Sarahsausage Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I've just let the girls out and noticed that Hilda still looks full from yesterday, as she is an ex-batt and bald at the front I can see her crop, it is very red and 'swollen'. I've felt it and it's not hard, it's very soft and feels like a jelly I guess? Do you think she's cropbound or could it be something else? How can I help her? Why do these things always happen at the weekend when the vets are shut! I'm so worried about her, any advice would be really appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I just found this on the interenet http://www.poultryhelp.com/impactedcrop.html If the crop is "hard" to the touch, the crop could be impacted. This happens when feed is "stuck" in the crop and the chicken can't "swallow" or pass the feed on down to the proventriculous and gizzard. If you suspect impacted crop, administer two eye-droppers full of mineral oil (NOT MINERAL SPIRITS!) by forcing an eye-dropper down the chickens gullet, and massage the hard lump between your fingers to soften it up and help her pass it. Repeat if necessary the following day. If the crop remains hard and the chicken appears distressed, then you may resort to the above treatment or take it to a vet. Your description does not sound like an impacted crop ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 I know, it's very soft and jelly like to touch, she's very active and bright, could it be a chest infection? Thank you emchook, I'm frantically researching on internet...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 check this out .. could be sour crop viewtopic.php?t=5334 I'm sorry .. I dont have any other ideas .. hopefully someone else will know ! Good luck .. Let me know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 If the crop is enlarged and squishy, then I would think it is sour crop. Giving natural probiotic yoghurt can help as it restores the balance of good bacteria and helps eliminate the thrush virus that causes the problem. Making up a pellet porridge with hot water, pellets and a few spoonfuls of yoghurt will help. Apple cider vinegar in the water might help too. I used Flowers of sulphur added to the pellets when one of mine had sour crop. Some have used Daktarin (sp) gel aswell. Hope she is better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 Thanks Christian and emchook, it does sound like sour crop to me, she's off to the vets at 12.00. I'll get some yoghurt and apple cider vinegar etc and follow your advice. I presume she will get better, poor girlie xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 It did take a few days with Winifred and she was a misery, poor girl, but after a while her crop returned to normal and she was ok. The vet might drain the fluid with a catheter and syringe. Not pleasant to watch but does help. All the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 Thank you, will le you know how we get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 Hilda was such a good girl at the vets, he gave her crop a good massage and couldn't feel any obstructions, just fluid, and recommended probiotics and cider vinegar. Gave Hilda (and the other girls!) some probiotic yoghurt and have put some vinegar in their water. Hilda looks, much much better today, the swelling has gone down considerably! Phew! The girls loved the yoghurt and will now be one of their regular treats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Good news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Glad to hear she is better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 Hi Christian, not sure if you'll see this? Just wondered how long it took for your chicken to get over sour crop please? Hilda is still swollen, not as bad as last Saturday though. I've been giving her probiotic yoghurt and cider vinegar in her water. I'm taking her back to the vets tomorrow and hopefully she'll get some anti-fungal medicine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokiechicken1969 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 ahh well done hilda we're rooting for you. hope she's back to health soon x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginfiend Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Reading this, I think my Delilah might have a sour crop too. Silly question coming up - can you give them any apple cider vinegar or does it have to be a particular chicken friendly type? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Hi Christian, not sure if you'll see this? Just wondered how long it took for your chicken to get over sour crop please? Hilda is still swollen, not as bad as last Saturday though. I've been giving her probiotic yoghurt and cider vinegar in her water. I'm taking her back to the vets tomorrow and hopefully she'll get some anti-fungal medicine. All in all, I would say about a week. She was on yoghurt 3-4 times a day (with Flowers of sulphur added), 2 jabs a day and ACV in her water. She was very 'sloshy' for a few days and every time I picked her up, she would vomit liquid. The 'better out than in' mentality kicked in so I tried to get as much out of her as possible. Little and often, so she didn't aspirate the fluid. She then moulted and hasn't laid since. She is a pure breed though, so will hopefully start again soon. Don't mind if she doesn't as she is such a sweet hen. Hope yours is doing well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted February 1, 2010 Author Share Posted February 1, 2010 Hi Christian, thanks for replying. I took Hilda back to the vets on Saturday but saw a different one and she was useless, she didn't even want to touch Hilda! She told me they had no medicine registered for chickens that she could use so that was a waste of money and a car journey. Anyway, this morning Hilda's crop was only the size of half a golfball so it's getting better I guess. I just worry about her. Have been giving her probiotic yoghurt and awaiting a delivery of some ACV. She's still a bright chicken, laying and pooing well so I'll keep an eye on her and see if I can find a chicken-friendly vet if need be! GINFIEND - you can get ACV off the internet as it's not the stuff you get in the supermarket, I found some on Ebay at a good price (it's usually for horses). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Glad to hear she seems better. I continued mixing yoghurt with their pellet porridge for about a week after she seemed back to normal, just to make sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Glad Hilda is better now. Big Mouth had it last year and was off for about a week. I did all that you did but also made her sick ....after a couple of times doing this over 2-3 days she was all ok. She does suffer from impacted crop as such a greedy little madam so I would just keep on Hilda to see if she isn't suffering from that to prevent sour crop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stellabystarlight Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Hi all I was just wondering did Hilda go off lay when she had sour crop? One of my girls Matilda hasn't laid for just over a week and I felt her crop today and its not swollen but very soft and sqidgy. Think I might try her with the yogurt, if anyone has any advice to confirm or deny this please post, many thanks in advance Stella p.s hope Hilda is feeling better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 Hello Stella, sorry for the late response, no Hilda didn't go off lay. She is still not right after 3 weeks and I'm very worried about her. She is currently on some medication called Metrozonidale but no improvement so far, I think it must be something different to sour crop. She has a swollen chest that doesn't go down much at all over night and her skin is very red. She's bright and bubbly in herself and is laying and pooing normally. She's on the medication for 2 weeks and if no improvement I don't know what the vet will try next, poor Hilda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
