Chicken bald back

[gavclojak]

Just when things were going so well I think we have a problem, fauna one of my new girls crop has not emptied overnight, it's huge, it has always been really visible but it has always emptied overnight then as soon as she starts quickly fills up.

She did a few head shakes/rolls yesterday and once this morning, a bit like a teenager when they say "talk to the hand"

The crop feels perfectly fine, soft squishy just big. They have not had grass or been out of the enclosure for a week, they are on mash and pellets.

There is no smell from the beak and she seems fine in herself apart from loose motions (during the night the poop is fine

 

Should I withhold food and see what happens with the crop?

 

Edit...I have just been up to see her and as I picked her up a ton of brown liquid came out of her beak!!! I the let her recover massaged the crop and then held her forward and more came out!! I did this a few times and gave her time between to recover, her crop still feels squashy and full but much much smaller. The fluid didn't smell at all,....I have separated her with access to water but what should I do next? Is it sour crop? Or an impacted crop?

 

Here is a picture if what it's like....

[miller30]

I wouldn't worry yet it might be where she is getting use to new food have they got plenty of grit they might not know what this is so you could mix some in with the food I always find hybrids are very greedy anyway.I wouldn't stop her food keep an eye on her until tomorow I've had one once I've thought I'm gonna have to clear her crop out next day she was fine if it's still huge Tom and feels like a lot of water in it I maybe tempted to empty her out but it's hard to diagnose from a picture and if your experienced to do this leanne

[miller30]

Hi I've just seen you've edited your post lol that's good some liquid has come out she may well be fine now and I don't think it had time to go sour it would stink I sometimes syringe something like neat herban in them but that's only my opinion I would let her get on with things normally she may have just got something lodged and when you tipped her it's come out with all the liquid

[gavclojak]

So what a day!! Poor fauna has sour crop, must be early onset as there was no smell, she went to bed with a still slightly enlarged crop, I have restricted food and gave her a tiny amount of water today. I massaged her crop and have started her on a course of nystatin.....5ml twice daily, I have to say I struggled to get it down her, I have poor Manuel dexterity, is there a knack to it?

I am not going to feed her until tomorrow afternoon, then will give her some wet mash, is there anything I'm missing?

[PixieDust]

As you know I have nothing to add, as a novice, other than it sounds you caught that just in time. Well done, let's hope she recovers quickly.

[Chickabee]

Best to wrap her in a towel so you are in control. Stick the syringe in the side of her mouth and drip little bits in at a time watch her swallow. Don't sqirt it in or do it when her head is high in the air, as it might go into her lungs

[Luvachicken]

Sounds like you caught it really early so I'm sure she will soon be on the mend.

Fingers crossed she gets well soon xx

[gavclojak]

In really scared of drowning her, i tried to go really slowly this evening but the syring just kind of burst forward. I find it really hard to hold her beak open and hold her at the same time a syringing, OH can't really help as he doesn't get in till late.

I'm stressed....can you tell!!

[mullethunter]

Chin up Gavclojak and keep doing what you're doing. Sounds like you're on the right track. Good luck.

[gavclojak]

Ah thanks so much, I just feel so bad for her, she has been through so much she needs a break:(

[The Dogmother]

With sour crop (seen a lot of it around lately) I usually empty the crop as much as possible, then syringe in 2-3mls of neat ACV, repeat this for 3 days, feeding as normal but only pellets, nothing else. Empty the crop again if necessary.

 

This usually works well.

[gavclojak]

Thanks DM that really helps, her crop has been empty the last few morning and I have been feeding her small amounts of wet mash but tomorrow am going to have to leave her with a feeder as im working.

 

I'm not sure if it got to the sour part as there was no smell but I assume there isn't always a smell?

Is it too soon to let her have access to food all day? Also should she still have access to grit? I was worried it might irritate an already sore crop?

[The Dogmother]

Her crop won't be sore, just distended and the bacteria/acid balance will be wrong.

 

I would add ACV or Orego-stim to the water as a matter of course now and see how she goes. Some hens are just susceptible to it for no obvious reason.

[gavclojak]

Thanks again DM, she is in such poor condition anyway bless her. She no longer has watery poop so every cloud!

[Leicester_H]

Sadie had sour crop a while ago (twice). We restricted her to pellets - but problem worsened.

Vet said, in this case pellets were not a good idea, as they are compacted powder, which, if it sits in the crop with liquid will ferment and make problem worse. More complex food, like a LITTLE corn, which breaks down slower, would be better.

It worked for Sadie (all fingers crossed!).

As an ex-bat (we've had her 18 months), the vet said her crop was a bit weak and she is prone to not emptying it properly - hence the sour crop.

So now, once a week I give her some live yogurt (Sainsburys own brand) and also once weekly some BioLapis (as recommended by vet) mixed with yogurt to keep the bacteria level right.

Fingers (and everything else crossed) this seems to be keeping her well.

 

I guess and hens are different, but since this helped Sadie, I thought I'd mention it.

 

Good Luck, H

[gavclojak]

Thanks so much for that H, her crop has been flat for the last three days and I have been feeding wet mash little and often but had to leave her today due to work with a feeder of dry mash. I didn't fill it but put enought for the two of them and it was empty when I came home so I guess she has pigged out.

I can only give her the nystatin once a day while at work but hope that's enough.

[redsunset]

How's wee chook doing re the sour crop? Hope she is recovering nicely?

[gavclojak]

Ah thanks for asking redsunset, she is doing good, I have been giving her the nystatin daily and since Saturday morning her crop has been flat in the morning so at least it is emptying.

I was giving her wet mash but had to leave her with dry for the last few days as ii have been to work.

She is eating well and drinking and her poop is getting more solid so fingers crossed for her. I am going to get her poop tested just to rule out any underlying condition.

[redsunset]

Aw, that's good to hear. Fingers crossed for the little one as she has been through so much and being free in itself is a trauma until she gets used to it. Bless her little heart.

[Claireabella]

Aww, it's really good news that she's doing well

[gavclojak]

Thank you, especially you claireabella who has had such a horrible few days x

[Claireabella]

Ah Gavclojak, your words made me cry but helped a lot, so a big thank you x

 

I love to hear how your girls are doing Can't wait to see them when they have grown all of their new feathers. My Gertie is like a hedgehog at the moment - I keep telling her it'll be worth it.