- Apr 11, 2018
- 62
- 53
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Hi Everyone,
I’m in need of some crop advice. Any help is much appreciated!
I have another recent thread with more detail/history. Responses dwindled & this is a different focus, hence the new thread. If you are curious and have time:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-crop-liquid-from-beak-wiggling-neck.1235189/
Here’s the latest -
1) What type of bird, age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others?)
Cha Cha is 7 years old and today weighs 3 lbs., 5 oz. (her baseline weight was 3 lbs., 12 oz.). She’s more of a racecar chicken, lean and corners quickly.
Her weight has gone up and down by ounces since I’ve been tube feeding her. She’s never had much fat to lose, so I’m very worried. I’ve read threads where they stated that their chicken lost half its weight. 
I can’t imagine that with Cha Cha.
2) What is the behavior, exactly?
The latest issue was today. Cha Cha regurgitated a sunflower kernel on 4/11. She regurgitated a second sunflower kernel this morning. BUT she hasn’t had access to BOSS (in the shell) for TWENTY DAYS because she’s been in the chicken hospital inside the house. Normally, she and her coop mate split a handful of BOSS daily. They’ve been eating like this for months, if not years. Her crop started out squishy and occasionally like a water balloon. It has become doughy in the last couple of days. It never completely empties. Even though it’s not hard, could I be dealing with an impaction? She tries to back away most times if I try to massage her crop, so I’m not sure if it’s uncomfortable or if it’s because she’s not exactly a lap chicken. Shortly after starting a crop massage, liquid backs up enough that she makes the drinking motion with her beak, so massages don’t last long.
The good news is her tail has been up more recently and she’s feisty (flapping up 1 ½ feet to the tub ledge if I don’t see the look of intent quickly enough). Maybe the Baytril is kicking in?
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Her crop has probably been slow since at least 4/2. It was squishy, but has not had a bad odor. Sometimes her neck/crop, wiggles to the side, somewhat like an “S”. It looks involuntary (?) or seems like she is trying to clear her crop. I saw this once back on 4/2, then 4/11, a few times on 4/13, once on 4/14, once on 4/15, a few times on 4/17, and a few times on 4/21.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all?
She stopped eating and drinking on her own around 4/1. I’ve been crop feeding her Kaytee Exact Hand Feeding Formula and liquids (including electrolytes and vitamins) since. She has eaten a few mealworms on her own. The last time, she thrashed them, but did not eat them. I offered one today, but she wasn’t interested.
Previous to her halt in eating she was daily given flockraiser crumbles (since she has not laid an egg in ~9 months) and BOSS with occasional fresh (not moldy) vegetables (cabbage, tomatoes, etc.) There is coarse sand in the chicken run and occasionally I would give my flock of two poultry grit (insoluble crushed granite), but I haven’t given it lately. There is no grass or straw available for them to eat. Upon closer inspection, it doesn’t look like there is much in the way of pebbles in the dirt where they free range. Is grit appropriate at this point? If so, since she is not eating on her own, is there a way to get grit in her?
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
There are poop pics in the previous thread. More recently, they’ve been mostly watery at times. Others are green, with a little white, sometimes with a hint of yellow added.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
I’m treating for infection and trying to balance fluids and food to address the green aspect of the poop. Her crop seems to only have so much room. I don’t want her to aspirate if her crop is too full.
Her crop seems to have gone from squishy to doughy recently since she’s been on antibiotics (Amoxicillin 4/12-4/18 and Baytril 4/21-current). I’m treating for possible yeast build up since yesterday with a home treatment recipe from TwoCrows’ article on impacted, slow, and sour crops.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...d-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments.67194/
I’m considering using Acidified Copper Sulfate for the doughy crop, but have to wait for it to ship to me. Can it be a yeast issue without any bad smell? I’m also concerned about eventually getting probiotics in her after using antibiotics. If I use Acidified Copper Sulfate it may be even longer before probiotics are an option.
10) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird until you can get to a vet?
If I can treat her myself, I’ll try. We really can’t afford the vet bills. I’m trying to get the crop moving and treat for possible infection. I now have access to Corid if that is appropriate. Unfortunately, my dewormers were long expired. I should receive Safeguard by tomorrow. From what I understand, if it is not an infection, it may be cancer. I would euthanize her if it’s likely cancer or the crop doesn’t straighten out.
