Poorly chicken!

[QassiaDeTouzaine]

One of my hens has a fluid filled croup which feels almost like a water balloon to touch, and is fluffed and hunched up looking very miserable. Last night we brought her in to sleep in the porch where it is a bit warmer, and we gave her a pro biotic yoghurt which she ate some of. Is there anything else we can do to help her? None of our books nor websites have covered her symptons very well, although tipping upside down so the fluid runs out the beak seems to be mentioned a lot, but apparently there is a knack to this and being a relatively new owner I wouldnt feel comfortable doing this. Any advice much appreciated !!!

 

[The Bouncing Bog Trotter]

You could try pouring a little warmed olive oil or liquid paraffin into her throat - I use a syringe. Hold her upside down and try massaging the contents out through her beak. Careful you don't suffocate her though. If in doubt and you are worried you might hurt her then get a vet to do it or cull her (sorry if that sounds harsh but chicken keeping is a bit like that sometimes ).

If the contents are not food - just liquid - then I am stumped.

Try a chicken forum - I go on this one - http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/index.php?sid=7f0b302f9daf56b10ada1db6eb5516df

Good luck.

 

[QassiaDeTouzaine]

I think it is just fluid. Will check her in the morning to see whether it has gone down, or see if a clued up friend can do the tipping upside down bit as i would be terrified of suffocating her, but if not I think a visit to the vets may be in order (gulp!). Thanks for the advice!

 

[paddi22]

it sounds like sour crop. mine get it occasionally and its fairly easy to cure. don't leave her too long before fixing it as she will just get sicker and sicker. If you are nervous, bring her to the vet maybe, and the vet can do it. its very simple to fix at home tho. Pour some olive oil down the beak and massage the lump for a few minutes.. then hold her under your arm, and tip her forward..when mine go to a 60% angle all the stuff comes out their mouth!

 

[traceyann]

Iv got a chicken like that as well but she had it ages and still alive is she of colour due to ready to moult these are my first chicken so no expert i live in france i took it to the vet after they got of the floor laughing at stupid english women bringing a chicken in they told me it was normal for some chickens along as its not hard

 

[paddi22]

if you open her beak does it smell bad?

 

[kerilli]

it's sour crop, paddi22's advice is what worked for mine... for a while. must admit, when it was full of liquid and corn it was always the beginning of the end for them, once it had happened once it happened again and again. my stunning young cockerel got this and I nursed him for days with it, but he still died.
if you want to go the vet route, they might give her antibiotics, which could help, I guess.
as above though, sometimes just dispatching them quickly is the kindest thing, they can take days of sitting around looking totally miserable, before they keel over.

 

[dressagecrazy]

As most have said it is Sour Crop, you need to do as poster has advised above & try to empty the crop. It's not easy either!!

Last time we suffered Sour crop my chicken Vet gave me Canaural which is used for Dogs ears normally. But it is brilliant as it has Steriods & a small amount of Antibiotics so basically it has everything you need in it. My Chicken Vet has used it & had success.
I personally havent had any sucess with sour crop, but unfortunately most Chooks with Sour crop will not survive it.

 

[paddi22]

ig you are unhappy doing it yourself, either take it to the vet or cull it. Sour crop isn't something a chicken can recover from itself, it will just get worse and worse. The point about the vet giving an antibiotic is a good one, it would def help the chicken recover. Hope you get it sorted!

 

[Spyda]

For sour crop I use Nystatin ( add 1ml to 2 litres of drinking water, straight into the drinker) also offering live natural yoghurt which you've already done. Your vet can supply you with Nystatin tomorrow but for now the natural LIVE yoghurt will be beneficial if you're not confident in making the hen sick yourself. Good luck, really hope she pulls though.

 

[traceyann]

My chicken got a huge coup but she had it about eight months that cant be sour coup can it and she hasnt laid for about two months but in moult so expected how long do chickens live with this sour coup like i said before have taken her to the vets first chickens so i dont really know

 

[QassiaDeTouzaine]

Good news- Susan's fluid in her crop has gone and she seems a different hen ! thanks for the advice, much appreciated!