Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[MedusA]

My favourite hen, my cuckoo Silkie named Muggle has sourcrop.

 

Her crop is like a squishy balloon. I've brought her inside and all I'm giving her to eat is bioyogurt mixed with a small amount of porridge oats. Also put Avipro in her drinking water. She is pooing, so I don't think she's got an impacted crop.

 

I read on the FAQ about making her vomit, but I'm a bit scared to try it. Will she be OK until I can get her to my chicken vet tomorrow? She seems perky in herself.

 

I've no idea how long she's had it. She is such a fluffball it wasn't easy to see, until we picked her up yesterday and noticed it.

 

Any other suggestions?

Edited September 14, 2010 by Guest

[Egluntyne]

I'd isolate her and give her just water until you can get her to the vet.

 

If you tip her up for just a second or two and then right her again, several times, with a breather in between, she should come to no harm.

[MedusA]

Thanks Egluntyne. I might give it a go and see how she is.

[MedusA]

Just thought I'd give an update.

 

Muggle went to the vet yesterday. She confirmed sourcrop but couldn't feel an underlying impaction. She prescribed antibiotics to settle any inflammation. I asked about giving yogurt, but she felt that I should wait until it's resolved, then give it to build up her good bacteria afterwards, but she did OK continuing with Avipro in her water. She also advised against trying to vomit her. She feels that it would be better for things to go through the way they are supposed to. Muggle is pooing. She also suggested only giving her sloppy porridge made with oats and water and keeping her isolated until things are improving.

 

Fingers crossed Muggle makes a full recovery.

[MedusA]

In view of all the crop problems on here recently, I just wanted to give some good news. Muggle seems much better after her course of antibiotics, daily oil and crop massages.

 

Her crop is now only slightly larger than usual and she seems back to her usual self. I am still giving her Avipro and bokashi and live yogurt porridge to help her repopulate with good bacteria.

 

I also bought some Daktarin gel, but haven't used it as things seem to be resolving without it. It's useful to have in the cupboard anyway, just in case.

[hippy chick]

thats excellent news

I lost one to sour crop a few weeks ago. I tried everythig but nothing seemed to work. It made me feel as it was a one way street.

I'm so glad that your story has a happy ending.

[eggalp]

yes i agree i to lost one to sourcrop a couple of months ago now, really sad, so i am glad your chook is on the mend

[sewitall]

Me too, tried everything but it's really great to hear that Muggles is on the mend and has responded to the magic potion and has not succumbed to he who cannot be named.

[MedusA]

Oh dear.I spoke too soon.

 

She seemed to be doing so well, but yesterday Muggle's crop was enlarged and squishy again. I've got her on the Daktarin gel, but should I try to empty her out and stop food and just give her water whilst she's on it?

 

Further advice about Daktarin needed please.

 

I feel another vet trip is imminent.

 

Edited to add. Vet is booked for tomorrow morning, but as the vet is off sick herself today the appointment may have to be cancelled. Let's hope not.

[MedusA]

Muggle's been back to see the vet today. She's back on another, longer course of Baytril. Here's hoping it works this time.

 

It is such fun fighting her every day to get it down her. Previously I've given Baytril on a small piece of soggy bread, but in view of the sourcrop I didn't think that was a good idea, so have been syringing it straight in. That involves wrapping her in a towel to immobilise her. It would be funny if it wasn't such a battle.

[Lewis]

Hope she's ok Lin, and that this longer course works for her

 

Don't know what else to suggest...

[Christian]

I would give her natural yoghurt or apple sauce too. Anything to make the crop acidic and less hospitable to the infection.

 

Fingers crossed for her!

[holz]

Good luck...I really hope she is okay

[MedusA]

Thanks for the further good wishes. I may try the apple sauce and yogurt idea, Christian.

 

Anything is worth it if I can just get Muggle over this.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've got Milly in the hospital wing (cardboard box in the dining room!) with sour crop too . I managed to get her through the last bout with probiotic yogurt with bokashi, flowers of sulphur and Avipro in it. I also used Daktarin gel. A little on your finger and try and wipe it into the beak as best you can.

 

Good luck!

[MedusA]

I tried bokashi, yogurt and Avipro but they didn't seem to be doing much on their own, so I did have her on Daktarin gel as well for the last few days, ANH, but I've stopped that since she's on antibiotics. I didn't want to mix medication. I hope that's the right thing to do.

 

I hope Milly gets better too. They are such a worry. Worse than children.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sad to say, Milly died last night . I suspect it wasn't the sour crop though, I'd noticed yesterday her comb was shrunken and black. She was just over 3 years old and hadn't laid for almost exactly a year.

 

I'm glad I'd brought her into the house so she'd at least had a cuddle last night .

[hippy chick]

I'm so sorry.

[Heidi-Hi]

I'm so sorry to hear that ANH. x

[MedusA]

So sorry to hear about Milly, ANH.

 

Sweet chooky dreams little one.

[scarlettohara]

ANH - sorry to hear about Milly

 

MedusA - I had a chook on antiobiotics (2 different types) and she didn't improve although she had a respiratory infection, went back to the vet and he tried the original antibiotic again and she is loads better (still the odd sneeze but no honking). Perhaps there was something still lingering and the baytril will kick in and get rid of it

[Raina]

so sorry for your loss

[MedusA]

Apologies for yet another query about Muggle's sour crop episode. I have starved her (plenty of water with Avipro in it but no food) for 2 days to try and get the crop fully emptied to allow the antibiotics to work but I did give her a few live maggots last night in case she does have an underlying blockage. Her crop is diminishing, but not completely empty this morning.

 

I had planned to start giving her very runny porridge again today as I was concerned about starving her for any longer. Is that correct or should I starve her for longer i.e. until it is completely empty?

 

I really would appreciate some definitive advice from a more experienced chook keeper as this is my first experience of sour crop and it just seems never-ending. Muggle is my favourite girl and has been so long-suffering over this, bless her.

[Egluntyne]

Once sour crop takes hold, it can be difficult if not impossible to eradicate. if there is a blockage further down causing the problem, , ie in the gizzard, it will recur, and there is little that can be done about it.

 

Someone posted recently about a product called Vanodine that they had used for treating sour crop. **Click**

 

Might be worth a try.

[MedusA]

Thanks Egluntyne. I feel it will be worth trying anything at this point.

 

She is still very perky in herself but fed up with the treatments and bored with her reduced diet. I'm waiting for my vet to call me to discuss things and have another appointment for Friday as the second course of antibiotics will be finishing then.

 

I will be devastated if I lose her. She is such a special girl.