Sarahsausage Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 Poor Hilda still has sour crop (or it could be something else?). She's had it for 3 weeks now and despite trying probiotic yoghurt etc she still has a swollen crop, it tends to fluctuate each morning between the size of a golf ball to the size of a two golf balls. I've taken her to the vets twice and they were useless basically and didn't have any treatments for chickens (you would have thought that as more and more people are taking on chickens they'd review things!). Anyway, this morning I tried some crushed garlic in the yoghurt but she hadn't touched it by the time I left for work (maybe the smell?) and was wondering if I could empty some garlic capsules into her feed or water as they don't smell, or are capsules completely different to actual raw garlic? I've managed to track down a vet about 10 miles from where I live that deals with chickens so taking her there on Friday and hopefully will get some proper treatment for her. She's still bright and bubbly, laying and pooing well so I'm not overly worried, well I am but you know what I mean! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopardstar Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 Have you tried holding her by the legs upside down and massaging the crop, which will make her sick and get out all the unpleasantness in her crop? It's pretty horrible I know but does work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted February 3, 2010 Author Share Posted February 3, 2010 I daren't risk it to be honest! She's seeing the vet on Friday so I'll leave it to the professionals, but thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 Poor Hilda still has sour crop (or it could be something else?). She's had it for 3 weeks now and despite trying probiotic yoghurt etc she still has a swollen crop, it tends to fluctuate each morning between the size of a golf ball to the size of a two golf balls. My maran's sour crop hasn't gone away either, and I am beginning to think that it might be due to a "foreign body" in her crop, viz to her having swallowed a small nail, months ago. (My neighbour kindly gave me a shovelful of ashes from their open fire, for the hens' dustbath, and I didn't notice straightaway that there were tacks or small nails in it because they had been burning old floorboards retrieved from skips.) It might explain why the stuff I got from the vet, and the yogurt, and the flowers of sulphur, didn't get rid of the sour crop. Every morning. first thing, I drain the hen's crop; sometimes there is a lot to drain, sometimes a little. She seems to welcome it because as soon as she emerges from the eglu (she is always the last out) she stands nicely on the shelf in front of eglu, waiting to be picked up, while the others are already running around. She is eating well and putting on weight but not yet returned to egg-laying. I am thinking of letting her putting a bit more weight before trying another remedy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 if she really has swallowed a nail, then surgery is your only option i am afriad, even if it passes out of the crop it is likely to rupture something internally and kill her. and a sour crop for 3 weeks? my, my,I would be very worried and would have been at the vets after 3rd day at least! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Steady on Sandy. I wonder SS if she needs some antifungal treatment like Daktarin but the vet will prescribe that. If not you can buy it over the counter if you say it's for you. H&E if she still had the nail there I would think she wouldn't be so well. Good for you doing that for her each day it's obviously keeping her well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 well 3 weeks is an awful long time to have it, and making them sick daily surly was posted previously as a no no. I was just saying that I would be very worried, actually mine had died after only 4 days and that was with vet intervention. So may explain my worries. Also if the crop is drained daily then how on earth is the hen getting any nourishment, surely it is starving ???? (although this chook is gaining weight (2 similar posts make things confusing) A foreign object will need removing, end of story really! As I have read and understand a crop can go sour ffor a few reasons and this needs to be determined for effective action. 1. with an overgrowth of yeast, often after antibiotic treatment. Nystatin is the best thing for this. Oral Daktarin would be a home choice and a treatment option initially (neither licenced for poultry) Or 2 due to a blockage in the crop, organic or inorganic (such as a nail, Screw, as previous xray shown on posting, or maybe bathroom sealant) 3. Then there is a blockage in the system somewhere such as egg bound, softee on the way, stuck egg shell, EYP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Bit of a conundrum then really. I remember the awful time you had Sandy. Not had any experience except blocked crop but it seems they either respond to treatment quickly or its a real nightmare. How did it go at the vet SS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 She's still bright and bubbly, laying and pooing well so I'm not overly worried, well I am but you know what I mean! Sandy, perhaps you missed the above ? This would suggest that Hilda is nowhere near as poorly as your hen. Also perhaps you didn't notice that Sara said I've taken her to the vets twice when you commented that my, my,I would be very worried and would have been at the vets after 3rd day at least! How did you get on Sarahsausage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 yes take your point "E", hence saying confusing answering 2 posts at same time I did go back and re read, and said this, and yes I HAD missed the fact of the not so good vets I think I just saw 3 weeks of making sick daily really and went into a kind of shock mode.! sorry quys. SS please tell us how you got on at the vets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Also if the crop is drained daily then how on earth is the hen getting any nourishment, surely it is starving ???? (although this chook is gaining weight I drain my maran's crop first thing in the morning, before she has eaten anything, and what comes out is mainly mucous and the few wheat seeds she ate last thing the previous evening. Shen then eats normally the rest of the day and usually manages to digest the contents of her crop overnight, other than the mucous. It is a nuisance to have to do this but I want to see if she can throw this off herself when she has put on weight. In other ways, she is in good condition but not laying at the moment. .. Nystatin is the best thing for this. Oral Daktarin would be a home choice Nystatin and oral Daktarin did nothing for my maran, which is partly why I think this is due to a foreign body in her crop. No one at my vet clinic knows enough about birds for me to trust any of them to open her crop and remove it. I did