Sour crop? Impaction?

[Jonezoe]

I cant catch a break lately haha!

I have a chick whos crop will not empty. I have been hands off the last few weeks due to building pastures and such at a new property were moving to. Its definitely gotten worse. It is my fault for missing this. Shes been a little slow so i thought it was just that she needed some vitamins and electrolytes. But i picked her up and noticed her crop is HUGE. shes always been smaller than the other two that are the same age. I didnt think much of it as i heard some can be slow to catch up. Now im wondering if her crop issue is the problem. Any suggestions on how to know if its sour crop of impacted? Its soft, i can massage it and she doesnt mind. It will decrease a bit when massaged. Does that mean its sour crop? If so, what do i need to do to treat this? Im leaving for 5 days on Wednesday. So hoping to help her ASAP

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is she? Does her crop feel hard, soft and squishy, or doughy? Does it ever empty by early morning, where it should be empty and flat. Impacted crop is firm or doughy, and sour crop is squishy/puffy soft in early morning and all day. Sour crop may have a bad or sour fermented odor.
Crops should be empty in morning before eating, and then gradually fill up as the day goes on as they eat and drink. What do you feed your chicken? Do you have poultry grit out for her size? If the crop is firm, you can try giving some chilled coconut oil cut into tiny pieces that she can peck. Then massage it 3-4 times a day to try an break up an impaction. Do not massage it if it is puffy and soft. Here is a good article on crop disorders:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Jonezoe]

How old is she? Does her crop feel hard, soft and squishy, or doughy? Does it ever empty by early morning, where it should be empty and flat. Impacted crop is firm or doughy, and sour crop is squishy/puffy soft in early morning and all day. Sour crop may have a bad or sour fermented odor.
Crops should be empty in morning before eating, and then gradually fill up as the day goes on as they eat and drink. What do you feed your chicken? Do you have poultry grit out for her size? If the crop is firm, you can try giving some chilled coconut oil cut into tiny pieces that she can peck. Then massage it 3-4 times a day to try an break up an impaction. Do not massage it if it is puffy and soft. Here is a good article on crop disorders:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

I cant remember exactly but she is about 15 weeks old. Shes about half the size she should be. It is soft/puffy and squishy all the time but no odd odor that i have noticed. It is always full, but less full in the mornings for sure. I feed nutrena all flock, i dont have grit but i could grab some right now when i head out to run a few errands. I will be sure not to massage it at all, i have been though. Could that have made it worse?

 

[Eggcessive]

Put the grit out in a separate container from feed where she can find some when needed. What do the poops look like? Being smaller than others may be a sign that she could have coccidiosis as well. They can sometimes have a slow squishy crop. So I would treat with some Corid which is also safe for the others. Dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid or 1.5 tsp of the powder per gallon of water as their only source for 5 days. Worming them with Valbazen or SafeGuard could also help this pullet, since that can cause a slow crop.

 

[Jonezoe]

Put the grit out in a separate container from feed where she can find some when needed. What do the poops look like? Being smaller than others may be a sign that she could have coccidiosis as well. They can sometimes have a slow squishy crop. So I would treat with some Corid which is also safe for the others. Dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid or 1.5 tsp of the powder per gallon of water as their only source for 5 days. Worming them with Valbazen or SafeGuard could also help this pullet, since that can cause a slow crop.

I actually did think it was coccidia last week— she just got a 5 day course. Poops are runny/watery. Whats the dosage for safeguard? Maybe ill try worming also

 

[Fwoof]

I'd either treat with Corid or put a drop of ACV in their water (which can also help with coccidiosis), as runny poop and stunted growth are two signs she might have it.
Some chicks just have issues from birth that you can't really treat as well, but I wish you the best of luck with your little one!

 

[Jonezoe]

I'd either treat with Corid or put a drop of ACV in their water (which can also help with coccidiosis), as runny poop and stunted growth are two signs she might have it.
Some chicks just have issues from birth that you can't really treat as well, but I wish you the best of luck with your little one!

I treated with corrid last week for 7 days as i did think she had coccidia but theres been no change

 

[Fwoof]

I treated with corrid last week for 7 days as i did think she had coccidia but theres been no change

Is she still eating and drinking? What is the temp of your brooder/what are you using for their heat source?
Let us know if her crop has gone down at all tomorrow or later today.

 

[Eggcessive]

Valbazen dosage is 0.08 ml per pound. 1/2 ml dosage treats a 4-6 pound hen, and if she is more like 2 pounds give 1/4 ml. Give it once orally (shake it well first) and repeat that dose in 10 days. SafeGuard liquid goat wormer or horse paste is 0.25 ml (1/4 ml) per pound given orally for 5 straight days.

 

[Jonezoe]

Is she still eating and drinking? What is the temp of your brooder/what are you using for their heat source?
Let us know if her crop has gone down at all tomorrow or later today.

Shes eating and drinking (drinking a lot actually) shes not on heat anymore (around 12-15 weeks i forgot her exact hatch date) and its been very warm where we are (carolinas)

I separated her as soon as i got home this evening. So i will update to see if it has gone down in the morning. I withheld food and water tonight and will go from there!!