The Poultry Keeper

cazjohn · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 73

Hi Guys,

Recently two of my girls had some problems - took them to the vets and treated them with Amoxicillin.

One is now fine the other has all the symptoms of sour crop - her crop is very squishy and she's bringing up lots of liquid when we up-end her.

She has had live yoghurt through a syringe for two days but seems very weak this morning.

I wonder if we should keep going with the yoghurt or mix up some Amoxicillin with water and try that?

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Norfolk

I wonder if the amoxycillin might be part of the problem. Some antibiotics (ie Baytril) are known to trigger very bad sour crop. Nystatin is the thing needed to treat the sour crop I think. Sounds like another trip to the vet I'm afraid.

HTH

Tim

cazjohn · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 73

Thanks Tim,

Have phoned vet they don't have any Nystatin and didn't recognise the term sour crop!

Oh Help Surprised

Anyway waiting for a call back.

She's now bringing up yellowy mucous - yesterday it was clear.

Anyone have any other ideas other than Nystatin?

Thanks Caroline

CP · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:35 am Post subject:

Whereabouts are you? Maybe there's another vet in your area more used to treating poultry? Confused

cazjohn · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 73

We are in Woking in Surrey the only vet we could find to even look at a chicken is in Guildford.

Have just had a phone call to say they don't think it's a sour crop and they won't prescribe anything!

So we desperately need to find a Vet with some experience of chickens.

CP · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:35 am Post subject:

The one I use is in Alton - any good to you? They do have experience with all birds, including chickens, as they are the vet for Birdworld which is near here. Wink

CP · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:59 am Post subject:

Any news on your poorly hen cazjohn? Confused

cazjohn · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 73

Well am keeping everything crossed Very Happy

She was so poorly and we decided that an hours trip to the vets would probably finish her off!

We gave her three doses of Amoxicillin over two days, carried on hand feeding yogurt with garlic and mash. Kept emptying her out!

Then yesterday morning she was head and tail up bursting to get out of isolation, with no liquid in her at all.

We put her back in with the others but kept her in the isolation cage and then last night let her go to bed back in the coop.

She came jumping out this morning and has been eating, drinking and dust bathing!

She has been bullied a bit but she has always been the lowest in the pecking order.

Thanks for your help I'll keep the vets details for future reference but I really don't know what I'd do without this forum!

Caroline

CP · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:08 am Post subject:

So glad she's obviously better! Very Happy

Vanilla · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 30

This topic has been very useful, but i'd like some help on the same theme please. I have four chicks all about six weeks old. They appear to have Sour Crop. I'd like advice on emptying the crops of chicks, i am a bit nervous about doing it as two of them are still quite small. Any ideas where it would come from? I've not had chickens before so i am a complete newbie!

Bhindi · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject:

I'm so pleased your hen got better. I'm happy to stand corrected but I believe yoghurt and antibiotics do not go together. It certainly does no harm but the yoghurt if its 'live' the good bacteria, will make the antibiotics struggle to work as its job is to kill all bacteria, good or bad.

The best time to give yoghurt is after the course of antibiotics as that is when the body is in need of getting as much of the good type to get things backto normal.

I understand in this instance the desire to use both, maybe the antibiotics were hefty enough to do the job, or its just luck, but either way you got the result you hoped for so well done.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6972 Location: isle of lewis

yep bhindi that's how i understand it to

CP · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:35 am Post subject:

I've never heard of chicks getting sour crop & I could be wrong but it seems unlikely that all 4 have the same problem at the same time. Confused

What are their symptoms? Confused

Vanilla · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 30

Hi,

I have two that have grown well and two smaller ones. The smallest one has the biggest problem, a very swollen crop, she dribbles a clearish liquid, and has been very lethargic, however after i have given them all yoghurt she appears much better this morning. The others have the same symptons in varying degrees.

cazjohn · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 73

Hi guys,

I'm sorry I have never had chicks so can't really help but I'm sure you'll get lots of help from others.

As to antibiotics and yogurt I have read that too.

The difficulty is when you've got a really poorly girl and no helpful vet you just keep trying until something works!

Thing is now we don't know what worked! Something did because she is destroying another flowerbed as we speak!