Following my last post l have more bad news, although one of my hens has begun to lay again the other has developed sour/ impacted crop. This is the same hen which prolapsed when she first started laying. The advice l have been given is to cull. ☹
sour crop
- Thread starter cleo16
- Start date
chrismahon
Well-known member
Presumably the prolapse is OK now Cleo16?
There is a big difference between a sour crop and an impacted one. What does here crop actually feel like -is it soft and squishy or firm? Is she pooing anything? In either case giving water in 10mL doses down the throat and gently massaging the crop may resolve it -no food at all for at least 24 hours. The crop needs to be completely empty and I don't advise trying to drain it by turning her upside down, because of the risk of suffocation.
In the event that the vet decides culling is necessary you will need a plan for the other hen as it is unlikely she can live on her own.
There is a big difference between a sour crop and an impacted one. What does here crop actually feel like -is it soft and squishy or firm? Is she pooing anything? In either case giving water in 10mL doses down the throat and gently massaging the crop may resolve it -no food at all for at least 24 hours. The crop needs to be completely empty and I don't advise trying to drain it by turning her upside down, because of the risk of suffocation.
In the event that the vet decides culling is necessary you will need a plan for the other hen as it is unlikely she can live on her own.
I've moved this new thread to Chickens Health, along with your original thread, 'Stopped Laying,' and locked the first thread, so people don't miss out on part of the conversation.
How is she today, Cleo?
How is she today, Cleo?
The prolapse is ok, only happened once and l managed to gently ease the egg out and push the membranes back in.
The crop is squishy and stinky and she is trying hard to poo but tiny amounts come out she is not really trying to eat but l have been giving her water
The crop is squishy and stinky and she is trying hard to poo but tiny amounts come out she is not really trying to eat but l have been giving her water
chrismahon
Well-known member
It sounds like a digestive impaction causing slow transit and therefore the crop contents have gone sour. There are lots of possible reasons, anything from cherry stones, grass, tumour, infection, cigarette ends etc. She needs a vet without doubt.
Well she's seen a vet, given some critical care solution that l have to give every hour, told if she has antibiotics l can't eat her eggs...ever..but she'll probably be dead by morning, that will be £36 please. Now I'm not a person that is really soppy and sentimental, I understand the realities in life but feel that was a bit harsh.
Oh dear, I'm so sorry to hear this, how upsetting for you. It's quite hard to find a good avian vet, who also has a kind manner and understands that some of us consider our chickens as much as our dogs and cats. If he or she thought there was so little hope, did he suggest euthanasia there and then? My vet charges much less than £36 for this service, including disposal of the body. Like you, I'm realistic about knowing when the time has come for an animal, and seeing a hen going to sleep on the table in front of me is always very peaceful.
Unless the medicine you were given is intended to do anything to relieve the fermentation in the crop, it's probably not going to be effective, so why prescribe it?
I'm quite sure she has had the best of care from you, these things do happen to all of us. Try not to feel it's in any way your fault, she is a lucky girl to have such a loving home.
Unless the medicine you were given is intended to do anything to relieve the fermentation in the crop, it's probably not going to be effective, so why prescribe it?
I'm quite sure she has had the best of care from you, these things do happen to all of us. Try not to feel it's in any way your fault, she is a lucky girl to have such a loving home.
Thankyou Marigold, the vet didn't really tell me what she thought it might be, but said she was very thin, I told her about the not eating and watery stools. I think the idea behind it was to get fluid and vital nutrients in, hoping that she regains an appitite. She did say that if it was her she would give her the Baytril, and although it apparently is not licenced for poultry anymore, the advice is not to eat the eggs and against the law to sell them. That's not a biggie because I don't want to sell eggs and my only worry about eating her eggs, asuming she lives and lays again is that it may cause me to develop a resistance to antibiotics. I did ask it would be fairer to euthanise, but she said " try this and see how you go she'll probably be dead in the morning" well fingers crossed, the critical care mix is going down at a rate of 4ml an hour. I'm undecided whether to give the Baytril, any thoughts?
Re Baytril, there's a thread in the Chickens Health section 'Is your antibiotic really necessary?' which discusses the issues, if you're interested.
Maybe hold off on the Baytril for now, and see how she is in the morning? Often, quiet rest in a warm box is as helpful as anything for a sick chicken.
Maybe hold off on the Baytril for now, and see how she is in the morning? Often, quiet rest in a warm box is as helpful as anything for a sick chicken.
Quick up date, she is still with us, and has passed a long stringy poo about a foot long, I can only assume this was what was bunging her insides up and causing the watery stools. She is very weak, still not eating but there is hope if I can stop he'd system from shutting down, and tempt her with a few goodies, I've heard that natural plain yogurt is good. Thanks all for your comments
So glad to hear this, well done you for persevering. Try building her up with high protein supplements such as hulled sunflower seeds, mealworms, egg either scrambled or boiled and mashed, mixed in with a warm mash of pellets, nice and damp and crumbly. The extra fluid in the mash will help her to digest it all more easily. Many small 'treat-style' feeds will be best, rather than a big binge.
There is a type of yogurt called Beryls which is supposed to contain specially useful forms of bacilli to help chickens digestion. Try the Chicken Vet website, or just Google Beryls Yogurt. Otherwise, as you suggest, a good brand of active plain yogurt will help her.
Also, have a look round where they forage, to see if there's any long grass or whatever you think she might have tried to eat, to avoid a recurrence. I don't suppose she's learned her lesson!
There is a type of yogurt called Beryls which is supposed to contain specially useful forms of bacilli to help chickens digestion. Try the Chicken Vet website, or just Google Beryls Yogurt. Otherwise, as you suggest, a good brand of active plain yogurt will help her.
Also, have a look round where they forage, to see if there's any long grass or whatever you think she might have tried to eat, to avoid a recurrence. I don't suppose she's learned her lesson!
valeriebutterley
New member
Hello Cleo 16,
have been reading your post, so glad to hear that your girl seems to have made it on her own.
Treats unlimited for her, I think, I do not bother to scramble eggs as a treat for my girls, just aim them low at a tree trunk, and watch them go for it.
Even the shell disappears eventually. For some reason they do not seem to associate raw eggs with their own offerings, and just love them.
At the moment I am using (probably) fertile Pekin eggs as a treat.
Have disposed of hundreds of them over the last few months, but the great lay seems to have come to a grinding halt thank goodness!
Nobody ever says what wonderful layers Pekins are, especially if you have 9, and what rich eggs they produce. Very underrated, lovely too, on picnics,
the eggs that is!!!.
have been reading your post, so glad to hear that your girl seems to have made it on her own.
Treats unlimited for her, I think, I do not bother to scramble eggs as a treat for my girls, just aim them low at a tree trunk, and watch them go for it.
Even the shell disappears eventually. For some reason they do not seem to associate raw eggs with their own offerings, and just love them.
At the moment I am using (probably) fertile Pekin eggs as a treat.
Have disposed of hundreds of them over the last few months, but the great lay seems to have come to a grinding halt thank goodness!
Nobody ever says what wonderful layers Pekins are, especially if you have 9, and what rich eggs they produce. Very underrated, lovely too, on picnics,
the eggs that is!!!.