read up on doing it myself but, again, this is something better attempted with a hen who is in otherwise good health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Is it still full and squishy with this mucous then in the morning. It sounds nothing like any sour crop mine have been unfortunate to have. If you post your nearesrt town, perhaps some one will recommend a good vet to you,seems you need one. OMG no I wouldn't want to open her myseld either. what about having an xray though? My vet who is not yet hugely experience but IS very good has xrayed 2 of mine, one to calibrate the machine, (I think I posted a photo of the xray. ) and one to see if he coud see what he could feel(he couldn't clearly) But someone posted theiers that had swallowed a screw!! Clear as clear!!! My vet did both without anasthetic, just turning them over, the 2nd time he just put a light cloth over her head and stood behind the wall, so not needing help, and was all done in under a minute. ( I tell you this as I have read that some say they will need a costly and un necessary risky anasthetic. I really hope you can find a decent vet you can trust. BTW what happens to her if you don't drain her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 Just to let you know I did take Hilda to the vets the very first morning I noticed her crop was swollen, he gave it a good massage and couldn't feel any blockages and recommended probiotic yoghurt etc etc and to bring her back in a week if no change. He told me it would be dangerous to try and empty the crop incase anything went into her lungs. Took Hilda back to the vets the next week (saw a different one as original wasn't there) and was greeted by a vet that didn't even want to touch Hilda let alone offer any advice. Totally useless but still charged me for the privilege. Found another vet that deals with chickens and she gave me some Metronidazole for Hilda to take for a couple of weeks and if no change to bring her back then. I am so worried about her and would never ever leave any of my chickens to suffer if I found they were ill. Hilda's crop is still swollen and as her chest is bare due to being an ex-batt I can see that it looks quite red too. She is still a bubbly little thing, looks bright and cheerful, poos normal poos and lays eggs every day, I just wish I knew what was wrong with her and I keep waking up at 4.00 in the morning worrying. Crikey, it's like having children! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I was wondering with her being so well if she may have a pendulous crop. What I mean is it has got overstretched at some point and can't go back to normal shape. I have heard someone else on here talk about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 i have heard of retfords testing on a crop, something unusual turned up & as usual they sent out meds.(sorry cannot recall what!) I was given metronizidal for mine, it didn't help, but to be fair nothing bar draining probably would have helped. Plum could be right, sometimes when they get crop bound and it clears it gets stretched.? Allso (as I missed) she is well and happy Are you checking it very very 1st thing in the morning before she has had a chance to get near any food? It is then it should feel flat. Though if there is an egg very imminent esp a softee it can sometimes not empty until she has sorted herself. try not to worry (easier said than done) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 I check all my hens crops every morning as my biggest fear is an impacted crop. Having read so many times on Omlet about draining the fluid by tipping a hen I am going to be brave and try it, I also read the same thing in an encyclopedia so I think the first vet has got muddled with an impacted crop and a sour crop. I agree that Hilda's crop may be stretched now as well but it is still full of fluid in the morning and the meds don't seem to be having any affect. I would hate to lose her as she's such a friendly little sweetheart, she even finds time to preen herself whilst visiting the vets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 oh gosh I remember that fear!(STILL HAVE IT! ) if it is sour then you can hold her (as you would normally) and slightly tip her, disgusting brown gunk will just pour out of her mouth. Only do little bits at a time although little bits may be loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 Tried tipping her this morning but nothing appeared despite a bit of massaging. She's going back to the vets on Monday. Poor chicken, more worrying..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 it might not be sour crop she still well? eating drinking? pooing normally? try not to worry (says she ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 I was wondering with her being so well if she may have a pendulous crop. What I mean is it has got overstretched at some point and can't go back to normal shape. I have heard someone else on here talk about it. Yes - with my maran, anyway - I think that this is what has happened. Ie she did have sour crop some months ago, is now recovered but has lost some muscle tone so her ability to push food from her crop to her gizzard is less effective. It isn't too pendulous at the moment, and as muscle tone is something that can be improved I think that if I go on draining her every morning before she has eaten that gives her the best chance of strengthening the muscle(s). I read that if the crop were to be so pendulous that the hen cannot push food from crop to gizzard, then out of kindness the hen has to be culled. So it is worth persevering with a slight case of pendulous crop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 Hi Sandy, yes Hilda is still bright as a button, pooing, eating and laying well. I've read on the Ex-Batts Forum you mentioned someone else had a very similar problem with one of her chickens that went on for ages and turned out to be a nasty infection. I'm going back to the vets Monday as can't bear waiting till next Friday, hopefully Hilda can try some other meds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 IU knew I had read it somewhere. But please think about ringing Libby at Retfords before your trip to the vet. I am not sure how easy it would be getting a swab for a sample for Retfords and the vet will possibley swab it for you. Don't assume your Vet will know about Retfords even my exp vet hadn't heard about them until I told him (they are I think basically poultry specialist service) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 Thanks Sandy, will definitely ask vet for a crop swab as really can't imagine being able to do it myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Just to clarify as some confusion here: Blocked crop - hard, does not go down overnight, dont make them sick Sour crop - squidgy, smelly if you open their beak and sniff do try making them sick Sounds like you are doing all you can SS, good luck at the vets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
