm sure you know, this is very hard. I feel so guilty--I wish I had done more, or the right thing, or something. This is horrible.

 

[KKatknap]

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Don't beat yourself up. You did the best you knew to do. She died in your arms knowing you loved her.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I don't have an answer for you. I just wanted to let you know that most people aren't on tonight. If you don't get a helpful answer, try again tomorrow or later. There are some very knowledgeable people on here who can most certainly help you.

I'm also sorry for your loss. It hurts when we lose our beloved pets.

 

[Lolita]

So sorry for your loss

-hug-

 

[Chick-a-roos]

I have not lost any of my babies since I started getting chickens in April but I can't imagine. I had two different incidents - one silkie roo with an impacted crop and another roo that was beat up pretty bad. Lots of tears but both survived. I am so attached to all of them. I have always had dogs/cats and feel like I know how to handle issues with them. But, my chickens...I feel helpless. It has truly been a learning experience. Hang in there....try not to feel guilty even though that is easier said than done. We do our best and try to make the right decisions. Love is the key to all!

 

[Dora'smom]

I'm so sorry you lost your girl. It sounds like you really tried to do your best for her, and I'm sure she appreciated it. Maybe tomorrow someone will be online who can help you figure out if there was anything else you might have done, or not.

 

[write2caroline]

I am so sorry for your loss. It is never easy to lose a furry or feathered friend.

Caroline

 

[rancher hicks]

I know this is hard and you know I just read about "feral" chickens and I thought feral is just another word for "dumped". So be comforted in the fact that your girls are cared for cause it's gotta be a better life than being dumped. Anyhow there is a radio show called the "Chicken Whisperer" that I think you can get on-line.
I remember reading an article and the author was saying that chickens are not like other pets. There hasn't been alot of research other than diseases I expect. Which is why you can't usually find a vet. Seems to me they are fragile. You can do the best you know how and still they get sick and die. Then sadly enough you blame yourself.

I used to have guinea pigs and they would rarely but occasionally get "wasting disease" (I call it). They'd be fine one day and then the next they'd just stop eating. No one knew why. I even got the "blue book" from Cornell Universtiy. That book acknowledged the disease but said little was done in the way of research because guinea pigs were so prolific that it wasn't worth the time. Now I expect if lots of guinea pigs began dying of the disease then something would have been done.

Now back to your chicken. Are you sure it's sour crop? What is the cause? Have you researched how to prevent it? Surely there is some information on-line on how to cure it.

There are lots of books on how to raise healthy chickens and quite personally none have said anything about giving them scraps from the table and the like. Free range is good if you know there is nothing to harm them in the way of vegetation. Cuz chickens aren't that smart and it seems to me they will eat anything that strikes their fancy. Currently I have some Foxglove growing in the back of my property and I would not risk letting them free range in that area. I keep them in a fenced in area well away of the foxglove. Did you know that Sweet peas are poisonoius? Have you even considered what may be growing around your yard? I have no concerns about them eating my tomatos but some when it comes to eating the plant. I know if I continue to give them scraps I run the risk that they might get sick just like me. Except they're more fragile. Now this is not to say the OP has done any of these things but I put it out there so we'd all have a good think.

So my final word is when these things happen and they do, don't blame yourself if you've done your best and done everything you can to provide a safe healthy environment for your chickens. Even after all that you will lose a few.

Love ya Rancher