The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Declan on August 28, 2010, 11:37:31 pm
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I've lost two birds in the past 2 weeks to what i think is sour crop. Theres plenty of advice on the web about how to treat it but i found that the sick birds die within 24 hours of me seeing them unwell.
Is there a regime that i can put in place to help prevent sour crop- apple vinegar on a regular basis. I am looking for a prevention is better than cure type result.
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Make sure they have access to grit - this helps them digest the food in their crop.
Have they got access to long grass? Long grass is more difficult for them to digest and can be a cause, they need short grass.
Many use apple cider vinegar on a regular basis to aid digestion and as a general tonic.
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my mum lost a few birds this year to sour crop was weeding the garden all the long grass etc chucked in te run chickens ate it then died found out it was the long grass so cut that out and no more probs so far
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Hi I'm sorry I don't know how to help, we lost a chook to sour crop 2 weeks ago, tried everything but as you say she only lasted 24 hours.
Hope someone has an answer just in case it happens again.
Carol
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I wrote this a while back. The hen is still alive but I sometimes have to massage her crop as she still insists on eating long grass.
"After seeking advice I decided that my hen had "Sour Crop" so tried a number of things,none of which worked so I opted for surgery which my neighbour and I carried out in the garage. With a scalpel I cut a three inch slice into her crop. What we removed was remarkable! At least two pounds in weight of matted long strings of grass and other rubbish. We then tried to superglue the wound together but it wouldn't stick so I ended up stitching it up with purple sewing cotton. The hen seems chirpier then we have seen her for a long time although I have had to fashion a collar( something like you see dogs wearing when they come from the vets) to stop her pecking at the wound!
now 4 days on I am considering putting her back with the others. What do you think?"
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:o, wow, Sheila, can I give you a call should I ever get this with my birds?? :) Plenty of long grass about... :chook:
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This is a bit worrying. I have been feeding my turkey poults who are still indoors handfuls of long grass I pick from the field. I do remove the brown roots and just give them the green. Can turkeys get this illness?
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Hello,
Cider vinager twice a week at the rate of 5ml per ltr is good. if that fails then a product called Colinol Plus made by DHP is brilliant, it is herbal but treats e-Coli and many other bacteria
Hope this helps,
Jonathan
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We have had two cases of sour crop. can't remember where the remedy came from but it seems to have worked..
Hold chicken and tip forward while massaging crop to get all the liquid out.
Mix live yoghurt with crushed layers pellets and I use a small syringe to get it down.