LucyLynsted Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Hi I have a white Orpington hen who has had a problem with her crop for a couple of weeks now. My father-in-law, who used to look after the chickens actually said there was nothing wrong with her as her crop was full and she's eating well. I now look after the chickens and I wasn't convinced and since finding advice on here I now know a crop should empty every night and feeding them so much as to keep their crop always full is not such a good thing! Anyway back to the point in question. This morning I held her head down and massaged her crop and lots of thick brown goo came out, but her crop is still enlarged. I have separated her from the flock and just left her with water. Do you think I should keep trying the sick thing throughout the day or will a little warm olive oil help too? I hope you can help a little as I am worried about her. Many Thanks LucyLynsted hello Lucy This is interesting, and may I ask that you post your question and my answer on the forum so that the others may learn from it? It would be perfectly normal for a crop to contain brown slushy stuff, this would be liquefied feed ready to pass on to the gizzard. Sour crop would be more liquid, almost sloshy and would smell quite bad. It's best to avoid draining a chicken by swinging it as they don't have a gag reflex and it's easy for them to inhale the contents of the crop - while I have done it myself, I wouldn't like to recommend it to anyone in case they drown the bird! Some chickens tend to over-eat and as a result their crops become distended and stretch beyond return. When this happens, they tend not to empty efficiently and the remains of the contents start to ferment. I would recommend that any bird prone to this is starved for 24 hours (just water with ACV or Avipro in it) kept on a diet of pellets or mash, Bokashi Bran in natural live yoghurt and with ACV added to the water. This usually helps to rectify the yeast issue, but not the crop emptying, perhaps you could take her food away after say 3pm to prevent her from gorging. Olive oil and massage is only really a help with an impacted crop, where a blockage has caused it to fill up without emptying. A chook's crop should be full at bedtime and empty in the morning. I hope that this helps Clare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyLynsted Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 Oh, I'm sure I just did that wrong... Still, I think I'll get the hang of it soon Have tidied it up for you - Egluntyne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Well done Lucy, it's good to share your experiences here and you'll get lots of help back from other forum users Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackie45 Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Our Charlotte has been unwell for about three days. After reading the first post yesterday and thinking about what to do to help her I decided to get OH to feel her crop today,(been at work all day). He said that the crop was enlarged but soft. Tonight we held her upside down and lots of brown liquid came out together with a few grains of corn,which we think has been there about 48 hours.She was uncomplaining and we have isolated her with water.I should add that she has had watery poo for about four days. I hope we have done the right thing. Our nearest vet who does chickens is 30 miles away. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 My Cuckoo Silkie, Muggle, had sour crop last year, which did resolve eventually with Baytril and Metacam treatment, but left her with a permanently pendulous crop. I massage her crop every morning and if I can't get it to empty fully (down through her system, not by vomiting), I give her a dose of Metacam to reduce any inflammation which may be preventing drainage. She's usually OK after a day or two......until the next time. She's a happy, healthy chicken in every other way and seems to quite enjoy her morning massage. I hope your girl gets over her problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malkalv Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 After my recent bout with this and all the lovely smelly vomit that came with emptying out the crop, I ensure that the girls get a tiny bit of unfiltered apple cider vinegar in their water dish and little treats of probiotic yogurt. Its been almost 2 weeks and my little Eddie seems to be perked back up. Althogh, I just introduced new chickens to the flock and they have a round of the sniffles right now. Nothing I am too concerned with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Yes, it does stink It's good practice to add ACV or a probiotic powder such as Avipro to the water as part of your routine as it will prevent sour crop and keep their gut healthy. I use Life-Guard, which also contains probiotics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
