Should you try to make a chicken with a sour crop vomit?

[chickenherder26]

One of our hens had a impacted crop that turned sour, so it feels very squishy. The crop has has been draining liquid, we know this because she is pooping out water and the oil we are giving her to treat the impacted crop. This hen is about 4 years old. Since her crop is so full of liquid, I was wondering if we should attempt to drain her crop, because I know some people who say to do it, and others who say not to. We also started her on miconazole. Thanks for any info!

 

[casportpony]

How long has it been full of liquid?

 

[StinkyAcres]

There is risk of aspiration if you make them vomit. I did do it once because my chicken's crop was so full it was spilling out of her beak anyway. I wouldn't do it if the liquid is not already coming out.

 

[chickenherder26]

The consistency of the crop has been weirdly on and off. In the mornings, it is kind of more impacted, but as she drinks water during the day, it becomes really liquidy. This has been going on for just a few days, maybe four. Today was the first day we actually noticed a sour smell, before it had just smelled rotten. My family doesn't want to try to force our hen to vomit because of the risk of asphyxiation, and neither do I if it can be avoided. I also saw another technique online using a syringe and tube to suck the crud out of a chicken's crop. Would this also be a viable technique, or should we just wait for medication to kick in? We were trying to trim her backside (she had a lot of runny poop because she is only digesting liquids), and a little bit of liquid did come out her beak. Any help or advice is appreciated.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I would wait until the 7-day miconazole treatment is finished before trying anything else. Is she eating any more solid food? You can try cooked egg or plain yogurt.

 

[Reke]

One of our hens had an impacted crop that turned sour, so it feels very squishy. The crop has has been draining liquid, we know this because she is pooping out water and the oil we are giving her to treat the impacted crop. This hen is about 4 years old. Since her crop is so full of liquid, I was wondering if we should attempt to drain her crop, because I know some people who say to do it, and others who say not to. We also started her on miconazole. Thanks for any info!

I have seen a comment saying NOT to do so as it can be irritating and the chicken might not like you after. If it is being drained already then keep doing whatever it is that’s working right now, you dont want to stress out the chicken or cause further harm.

 

[chickenherder26]

Our hen died unexpectedly this morning. Thanks for your advice, we might get another sour crop in the future, so this will be useful to look back on.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Our hen died unexpectedly this morning. Thanks for your advice, we might get another sour crop in the future, so this will be useful to look back on.

So sorry to hear that. It sounds like she may have had a more serious illness. Crop problems are often a sign of other problems with other organs.