Copper Sulfate for Crop

[FirstTimeChikens]

My girl has had a huge crop for months. I have treated with ACV, I have purged, restricted food, given her a crop bra...the only thing that seems to work is giving her soft mushy chicken food. But that isn't sustainable for me as I am very busy and am sometimes unable to go out and feed her separately. I am looking into copper sulfate because I think the swollen crop may be due to some leftover yeast that I failed to treat before. The crop is FULL of "water", and when purged it looks like brown chunky liquid, but I've seen her eat a lot.

Is this the best option? If so, what amount should I add to one gallon?

 

[CHlCKEN]

Have you checked for ascites, or are you sure it is a yeast infection? Sour crop should have a smell to it, does her breath or crop content have an odor?

 

[FirstTimeChikens]

Have you checked for ascites, or are you sure it is a yeast infection? Sour crop should have a smell to it, does her breath or crop content have an odor?

It had an odor before but now it just smells like chicken food. But before, when I "burped" her, it smelled like sulfur

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My girl has had a huge crop for months. I have treated with ACV, I have purged, restricted food, given her a crop bra...the only thing that seems to work is giving her soft mushy chicken food. But that isn't sustainable for me as I am very busy and am sometimes unable to go out and feed her separately. I am looking into copper sulfate because I think the swollen crop may be due to some leftover yeast that I failed to treat before. The crop is FULL of "water", and when purged it looks like brown chunky liquid, but I've seen her eat a lot.

Is this the best option? If so, what amount should I add to one gallon?

Acifidied Copper Sulfate dose is 1/4 teaspoon per 1 gallon of water given for 3-5 days. Do not use in metal drinkers or use any metal to mix the powder.

A crop problem is often a symptom of any underlying condition. Worms, Coccidiosis, Reproductive disorders and infection are few common ailments that accompany crop problems.

You mention using ACV, withholding food, etc. but I don't see anywhere you have tried an antifungal medication. Nystatin, Miconazole or Clotrimazole can be used to treat Sour Crop. You may want to try one of those, but Acidified Copper Sulfate can be used, it's quite strong and you want to make sure the give the correct dosing. If you go that route, provide a probiotic after treatment.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[FirstTimeChikens]

Acifidied Copper Sulfate dose is 1/4 teaspoon per 1 gallon of water given for 3-5 days. Do not use in metal drinkers or use any metal to mix the powder.

A crop problem is often a symptom of any underlying condition. Worms, Coccidiosis, Reproductive disorders and infection are few common ailments that accompany crop problems.

You mention using ACV, withholding food, etc. but I don't see anywhere you have tried an antifungal medication. Nystatin, Miconazole or Clotrimazole can be used to treat Sour Crop. You may want to try one of those, but Acidified Copper Sulfate can be used, it's quite strong and you want to make sure the give the correct dosing. If you go that route, provide a probiotic after treatment.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Should I try an antifungal first or go ahead and do copper sulfate? I've never had chickens before so I didn't know my options and Googled what could help beside at home remedies.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Should I try an antifungal first or go ahead and do copper sulfate? I've never had chickens before so I didn't know my options and Googled what could help beside at home remedies.

That would be up to you to determine the course of treatment after you have read the information given to you.

Personally, I follow the treatments detailed in the article in my previous post.

 

[dawg53]

Acidified copper sulfate should be used as a last resort when all else has failed.

There's one more treatment that you should try: Give your hen 10ml tomato juice via syringe orally. Dose her a little at a time, you dont want her to aspirate. Then gently massage her crop for about 5 minutes, then release her.
The next day, give her 10ml olive oil via syringe orally, a little at a time. Gently massage her crop for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, increase massaging pressure, gently squeezing the crop in a downward motion to force the crop contents to pass further down towards the gizzard.
You might "feel" the crop contents breaking up and/or being forced down to the gizzard.

This procedure has worked for me treating impacted crop.
One major drawback would be if the hen has an impacted gizzard which happens more often than you'd think. There's nothing that can done to treat an impacted gizzard. The hen eventually starves to death. Until then, it continues to gorge feed because it is hungry which further aggravates the problem.