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I've just lost my friendliest chicken Edie after a bout of sour crop. We noticed yesterday she wasn't eating and this morning her crop was full and squashy so I tipped her up and she brought up a lot of liquid. With it being the bank holiday weekend, we took her to the vet who prescribed her baytril and maxolon to help the crop to contract. He could feel something fibrous in the crop but nothing massive.

We gave her some yoghurt and put her somewhere quiet with some water but when I went to check on her later, she had died. It looked as though she'd vomited so we're guessing she'd choked.

Was there anything else I could have done? I just want to be prepared if it happens again. The chickens free range for most of the day but aren't on grass - I chuck them weeds, cabbage leaves etc from the allotment and they have a weekly portion of yogurt, ACV in their water, cod liver oil and poultry spice.

[joyfull]

sorry you lost your girl  xx

Here is a link to the poultry frequently asked questions section which explains about sour crop :-

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=4345.0

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Thanks Joyfull. I'd already looked there - I find the FAQs on this site invaluable. I know these things happen, but I can't help feeling bad when they do.

Before getting our own hens, my mum had a smallholding and my husband worked on a farm for several years so we went into this with a fairly pragmatic, egg production approach. Fine in theory, but in practice, we have both been completely charmed by them and they are much loved pets as well as providers of delicious eggs. It seems we're in good company though!

[sneezer]

I'm sorry to here about Edie, it sounds as though you did all you could, taking her to the vets, keeping her quiet etc, I know what you mean about being charmed by them!

[bantam novice]

So sorry about Edie 

[Sassy]

What more could you have done than take her to the vet. And from the treatment prescribed one that seemed to have an idea about chooks. You did your very best and no more could be asked of you. I bet she had the best quality of life as well. Do not blame yourself, unfortunately these things just happen sometimes 

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Thanks for all your kind thoughts. Just can't help feeling bad, but you're right, she had a lovely life.