Single hen

[SnowWhite]

Sour crop is one of those nasties that I've read about but hoped that I'd never have to deal with. Unfortunately, after an afternoon free ranging (and raiding the compost bin ) Astrid was poorly on Sunday morning. I thought I'd detail the steps I took and the symptoms in case they'll help someone. I used all the advice I could find on this forum and don't think I'd have been quite as confident and determined to sort out the problem without.

 

Astrid is the biggest, boldest hen in the flock but on Sunday she was quiet, detached and fluffed up. When I picked her up, I could feel her crop was squishy, like a balloon filled with water, about the size of a tennis ball. When I massaged her crop, she 'burped' smelly sulphurous nothings at me . Her eyes kept closing and she was obviously distressed.

 

First thing I did was give her a does of Baytril followed by 12ml of Avipro solution by syringe. I know that before anyone tells me that Baytril will have killed off the probiotics in Avipro but I used it for the electrolytes, vitamins and all that good stuff and simply to keep her hydrated.

 

That evening I felt her crop and it was no better. I decided to massage the crop and tip her upside down to sick it up - with great (if not revolting) success. This was not a pleasant experience but she seemed brighter afterwards.

 

I then rushed out to get Daktarin Gel and started giving her three pea shaped blobs a day together with 5mls of Avipro every hour. She could not be tempted to eat at all. I separated her from the flock and made her nice and warm in a box in the shed. I did not feed any food that day as she really was not interested and focused on keeping her hydrated.

 

Day two, Baytril again. Avipro for breakfast followed by yoghurt and garlic powder and Daktarin - nice mix. I used garlic for it's anti-fungal properties. Lunch - same. For dinner she managed to take 24ml of pureed cat food. Still no interest in food. Crop felt a little squishy but noticeable reduced. Tried to induce regurgitation again but nothing. Plenty of gentle massage. Smelly breath is not so bad today.

 

Day three, today, breakfast of Baytril, 12mls each catfood and Avipro - but still has to be force fed. Starting to take an interest in pecking and scratching. No bad breath. Obviously lost some weight and a little wobbly - tail up again . Lunch, too feisty to be force fed, no interest in food but definitely perky. This evening, rejoined the flock, pecking at catfood (this is a treat for the whole flock who are regrowing some feathers after a nasty bout of pecking ) and also some left over layers porridge. Hurray!!!

 

I will continue the Baytril once a day and Daktarin 3 times a day for another two days or until she is back to normal self (and withdraw eggs for longer).

 

So my advice it this:

1. Trust the forum - do not be afraid to take the advice given

2. Keep a stock of essential supplies - feeding syringes, Baytril, Avipro, Daktarin

3. Have someone help you force feed (it isn't that brutal and they do get used to it) as it is really important not to let them get dehydrated

4. Familiarise yourself with the signs of sour crop so that you can act quickly - bad breath, full and squishy crop, withdrawn, fluffed up, loss of interest in food.

5. Poo check - to make sure that the crop is still functioning once you start treatment

6. Make sure you have a good avian vet available just in case.

 

Lastly thank you to all the valuable contributions on this site that helped me to make Astrid better - I love that chicken!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's fantastic news . And in no small amount due to your brilliant nursing skills . I'm going to bookmark this post so I have it to hand if my girls ever suffer a similar fate .

[Chickvic]

Great news! I agree, this forum is a fab place and someone is always there with great advice!