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

[Claireabella]

I'm really struggling to get rid of sour crop in one of my hens, Poppy. We thought it had gone but today it seems it's back with a vengeance and she looks terrible. Her crop was about half full with brown liquid and bits of grass. I couldn't get in to my normal vets because they are closed until Wednesday so we booked in to see another vet. My OH took her as I seem to be coming down with an imminent chest infection . I asked OH to ask the vet for Nystatin but apparently they don't prescribe antifungals and I was really surprised when he came back with baytril! Apparently it's for any secondary infections but I'm a bit reluctant to give it to her for a sour crop to be honest.

 

So, she is off food again today. I tried daktarin and pre/probiotic yogurt last week but I don't think it's clearing it completely. I remember reading something about neat ACV but can't seem to find the post now? Please help!

[mimi5]

Hi, I think I was The Dogmother recommending I use it to treat my hen Penny (you could search for my post?) We battled sour crop for over 2 weeks using treatment from the vet (not baytril, I think it was nyastin) but she was no better So I tried no food just water for 36 hrs and starving her did seem to help, also tried the ACV, but in the end she was very thin after a heavy moult, not really eating and I decided to stop and sadly she was PTS

 

I hope your hen recovers!!! Please keep us posted

[gavclojak]

It was DM who recommended the following.....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 hbut only pellets, nothing else. Empty the crop again if necessary.This usually works well.

[PixieDust]

Can I add that in my experience of it in Lily, I gave only pellets but I think they should have nothing, ACV in the water and some plain live yoghurt. I was too wuss to empty her crop in case she inhaled any and drowned. Up til recently I also gave ACV twice a week in the water. I think Lily may have it again, my fault for running out of the ACV and not replacing, so trying a week of ACV and get some yoghurt on Tuesday.

 

Can you confine her to the run for a bit to stop her eating grass which may add to your problems?

[Claireabella]

Thanks for your replies. Poppy looked much better yesterday morning after being starved for 36 hours and her crop was completely empty but she looked a bit unhappy again after she had eaten and I could here grumbling sounds from her crop. This morning I can feel just a little bit of fluid in there, nowhere near as much as before but she still looks unhappy so I know she's still not feeling great I'm going to try the neat ACV for the next few days and see how she gets on. She has completely gone off the yogurt and won't seem to touch it now

[mimi5]

Yes, it's difficult when they go off food that's beneficial for them How good are you at syringing? You could try giving her some this way?

 

Mine usually love yogurt! But Penny went off it when she had sour crop

 

I actually really believe in the giving of ACV regularly I usually give it in the drinking water 1 week in 4. But thinking back after Penny was PTS I realised I had forgotten to do this in my routine for 3 months I was having a stressful time and just forgot!!!! Penny was bottom chook and there's a sentence on a post reply from Beantree which I thought very true......it went something like this. "Bottom hen filling up on pellets before bed and not drinking enough, can cause crop blockage impaction leading to problems" I thought that perfectly fitted my Penny

 

Going to put it on the calendar from now on.......along with worming for the furry pets and chickens!!!!

[gavclojak]

Make sure when you introduce food again use a wet mash little and often for the first few day

[Claireabella]

Ah thanks. I have been giving her some soggy pellets little and often and mixing the yogurt into that but she won't touch it with yogurt in now but will eat the soggy pellets without it. Beantree has got a point because this started with her being a bit piggy with the corn that didn't digest overnight. Managed to clear that but it seems to have knocked her crop all out of balance. I managed to syringe some neat ACV into her beak this morning but I swear if a chicken could pull a face, she did. She was not impressed...

[mimi5]

How is Poppy doing now?

[Claireabella]

Thanks for asking Mimi Poppy seems a bit better but still a little quiet and seems to have gone off pellets. She did eat some soggy ones mixed with a boiled this morning though...my OH thinks she's playing me for a fool (he might have a point) Still, no squidgy crop, so that's got to be good and I don't mind spoiling her

[mimi5]

Good to hear It's not spoiling it's TLC

[gavclojak]

she's playing me for a fool:D

 

my sons favourite film quotes from "the Rock"

[Lewis]

Glad to hear she's getting better

 

In future I wouldn't give her yoghurt for sour crop (or ever) as birds can't digest it and that may cause more problems than not.

[mimi5]

Glad to hear she's getting better

 

In future I wouldn't give her yoghurt for sour crop (or ever) as birds can't digest it and that may cause more problems than not.

 

I thought it was benefcial for gut flora? I've been giving it to my pekins

[loumabel]

Crikey, I didn't know that either.

I always give it to my girls when they are poorly, I feel bad now!

[mullethunter]

I've been giving yoghurt to Bernadette too and the others have had a bit, and noticed lots of runny poo. Then by complete coincidence I read somewhere yesterday that chickens can't digest normal yoghurt, but that you can give them soya yoghurt which would have the same cultures but would be digestible. Do you know if this is true Lewis? If not, is there another way to replace the stuff knocked out by antifungal / bacterial drugs? Or is that not actually necessary at all?

[Lewis]

No they can't digest normal yoghurt and I don't think soya would be too beneficial either - as you say, it gives them the runs and can cause all sorts of crop problems.

 

Probiotics are good to give after a course of antibiotics to rebalance the gut flora but I'd use something like Beryl's Friendly Bacteria

[Purplemaniacs]

In future I wouldn't give her yoghurt for sour crop (or ever) as birds can't digest it and that may cause more problems than not.

That's interesting Lewis as I am sure I had read on here about giving live yogurt.

 

You are so useful to have around, full of knowledge now And lots more to learn.

 

Chrissie

[Claireabella]

Thanks Lewis, that's very useful to know. I ordered some Avipro Avian in the end and mixed this with water and that went on her pellets. She had me worried for quite a while but I could definitely see when she was feeling better; she has since regained her appetite and laid me a few eggs too

 

I had a sneaky peek at your blog too Lewis - I hope you don't mind. Sounds challenging and an amazing experience all at the same time! The conference looked very interesting too. I am also a (mature) post-grad student but my research is in the department of human behaviour

[mullethunter]

I'm glad Poppy's back to herself. Isn't it funny how you can instantly tell when they're not right.

[Lewis]

I had a sneaky peek at your blog too Lewis - I hope you don't mind. Sounds challenging and an amazing experience all at the same time! The conference looked very interesting too. I am also a (mature) post-grad student but my research is in the department of human behaviour

Course not!

 

Had a great time at the conference and the speakers were fantastic - learnt lots about behaviour but know there's a lot more to learn about!