Ill Chicken

[shadegrow]

One of our ex-batts Martha has been under the weather for a week or so. Her combs slightly purple and she's an incredibly filled crop but the only thing that appears to be in it is fluid and when you massage the crop area she's bringing it up. It's the same colour and consistency as bile but we have been giving her some poultry nutri drops which could dilute with water to appear that colour and consistency. We have no idea what it is and are wondering what it could be?

[frias]

This sounds like sour crop. If it is, it's quite serious and I would take my chicken to the vets for him to treat. Please read advice in the sticky Chicken Health and hatching advice. Bramble Poultry has put advice on what to do if you want to treat it yourself.

[motherhen]

What are you feeding Ex Batts need TLC as far as their diet is concerned!
Live yoghurt mixed with a little layers mash will settle the flora and rebalance everything. Its the toxins that build up, the trapped feed in the gizzard/gut that will eventually poison her.
We have also diluted sugar in the drinking water for a couple of days, keep warm and on her own.

[RichmondHens]

I agree, it does sound like sour crop.

[Bramble-Poultry]

try not to bring up the fluid if at all possible without inverting her upside down. chickens do not have a gag reflex and therefore the fluid could easily come up the oesophogus and straight down the wind pipe thus drowning the bird.

if you need to massage the crop, hold the bird upside down with its head pointing down to allow the fluid to drain. keep her held that way until all the fluid has finished dripping otherwise you will still run the risk of her choking.

sour crop is caused by a blockage (from too much green material or inflamation etc) which then causes bacteria to flourish in the crop causing the fluid accumulation. you will be best to seek veterinary advice for some antibiotics to help clear up the infection, but you will still need to reove the fluid accumulations. once removed, you may be able to manipulate the crop to break up the solid mass causing the problem, but not too hard, as they crop will (or at least should) contain grit etc which if heavily massaged could cut the insides of the crop

all the best with her, fingers crossed

[NSB]

I was told for sour crop to give the chooks natural yoghurt even if its mixed in their floor, mine use to eat it straight from the spoon

[frias]

My vet told me to use yogurt too, but you've got to get rid of the blockage first.

[Bramble-Poultry]

yes - by all means go for the yoghurt to reset the bacterial balance, however, you must get rid of the causative factor such as the blockage

[NSB]

tip upside down bum in the air and head at lowest point and apparently it drains out if you rub the crop!

[Bramble-Poultry]

as long as the blockage isnt caused by long lengths of grass wound up into a ball. these wont drain out as they form inside the crop and will therefore be too big to pass out. if this is the case it will either need to break down naturally, or veterinary intervention will be needed. its a rare occurance, but one to be mindful of