I’m in need of some crop advice. Any help is much appreciated!
I have another recent thread with more detail/history. Responses dwindled & this is a different focus, hence the new thread. If you are curious and have time:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-crop-liquid-from-beak-wiggling-neck.1235189/
Here’s the latest -
1) What type of bird, age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others?)
Cha Cha is 7 years old and today weighs 3 lbs., 5 oz. (her baseline weight was 3 lbs., 12 oz.). She’s more of a racecar chicken, lean and corners quickly.
Her weight has gone up and down by ounces since I’ve been tube feeding her. She’s never had much fat to lose, so I’m very worried. I’ve read threads where they stated that their chicken lost half its weight. I can’t imagine that with Cha Cha.2) What is the behavior, exactly?
The latest issue was today. Cha Cha regurgitated a sunflower kernel on 4/11. She regurgitated a second sunflower kernel this morning. BUT she hasn’t had access to BOSS (in the shell) for TWENTY DAYS because she’s been in the chicken hospital inside the house. Normally, she and her coop mate split a handful of BOSS daily. They’ve been eating like this for months, if not years. Her crop started out squishy and occasionally like a water balloon. It has become doughy in the last couple of days. It never completely empties. Even though it’s not hard, could I be dealing with an impaction? She tries to back away most times if I try to massage her crop, so I’m not sure if it’s uncomfortable or if it’s because she’s not exactly a lap chicken. Shortly after starting a crop massage, liquid backs up enough that she makes the drinking motion with her beak, so massages don’t last long.
The good news is her tail has been up more recently and she’s feisty (flapping up 1 ½ feet to the tub ledge if I don’t see the look of intent quickly enough). Maybe the Baytril is kicking in?
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Her crop has probably been slow since at least 4/2. It was squishy, but has not had a bad odor. Sometimes her neck/crop, wiggles to the side, somewhat like an “S”. It looks involuntary (?) or seems like she is trying to clear her crop. I saw this once back on 4/2, then 4/11, a few times on 4/13, once on 4/14, once on 4/15, a few times on 4/17, and a few times on 4/21.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all?
She stopped eating and drinking on her own around 4/1. I’ve been crop feeding her Kaytee Exact Hand Feeding Formula and liquids (including electrolytes and vitamins) since. She has eaten a few mealworms on her own. The last time, she thrashed them, but did not eat them. I offered one today, but she wasn’t interested.
Previous to her halt in eating she was daily given flockraiser crumbles (since she has not laid an egg in ~9 months) and BOSS with occasional fresh (not moldy) vegetables (cabbage, tomatoes, etc.) There is coarse sand in the chicken run and occasionally I would give my flock of two poultry grit (insoluble crushed granite), but I haven’t given it lately. There is no grass or straw available for them to eat. Upon closer inspection, it doesn’t look like there is much in the way of pebbles in the dirt where they free range. Is grit appropriate at this point? If so, since she is not eating on her own, is there a way to get grit in her?
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
There are poop pics in the previous thread. More recently, they’ve been mostly watery at times. Others are green, with a little white, sometimes with a hint of yellow added.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
I’m treating for infection and trying to balance fluids and food to address the green aspect of the poop. Her crop seems to only have so much room. I don’t want her to aspirate if her crop is too full.
Her crop seems to have gone from squishy to doughy recently since she’s been on antibiotics (Amoxicillin 4/12-4/18 and Baytril 4/21-current). I’m treating for possible yeast build up since yesterday with a home treatment recipe from TwoCrows’ article on impacted, slow, and sour crops.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...d-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments.67194/
I’m considering using Acidified Copper Sulfate for the doughy crop, but have to wait for it to ship to me. Can it be a yeast issue without any bad smell? I’m also concerned about eventually getting probiotics in her after using antibiotics. If I use Acidified Copper Sulfate it may be even longer before probiotics are an option.
10) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird until you can get to a vet?
If I can treat her myself, I’ll try. We really can’t afford the vet bills. I’m trying to get the crop moving and treat for possible infection. I now have access to Corid if that is appropriate. Unfortunately, my dewormers were long expired. I should receive Safeguard by tomorrow. From what I understand, if it is not an infection, it may be cancer. I would euthanize her if it’s likely cancer or the crop doesn’t straighten out.
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