Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[maggiesfarm]

Hello again folks

 

I've since found out my hen has sour crop. I've tipped her upside down and made her "sick" and she has had some live yoghurt but her crop still feels a bit squashy and she is still low.

 

How often should try to evacuate the crop, and is it better to stick with the live yoghurt or should I go for antibiotics, I know not to try the 2 together. How much yoghurt should she have and do I use a syringe to get it into her or try to get her to eat it herself (how?).

 

Any help or advice is welcome as I would hate to lose her.

 

Thanks again

 

 

Mags

[The Dogmother]

Be careful how you empty her crop as chickens don't have a gag reflex and can choke or inhale the crop contants. If she has sour crop, then the contents would have staretd to ferment and smell vile.

 

Feed her on Bokashi Bran, probiotic yoghurt, with apple cider vinegar in the water. If you have some Avipro then add that to either the water or feed. Cut out any other types of food until she has settled down. The Avipro will provide her with all the nutrients she needs at the moment.

 

Let us know how you get on.

[maggiesfarm]

Thanks Claret

 

Where can I get Bokashi bran apart from mail order, is it something you can get easily at a local feed store or pet shop? And don't you have to use a special type of cider vinegar, not the normal cooking type ?

 

Thanks for your help though.

 

Mags.

[The Dogmother]

You can get both those from the omlet shop and if you call them, they are usually very prompt with the delivery.

 

You can use ACV from the supermarket, but it's cheaper to but it in bulk from a feed supplier.

 

Roughly where are you located Maggie?

[maggiesfarm]

I'm in Penistone, South Yorkshire.

 

While you're here, how often should I try the crop emptying/massage technique, really don't want to stress her any more than necessary. I'm at work at the moment so haven't been able to check her since this am. We also noticed she had a small mark on her chest, is this part of the condition too or something else.

 

Mags

[The Dogmother]

Ahhh, too far to collect some of each from me then!

 

I'm not at home at the moment either, otherwise I'd stick some Bokashi in the post to you for delivery tomorrow.

 

I would avoid emptying the crop unless it's really essential as it stresses them and there's a strong chance that the hen might inhale the crop contents. Getting her started on the pro-biotic yoghurt at least will get her on the road to recovery, see what you can do. Bokashi Bran is manufactured by http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk, it might be worth ringing them and seeing if there is a stockist near you.

 

Prevention is good in hindsight - sour crop (which is a form of candida) can sometimes happen when the crop isn't emptying properly, so impacted crop can 'mutate' into sour crop. So keep the chooks away from any feedstuff that might block their crops, like stringy grass. It's worth having the above products in stock to cover any eventualities; I always add a little of the bran to their feed and ACV to the water about once a week. Avipro is great for any ailing animal and especially good for one with the squits.

[maggiesfarm]

Thanks for all your help and advice.

 

Have ordered bran from Omlet and will call at the supermarket to get ACV on the way home. She seemed to like the probiotic yoghurt this am so that's a good sign at least, will try to get more into her later.

 

They range around the garden which is mostly short grass, so will have to try to keep her away from anything that could get stuck.

 

I'll keep you posted.

 

Mags

[Egluntyne]

Home made applesauce...unsweetened is a useful addition to the diet too, in a case of sour crop.

[maggiesfarm]

Hi Folks

 

Just got home from work and LWH is now walking (slowly) round the garden making hen noises, clucking and chirping

 

I've managed to get her to eat almost a teaspoon of live yoghurt (Longley Farm) by putting a tiny amount of wild bird food with it. She is also scratching at the pellets.

 

Should I keep her off the pellets and just try to get her to eat yoghurt or let her eat pellets but keep her off the grass. How much cider vinegar should I add to the water, they have a 1.5 litre water thingy that I fill every day.

 

Sorry for all the questions but I really thought she was a gonner this morning when I let them out. Thanks for all your help and advice. Will post a picture when she is better and I have washed , she's a bit grubby at the moment.

 

Mags

 

PS She is now in the kitchen pestering the cats !!!!

[The Dogmother]

Sounds liek she's feeling a bit bettre, but keep up the treatment until it's obvious that she's OK. Just a few pellets will be OK, I add roughly a teaspoon of ACV to the water; you don't need to be massively scitnetific about it, just a smidge is fine.