Advice needed on soft inflated crop

[SuzyB]

Can anyone offer any advice. I got home tonight after my dad telling me today when he was round that Cinnamon has a huge crop. I figured it was impacted so was prepared to do the massaging etc but when I've felt it, its not hard at all, its almost gassy in touch, very spongy like. She's very miserable, I opened the run to see if she'd come out and she did and went straight to one corner of the garden. I went to see what the attraction was and it was a plant pot full of soil and water and she was drinking it. Tipped it away and so she headed straight for the pond. Put her straight back in the run where the water is clean but instead of drinking that she put herself to bed! She doesnt seem interested in food, but obviously wants to drink a lot and keeps pulling her head to one side and swallowing a lot. Does she have a sour crop?

Any advice on whats best to do?

Thank you...

[jayjay giant]

Do you have any other birds and if so do they show similar symptoms ?
You said she was drinking a lot. Is she eating ?
I would be inclined to let her drink any water she will, it is better in the long run than being dehydrated.
Has she been laying at all over the last week ?
Has she been just sitting down on her own sort of hunched up ?
Sorry for all the questions but the more information you can provide the better.

[lizzylemon]

Hi Suzy, yes it sounds like a sour crop. Can you pick her up gently and then slowly tip her forward so beak goes towards the ground? If you do this and a black slimy liquid comes out then she definitely has a sour crop.

Other than that, I can't help. I don't know what the treatment but I know it can be treated. Google Sour Crop treatment and see what comes up.

[SuzyB]

Yes, I have one other hen thats in the same run with her, she's absolutely fine, running around like a loony as normal.

No, she doesnt seem to be eating and definitely hasnt been interested in anything Ive offered her tonight.

She's an ex batt hen and hasnt laid at all in the 2 months Ive had her so I think she's retired.

She doesnt seem to be sitting, its more of a crouch, she keeps stretching her neck to the side alot.

She was ok Saturday, it seems to have been from lunchtime yesterday.

I'll 'tip her up' tomorrow see what happens. She's swallowing a lot as if something is repeating on her so Im thinking she will bring something up.

Do you have any other birds and if so do they show similar symptoms ?
You said she was drinking a lot. Is she eating ?
I would be inclined to let her drink any water she will, it is better in the long run than being dehydrated.
Has she been laying at all over the last week ?
Has she been just sitting down on her own sort of hunched up ?
Sorry for all the questions but the more information you can provide the better.

[Hilary B]

I'd try the yoghurt.

[SuzyB]

This morning she came out of the house and headed for the pond. I lifted her (could hear liquid gurgling) and gently tipped her - she threw up brownish smelly liquid a couple of times. I can still hear moving liquid so I'll try again in a bit, I didnt want to stress her out too much. She's still not interested in any food, I've offered her yoghurt, olive oil soaked bread (as suggested when I googled) but right now all she wants to do is drink, she decided she wants the water feeder from the pen with the new girls in and stationed herself by it even though she cant get to it. Ive clipped a treat cup filled with water to the side she's on and she's stayed there just drinking it every now and then.

[Suechooks]

The one I had with similar problem didn't eat for a couple of days. I did the emptying out a couple of times a day and eventually offered her some cooked egg mixed with live yoghurt and a tiny pinch of poultry spice. Did that a couple of times and she's absolutely fine now - first in the morning food etc. I'd all but given up on her as she'd been drinking so much and comb had started to shrivel so I was thinking organ failure (she's an ex-batt)

[SuzyB]

Ah, that gives me hope then! Will keep 'emptying' her and see what happens.

I had to put her back in the run before I came to work but have left her with lots and lots of water, not only in the normal drinker but in cups clipped around the run seeing as it looks like its going to be another hot one today.