Uma Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 As some of you will already know I have had three poorly chickens this last week. Two have now recovered and are back to normal, however one is still ill. Hazel had peritonitis last week and was being treated for it and it was improving. The next morning every time she lowered her head fluid came out her mouth. Her crop was the size of a small football I held her upside down to drain the fluid from her, and oh gosh, it was like turning on a tap! Since then it hasn't recollected thankfully. I spoke to the vet and he said that the antibiotics would sort it, however everything I have read about sour crop suggests it is a fungal infection.... My dh is a GP so we prescribed a fungal dropper and have been giving that to her ever since. I still have her on Baytril for the peritonitis but I have held off the other antibiotics. Now she is moving around but not eating anything really for 3 days now... I have lots of choice for her and she will pick a little but not much. She is still getting nutri drops to keep her ok and she is warm in the boiler room. Any suggestions to help her anyone? Many thanks Uma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Is it legal for your OH to prescribe medication for an animal? Are you absolutely certain that she had sour crop? It could just be a slowing down of the digestive process due to the problem in her abdomen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 if she has what I expect...you can buy it in Egypt over the counter always useful to have in the medecine box, works better that oral dactarin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 If she has sour crop, then give her 5ml of neat apple cider vinegar twice a day for 3 days and see how she goes; that ought to sort it out. Regular sour crop is easily treated at home with ACV and some Life-Guard. Nutridrops also have a probiotic in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I've got an old girl that is taking ages to recover from Sour crop, She doesn't fill up but she's still not 100% and just pecks at food. I've put her back out with the others during the day as i think they can get a little depressed being on their own (she comes back in at night). My vet prescribed an anti fungal beginning with F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Fulvic acid? That really helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Fulvic acid? That really helps. Yes i use that but i have learnt to wait until the fungal infection is sorted and use it to restart the digestive system. Your tip on ACV helped kill it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uma Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 It is nystatin that we are giving her, widely prescribed for neonates also, randomly. I may try her outside with the others during the day and bring her back in at night, but its the longest she has gone without food. I wonder whether I should start syringing her? And yes, this was definately sour crop with the amount of fluid that came out of her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 will she not try anything? Nystatin is good stuff... try her with some white maggots, only like 3 in a bowl, as too much of anything when they are like that seems to put mine off. If your ground is not rock hard some earthworms might tet her especially if ypu can offer food in the presence of one friend a bit of competition. I also find cucumber might be acceptable and lately raw fresh corn on the cob. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Guys what's ACV? i have this problem and need to get whatever that is... thank you. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 If they have sour crop or an impacted crop, I usually recommend that you starve them of solids for 24 hours and syringe feed them with either water with a soluble probiotic powder in it and ACV or some Life-Guard made up into a drink, also with ACV. Before re-introducing solids. If you have a hen which is prone to this then ad ACV to their water roughly 3 times a week. Do make sure that you buy the live version of ACV which has the bacterial elements in it as the supermarket version is expensive and pasteurised, so no use! Sorry, cross-posted... ACV is Apple Cider Vinegar (see above) Sandy, i don't think that maggots will be any use with sour crop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 It is nystatin that we are giving her, widely prescribed for neonates also, randomly. ......you can buy it in Egypt over the counter always useful to have in the medecine box ...... All the same, It is a prescription only med and strictly speaking, should not be given to an animal or bird without the say so of a vet. I'd try her on just water with ACV for 24 hours and see if there is any movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I agree, some countries have a very slack approach (compared with ours) to prescription meds. I have used some off-label meds on my lot before, but only on the recommendation of my vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 AHA! thanks dogmother. i've tried that with them before and they just all threw up and got the runs. i guess that might help with a sour crop if they threw up! i've been pouring it out of her (cue much retching on my part) and she looks a little perkier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Chickens don't have a gag reflex to make them retch if anything gets caught in their trachea so please be careful if you're emptying her crop. If their crop gets overly full then they can easily inhale it and drown... it's a vicious circle really. If she has sour crop it shouldn't need emptying more than once, perhaps twice. If it needs emptying more often then she might have a blockage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 thank you. i don't know what i'd do without omleteers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Say Hello to Brockley from me - I used to live in Chalsey Road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I agree DM however on the ex bats forum they recommend maggots for sour ? apparently they eat the goop??? but I am in two minds over this ... They also (sorry she) also said maggots don't work for blocked. hmmmmm? we all know that is not so.??? Also mine seem to drink lots at the same time as sour crop so therefore it fills up dependant on how much has been drunk.. One night I needed to empty 3 times.. only repeating when the chook in question started that dreadful break neck dancing movement.. Maybe it depends on the root cause of the sour crop???? ie: if it has gone sour due to a blockage them perhaps maggots might help??? maybe? just a theory/thought? x I hate sour crops!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uma Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 Yes it was with the guidence of the vet. He had none in stock so we got what we needed, the other option of waiting a few days because of semantics wasn't something I would have considered. She seems a bit brighter today so I put her out this morning with the other two and she pecked a little bit of food from the ground, so hopefully the others will tempt her. As certainly shes been taking nothing inside. I haven't had to empty her crop again since the first time on Saturday and I've started her back on her antibiotics too in case the peritonitis hasn't completely cleared yet. Thank you for all your advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Can't remember whether you've done it or not, but see if you can get some NetTex Nutridrops into her - they really are very good and if she's not eating much they will ensure that she's getting plenty of nutrients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uma Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 Hi, Yes she has been having these since she looked unwell last week-they are always my first port of call Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
