[AndrewMBaines]

One of my Orpingtons has had an enlarged crop for the last couple of weeks. Smells a bit, but not enough for it to be sour crop (I think).
She seems in good spirits, running around and eating.
Massaging reduces the size, but only temporarily.
Many of her feathers around the crop are missing, and the skin is very red. Feels hot too.
I tried making her sick, turning her upside down and massaging, but nothing came out,

Not sure if this is sour crop, compacted crop, or something else. The inflamed skin is confusing.

Any ideas on what this could be, and what to do about it?

Thanks
Andrew

[Welshcob]

Have you tried starving her for a few hours to check if the swelling goes down? If it's impacted continuous food coming in will just jam inside the crop. Also is very close to the skin so if it is very inflamed inside, it can spread to surrounding tissues.

Do they have access to long grasses? It's a classic cause of impaction.

Even if she looks bright she might still need the vets to have a look - hopefully they will not have to open the crop.

[chrismahon]

Good advice from Welshcob. We have two piggy Orpingtons with the same symptoms. Been like it for months and I can't fathom the problem. Poos normal. They seem perfectly happy and healthy otherwise. Orpingtons are prone to 'pendulous crop' where it can't empty and keeps going sour. They are a case for regular feed times rather than ad lib -that's comming but they don't know it yet!

[AndrewMBaines]

Thanks for the advice so far.
I've put her in a run on her own so she can't access the food, for 2 days. I've been feeding her growers pellets soaked in water. No grain or other solids.
Her crop is still swollen, but feels soft, so looks like the grain that felt hard has worked it's way through - it used to feel hard and lumpy.
I'm massaging her crop 3 or 4 times a day, and it does shrink down, still a bit smelly though.

Does it sound like I'm doing the right thing? Do you think it sounds like she's getting better?

Thanks

Andrew

[chrismahon]

You are doing what we would be doing Andrew. Check her throat for fungal 'cankers' as well (cream coloured lumps) because they can induce repeated sour crop. They are difficult and time consuming to treat if that is the problem. Problem with leaving her system empty is that the gut flora die and although she then starts eating she doen't actually digest anything. Best restart is Beryl's friendly bacteria but make sure you are in to receive the refridgerated package. Alternative is probiotic natural yoghurt but that could be a big risk with a potentially sour crop.

[jaykay]

The lactic acid bacteria in yoghurt won't hurt, the fermentation in sour crop is fungal and the bacteria in yoghurt will not make that worse and, as Chris says, will help repopulate the gut.

You can try treating her with probiotic yoghurt and apple cider vinegar in her water. Both will acidify the crop and make the conditions less conducive for the fungal growth. Plus what you're doing, helping massage and empty her crop.

But if that doesn't work, Nystatin from the vets can help.