Sour crop in chickens

KAAT_LADY

does anyone have amy remedies for sour crop/impacted crop in chickens


I have a chicken who keeps stretching and twisting her neck ,,we have tried maggots but to no avail ,,can some one help please,,,,

I have palpated the crop and the smell coming off it is really yukky:eek::eek:

please help

Fire_Fox

If it's infected then surely you need to see a vet.

giantmutantbroccoli

Maggots? I never heard that one before!
You have to be certain that it is impacted crop, first off - the crop will be hard like a rock, and the chicken won't eat at all. If it isn't, listen to the chicken - is it wheezing? Is it coughing? Open the beak and look inside, down the throat - and smell its breath... sorry, but it has to be done! Coughing, wheezing, bad breath and a sideways flick of the head that looks a bit like a tick is an indicator your bird may have gapeworm.
If it is definitely an impacted crop, use warm olive-oil, and a lot of massaging - drop the oil down the chicken's throat using a small teaspoon or straw, hold the chicken so it's upside down with the beak pointing towards the floor and the body parallel with your legs, and gently massage the crop with a downwards motion. If you're lucky, the chicken will bring the contents of the crop back up a bit at a time, so just keep doing it until the crop feels mostly empty.
I'd recommend phoning your vet for advice in any case, but especially if this doesn't work. To avoid impacted crop in the future make sure that your birds have access to insoluble grit (i.e. not shell) at all times - sometimes what they find in the garden just isn't enough, so you'll have to buy some in. Don't use hay as a bedding or feedstuff, as it tangles up inside the crop when they eat it. Finally, avoid giving them too much "sticky" food if you feed them scraps.
I hope your bird's alright!