Pikey Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 (edited) I have just found one of my first chickens Big Mouth dead in the nest. I noticeD yesterday when I got home from work that she was a bit quiet and she appeared to have sour crop.......I tried to make her sick but to no avail and gave her some yogurt with mashed up garlic in it........the day before she was perfectly fine running around the garden ....in fact her and brook even escaped over the fence.........so this morning was such a shock..poor little thing still had yogurt all round her face. I have been away and my parents have been looking after them so I feel so guilty about all of this and am besides myself. She has had impacted crop and sour crop before so I think it was always one of those things she was going to get over and over again........but can they die that quickly from it?? I am so upset as I've now had two chickens die in a month....Season was ex-bat that lived with me for over 18 monhs and was ill towards the end.....Big Mouth was only 2 from Omlet......What am I doing wrong?? Edited November 3, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Sorry to hear that . I'm sure it's not your fault. I had 2 girls die within 2 weeks of each other. One appeared to have sour crop but I'm not sure that's what caused her death . They do have a fragile hold on life sometimes . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Sorry to hear about your loss. If she'd had crop problems before that may have made her more susceptible. Chickens are also very good at hiding that they are unwell. Even pretending to eat to fit in with the others. I lost two within a few months of each other (One sour crop, one peritonitis) and it's you makes you feel so sad and like you're a bad chicken mum/dad or doing something wrong. I'm sure you're not. Bless her, at least she past away in her sleep with her sisters. <> Sleep well Big Mouth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Sorry to read about Big Mouth. Don't feel bad I'm sure you did all that you could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerlady Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 So sorry..chooks are very good at hiding illnesses so if they show illness, then they are very poorly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Sorry to hear it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Imo - yoghurt is not a good plan for sour crop, maggots would be better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I take the opposite view. Maggots are generally used to free up an impacted crop, whereas natural, live yoghurt may improve the PH in the crop and help fight the fungal infection. Sorry to hear about your hen, Pikey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I think all hen keepers get a run of losses like this at some point. I lost three girls in a year, and I was distraught. It's horrible to doubt your own husbandry skills. However, it is almost certainly just bad luck, and an ex-batt getting 18 months of freedom is a good result Also, I don't know much about hybrids, but I think that 2 years is not an unreasonable lifespan. Try not to blame yourself x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 RIP Big Mouth (great name!!) I'm sure you did nothing wrong - the death of an animal that you are responsible for is bound to leave you with a heavy heart and a big question mark over your head. It's unfortunate that you've lost your girls so close together but it'll just be co-incidence. Chin up xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Sending you lots of ((hugs)) - I lost a girl too during last night and am still very . It's always a horrible time when we lose one of our precious girls and all the worse for your losing two in such a short time . I am sure there was nothing you could have done and you have no reason to blame yourself. Give your other girls lots of cuddles and pour a large version of the tipple of your choice. It does get better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...