What is Sour Crop in Chickens and How to Treat It

I remember walking out to check on the girls one hot summer day a few years back. I do regular health checks on my flock, so I immediately noticed Nugget, my black Silkie, hanging back by the fence looking off. One look and I knew she wasn’t feeling right. I picked her up and felt her crop, and when I bent over to grab something off the ground, a smelly liquid shot out of her mouth. Gross! That was my first experience with sour crop in chickens.

What is Sour Crop in Chickens?

Sour crop, also called crop stasis or sour crop syndrome, is a condition where the crop (a pouch in the throat where chickens store food before digestion) stops emptying properly. When food gets stuck and doesn’t move through the system like it should, it can start to ferment. This leads to a buildup of gas, acids and in some cases, yeast or fungal infections. If not treated quickly, sour crop can become serious.

What Causes Sour Crop?

A lot of things can throw off a chicken’s digestive system. Diet is a big one. If a bird eats too many sugary scraps, processed food or even spoiled leftovers, it can ferment in the crop. That’s why it’s so important to know what foods you shouldn’t feed your chickens! In Nugget’s case, I’m pretty sure she grabbed something weird while free-ranging.

Lack of dietary fiber can slow digestion too. And if your chickens don’t have access to fresh, clean water, their crop can harden and block up. That’s one reason I use Chicken E-lixir in my flock’s water daily. It’s an easy way to support hydration and overall health!

Other common causes of sour crop include fungal infections, stress from overcrowding or extreme temperatures and even small objects a curious chicken might swallow. Unfortunately, if your birds free-range, there’s always some risk. But keeping their diet balanced and environment low-stress goes a long way.

Signs of Sour Crop in Chickens

It’s important to spot sour crop early. Some of the clearest symptoms include:

• A swollen or squishy crop, especially in the morning when it should be empty

• A foul, sour odor coming from the bird’s beak

• Lethargy or isolating from the flock

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss over time

• Occasional regurgitation of liquid or undigested food

You may also notice a puffed-out crop area that stays full all day, wet feathers under the beak from regurgitation, or a hunched-over posture that shows your hen isn’t feeling her best

When I checked Nugget, she had all of these signs, except the weight loss, since I caught it early.

How to Treat Sour Crop in Chickens

Once you suspect sour crop, act quickly to relieve discomfort and get digestion back on track.

Start by removing all food for 12 to 24 hours to give the crop a break. I brought Nugget into the garage, gave her a quiet place to rest in a kennel and separated her from the rest of the flock. Honestly, she didn’t even care about the missing food. She wasn’t feeling up to eating anyway.

Make sure your chicken has plenty of clean water! I added Flock Fixer to Nugget’s water, which I truly believe helped her bounce back. It’s packed with oregano essential oil, prebiotics, probiotics, electrolytes, and vitamins which is perfect for stress recovery and gut support.

I also gently massaged her crop to help loosen the contents and get things moving. A couple times a day, I’d tip her slightly forward while massaging so she could expel any liquid buildup. Just plug your nose, it’s not pleasant!

How Long Does Recovery Take?

In Nugget’s case, she spent two days resting in the garage. She was a sweet little patient and responded well to the care. After that, she was back with her flock, scratching around like nothing had happened.

Preventing Sour Crop in Chickens

The best way to avoid sour crop is by staying consistent with care. Feed a balanced, fiber-rich diet and limit sugary or processed treats. Offer constant access to clean water and use preventative support like Chicken E-lixir or Flock Fixer to boost hydration and digestion, especially in stressful times like heat waves or changes in environment.

And most importantly? Keep a close eye on your birds. Catching sour crop early made all the difference for Nugget!

Until next time,

The Wing Lady

Flock Fixer - Hydrate & Restore Health During Times of Challenge

You can’t always see it, but your flock will experience a weakened immune system during times of challenge. Flock Fixer is a vitamin-rich additive that helps hydrate, restore vital nutrients and balance digestive health.

Learn More

Chicken E-lixir - Daily Vitamin for Chickens

Chicken E-lixir is added to drinking water as a daily vitamin for keeping chickens healthy by promoting digestive health. For everyday use, it contains a unique blend of organic oregano essential oil, prebiotics, calcium, vitamins D & E and electrolytes.

Learn More