Sour crop me thinks?!

A

Anthony 1974

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Touch wood other than my Cream Legbar (who now seems to be fully recovered after a course of antibiotics), I have had no issues with my girls until yesterday evening.
I noticed Frodo (yes she's a girl - don't ask me - I had no say in the names!) was looking pretty sorry for her self and did not go for the handful of corn I scattered as the other 5 did. Instead she made a couple of ineffectual pecks at the corn and scrapped her beak a number of times on the floor. Her tail was down and I noticed her keel seemed more swollen than the other girls.
I picked her up and found that the crop felt quite balloon-like and spongy. There appeared to be a smell coming from her beak.
I read up on this and think she has either a compacted crop but more likely a sour crop.
This afternoon I used some olive oil (2tsps) and some warm water and spent approximately 15-20 minutes alternating between massaging the crop whilst she was in a sitting position and holding her upside down whilst massaging her crop.
After a bit of patience, she released some brown liquid but not in huge quantities. There was not solid matter.
The crop felt smaller but still spongy however I felt that Frodo had had enough so put her down - didn't want to over do it and stress her out - will now monitor.
Does it sound like I've done the right thing?
How long should a swollen crop be massaged for?
What quantity of warm water should be used?
Is repeated massage over the next few days likely to pay dividends or is the vet needed?

Thanks all,

Ant.
 
Let the girls out this morning and whilst Frodo went for the mashed veg I put in for them, she seemed to only pick at it - but she was eating - something she was not doing yesterday. Still not looking right.
Will try the massage again this afternoon when I get home from work.
Ant
 
Hi Anthony, sorry to hear about Frodo. You might try good- quality bio- active yogurt, such as Yeo Valley or Rachel's) (and/or order some Beryl's special yogurt for chickens, see http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/shop/view/index.aspx/product/beryls-6-bird-sachet--74
as these will help to break down the fungal infection that causes sour crop. Other remedies include garlic (crushed, in their drinking water) or apple cider vinegar, (get the proper stuff, not the sort you buy in supermarkets, go to an agricultural store or a poultry supply company online.) or, if you're still worried, a trip to the vet, as there are medications that will help. If she doesn't improved this might be a good idea as the sour crop may be a symptom of another gut or liver problem, which will need antibiotics. Have you been able to see what her droppings are like? When one of mine had similar problems her droppings went sort of lichen green, which the vet said indicated a liver infection. She soon recovered on medication.

I don't know if you came across this page from the Chicken Vet site http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/digestive-problems/index.aspx#sour_crop
 
Marigold,
thanks for the tips - have given Frodo 3 tsps of Yeo Valley bio yoghurt this afternoon. Whilst holding her, her crop felt far less spongy/fluidy than yesterday and whilst she is still walking around rather listlessly with her tail down, she is taking on some food which she wasn't yesterday - fingers crossed! Plan to repeat the yoghurt dose over the next few days.
I've saved the Chicken Vet link for future reference - many thanks.

Ant
 
Hi Anthony. When we have a case of sour crop they get isolated and a water only diet for 24 hours, with plenty of crop massaging. Bad cases and we treat with Epsom salts -teaspoon of salts in 250mL water, as the label says. Then 5mL of the solution administered by syringe to the back of the throat -the remaining solution is discarded. Think the key is to massage it through. We have had an impacted crop that was squishy, but then noticed a hard ball within it. Impacted crop and they poo no noticeable solids, just a watery 'paste', or even only water. Sour crop and the poos will be big, runny, with solids, but 'slimy' and more smelly.
 
I have never had a chicken with sour crop but I used to breed cockatiels. If I had any chicks with sour crop I used to empty the crop and then fill the crop with synulox tablet, crushed and mixed with warm water, with in a couple of days they were back to normal. I never used to feed them for twenty four hours, just fluids. For a few weeks after a sour crop bout I used to give them live yoghurt once a day.
 
Thanks for your replies and advice all.
Frodo appears to have picked up significantly and is now eat almost as urgently as the other girls.
She is still not 100% but much better than last week but I will continue to monitor.
A good crop massage and drain on the first day followed by a couple of days of pro-biotic yoghurt seem to have had a positive effect but will only be satisfied when the young lady is laying again.
I'll update,


Ant
 
Well Frodo is well on the mend - tail now upright and she is scrambling for corn with the others - much perkier than at the weekend.
Thanks for the advice all - I'll let you know when she's laying again.

All the best,

Ant
 
Marigold said:
That's good to know, I'm glad she's better. Chicken keeping is a bit like having kids, isn't it?
Click to expand...

I agree...tonight tucking the chooks up, found myself absently rubbing mud of one of my muscovies ducks bills.. tut tutting at her whilst she trilled with delight.. :D :D
 
Well, Frodo now back to normal - she has been laying as normal for over a week now so her crop issue has well and truly been resolved - hoorah!

Ant
 
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