The Poultry Keeper

thandi · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 215 Location: east sussex

One of my Barnies is poorly this morning (fine yesterday) and I am seeking your thoughts and advice.

she seems a bit subdued, is making odd straining movements with her head neck (as if trying to swallow), and her crop seems very large (visibly so).

I have examined her and the crop doesn't seem 'hard', but it is tender at the lower part - or I assume so, as she is unhappy when this area is touched.

could it be an impacted crop?

If it is what should I do, and if it isn't....what should I do?!
Whatever it is, i feel I should be doing something - and sooner rather than later!

many thanks in advance

thandi

NannyP · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 1:28 pm Post subject:

It does a little like impacted crop, but I have never experienced it, so can only guess. If you do a search on here, you'll find loads about it, and I also believe there is a thread in Golden Nuggets. http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1853&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/index.php

http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/index.php

I would also epect Lisa to provide as much as you need, cos she's an expert.
HTH Very Happy

Done a little search Confused

Knobby · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 1:39 pm Post subject:

LISA !!! Where are you ????

thandi · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 215 Location: east sussex

thanks nannyP - I have had a look and am more confused than ever

I dont think it is hard enough to be an impacted crop, but there is no smell that i can detect as in sour crop, and although visible, i wouldnt say the crop is balloon like.

She is still eating and drinking.

I wonder if I ought to bring her into the house so I can keep an eye on her?

Yes PLEASE Lisa - where are you?

a very worried thandi

Lisa · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 3:10 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear you have a chook with a poorly crop.

If you are really worried, then please do take her to a vet who can give a proper diagnosis and whatever medicine they feel is appropriate.

If you want to treat her at home then it would help to decide which problem you think you have (did you follow Debs links?) Best to feel first thing in the morning before they've eaten. Like yours, my chooks have never been too impresssed with me prodding their crops.

From experiencing both I could certainly feel that there was "something" in there when there was a blockage. And it is definitely soft and squishy with sour crop.

Although I think sometimes they can have a bit of both. Eg they have some sort of infection (fungal or bacterial) that stops the food moving through as quickly as it should, so it feels like a blockage. Or they get a bit of a blockage and the food starts to break down in the crop leading to an infection....

I think you could do both the "oil plus massage" a couple of times a day to try to help whatever is in there go through quickly AND feed some live yogurt to add some good bacteria to her system.

When I took my Tilly to the vets he gave me Panacur to give to her. Its normally sold as a wormer for cats and dogs, but he said it can also have a mild antifungal effect. I did ask about Nystatin. Its the antifungal usually mentioned for sour crop and one I'd had for a previous chicken. But he said he thought it was very, very strong and thought it better to try something milder first. But I guess different vets have different approaches...

He also said to bring her back if she didn't improve, and he'd give me some antibioitics. But I've been feeding her fresh, raw, crushed garlic in her food instead, as its got both antibiotic and antifungal properties. I've also been adding ginger and mint to her food to try to settle her digestion (sometimes the crop stop can stop working properly because of a problem further down the digestive system). All a bit experimental really (got the ideas out of my book "herbs for pets", though that's mostly for dogs and cats). If you are interested in alternative treatments, that might be something to research further. The sour crop hasn't gone away so far, but it hasn't got worse either. And alternative treatments usually take longer to work than prescription drugs.

Good luck, and I hope your Barnie gets better soon.

thandi · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 215 Location: east sussex

thanks Lisa - the 'swelling' was much reduced when I went up for a second massage session this afternoon.

She sat on my knee patiently while I massaged her, and made a funny little squeaky/straining noise, with a little sigh at the end each time.

I could feel the grain in her crop, and there didnt seem to be a hard blockage anywhere, and it didnt feel fluid-y either, just kind of mushy, except for at the base where I felt the grain.

I will keep an eye on her and give her two/three massages a day.

thandi