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emmaw298

Sour crop :(

By emmaw298, in Chicken Clinic

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emmaw298 Chicken Eggspert

emmaw298

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One of my new ex-free-range-farm hens has developed sour crop :(

I saw her eat an entire piece of straw last week and unfortunately didn't make it down the garden in time before the whole thing disappeared down her neck. Thought at the time, oh dear... Next day, as suspected, impacted crop so started massage with olive oil and made a trip to the local fishing tackle shop for some maggots. After 3 days and no success, yesterday morning her crop was very enlarged and fluidy and booked her into the local vet- which isn't brilliant for chickens but I knew what I needed to ask for so hoped it would be ok. However, saw a new vet who didn't think it was sourcrop but more like peritonitis as she was also a bit swollen underneath. Explained that in my experience (though somewhat limited) often with crop problems the gut becomes inflamed too and therefore fluid accummulates in the area, but vet quite adamant not sour crop as no smell and more likely a systemic problem and therefore wouldn't prescribe antifungals but suggested antibiotics - did ask for both at that point but vet not keen. Got back and poor Betty was so despondent and dehydrated by then I syringed some fluids into her and heard a strange gurgling sound so decided to try holding her upside down over the toilet and lo and behold loads of brown, putrid stinking gloopy fluid started pouring out - including all the dead maggots :vom:

Betty kept shaking her head and consequently had brown stinking gloop all over the bathroom and shouted down to my partner not to come upstairs as the scene was quite horrific and don't think he'd ever use the bathroom again if he knew! Poor betty with her head down the toilet and gargling and gurgling all this stuff out - reminded me of my student days and holding my friends hair for them while they too inspected the toilet bowl! :lol::roll:

Was worried she would aspirate so carefully squeezed out the rest and kept her completely downright so would not inhale any. Put her back to bed and she looked so miserable and hunched I didn't think she would be alive this morning - but she is and I drained some more off again this morning. She has made some slight improvement in the last few hours, drinking a little bit and taking a bit of live yoghurt from a spoon. Only problem is crop just keeps filling up and doesn't seem likes it draining, plus can still feel some hard lumps in there which I guess is still that piece of straw. Not sure she'll pull through but she certainly seems relieved to have had the crop go down.

Giving her the baytril but also got some daktarin oral gel I'm trying. If she is still alive tomorrow will call the vet and ask for some proper antifungal treatment like nystatin. Bit annoyed its already cost over 30 pounds so far and not yet received proper advice or treatment!

Keeping my fingers crossed for now... :pray:

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emmaw298 Chicken Eggspert

emmaw298

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Thanks for your help both but sadly Betty died on Thursday night - I think she died of dehydration in the end as her crop just kept filling up and not emptying and she became very weak and unable to stand. I sat with her and she died quietly. Unfortunately one of my old ex batts Gertrude died the next day too (I think unrelated and more old age) as I found her curled up in the eglu - Peggy, her housemate, flew out of the eglu faster than I've seen her move in ages that morning! So now I am down to 4 and Peggy has chosen to accept the new additions all of a sudden - I guess faced with companionship or loneliness, although not her original housemates, she has decided that they are better than a life alone (rather begrudingly I might add..!) thanks again, emma

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emmaw298 Chicken Eggspert

emmaw298

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thanks for all the kind messages guys, the remaining four all doing well - apart from a few squabbles round the food bowls! Kinda nice though as my very old lady peggy, the only one remaining from the original gang who was always bottom of the pecking order before has now decided she will be top of the new one and enjoying every minute of it! :)

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