The Poultry Keeper

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

My young pekin has definitely got something wrong with her crop.
I noticed yesterday she seemed all puffed out at the front and when I felt her she has got a huge squidgy area going right down to her chest.
Although not quite as big this morning it is still obvious - and she is very withdrawn and not eating anything. She is just sitting with her head on her chest.
There is no smell that I can detect - and I can't massage any liquid out - could this still be sour crop - or something more sinister?
She has been on antibiotics - so if they are like us females - could have developed a fungal infection???

Does it sound like sour crop even though there is no smell??
Will be going out to get live yoghurt and will ring the vet to see if there is anything I can get from them. Is there anything else I should do?

Thanks
Debs

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Bummer Debs2. Can't help, but Lisa/City Chick should be on here soon. She is our resident expert in crop problems. Wink

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

A quick update if anyone can advise me on what else I should be doing!!! PLEASE!!!
I have got her in the house and have been observing her. She has had some pellets and some water (self fed) but not much.
I have given her one treatment of Daktarin (childrens oral thrush medicine) and 5ml syrine fed live yoghurt.

Her Pooh is very dark and very runny - if that helps with a diagnosis??
My cockerel ( her bed fellow) is 'doing his nut' and was kicking up a storm this afternoon - and has taken himself off to bed on his own tonight in a huff!!

Thanks in advance

Debs

Lisa · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:25 pm Post subject:

Sorry if this is brief - but I only popped on for a quick read to cheer myself up as I've had a bummer of a day. Our old dog is very ill and still at the vets this evening after emergency op Crying or Very sad

I know just how you feel at the mo with a poorly pet.

So, back to the sour crop...

Classic sign of sour crop is the crop feeling like a water filled balloon 1st thing in the morning before they have had anything to eat. If it was just a squishy crop, I would personally try the yogurt and see if there was any improvement, but as the chicken is showing signs of feeling rather unwell, I'd personally be off to the vets for some antifungal medicine to stop it getting any worse. IIRC it was called Nistatin, or something like that.

Best of luck.

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

awh! Lisa - sorry to hear about your dog - I hope all goes well for him - what's his op??

The vet finally rang me back and I can pick up some stuff tomorrow that goes in her water - so hopefully that will do the trick! Will continue with the daktarin and yoghurt until I can get it.

Thank you for taking the time to respond, Keeping my fingers crossed for a successful recovery for your dog.

Debs

Lisa · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:47 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the good wishes Debs.

The poor dog's had to have an emergency op to remove a tumour which had bled into his abdomen. All very sudden. First thing we knew about it was when he'd collapsed overnight and we had to rush him in to the vets first thing this morning Crying or Very sad

He's got through the op okay so far and he's gonna be at the vets for a few days more, but he's not out of the woods yet Confused

They don't think its spread, but we've got to wait 4 or 5 days for the lab results to come back to be sure...

Hope the medicine from your vets does the trick with your crop problem and your chicken makes a speedy recovery.

Here's to a better tomorrow all round!

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Here's to a better tomorrow all round!![/quote]

For everyone who is suffering anguish!

Hope the results come back with good news Lisa!

Debs

Knobby · Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:28 am Post subject:

Hope both your Dog & Chook get better soon !!!!

Aussie Chick · Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 4:58 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry to hear about your Dog Lisa, have you been allowed to see him this afternoon, is he showing signs of improvement?

Have the new Meds made any improvement for your chookie winkingtiger?

AC

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Hi B

Not really much improvement yet - as it's stuff for the water - so it will depend on how much she drinks I guess. It's called Terramycin if anyone knows if that is good for sour crop?

She did however give a tomato a good savaging today - so although she's not eating much she hasn't given up the ghost yet! Will try her with some cat food tomorrow she is tucked up for the night.
ACTUALLy - that was a complete shock - I have never seen a chicken roosting. I thought either the dog or cat had somehow taken her head off!! I didn't know which end was which!!! LOL

Any news on your dog Lisa? Been thinking about you today.
Debs

Lisa · Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 7:59 pm Post subject:

AFAIK Terramycin is an antibiotic. Normally an antifungal is given for sour crop. Maybe your vet thinks it is something other than sour crop? What did they say?

Make sure the chicken gets enough water - especially if the medicine is in the water. Lack of water generally is worse than lack of food. If she won't drink it herself, then syringe it in, little and often. IIRC an average hen should drink about 125ml of water a day - that's 25 teaspoons (5ml)

I've done a separate post about Mutley, as he hasn't got sour crop Laughing

Today its a case of So far, so good!

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

It's good news about your boy Lisa! Have replied to your thread!! Surprised

)

I have kept her on the anti-fungal as well as the live yoghurt and the antibiotic!!! Trying to cover all options!!

What does the pooh of a sour crop chicken look like? My girl is still passing more water than solids but there are some solids but they are very strange! If you imagine a pile of wet and expanded mouse pooh that's what it looks like! Lots of little pieces!

Apologies if anyone is having their tea!!

Debs

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

I should know better than to come into the clinic area while I am eating my lunch at me desk. Rolling Eyes

Hope the chook improves....Lisa, will go and reply on your thread. Wink

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Ooops! Sorry Deb!!
Hope you're not having rice salad ROFL Rolling Eyes

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661