Ewww! Sour Crop....What is it and how to fix it
“My Hen’s Chest Feels Squishy!” — A Simple Talk About Sour Crop
My hen’s chest looks puffy and feels squishy this morning. She’s moving slow and her breath smells… sour. What is going on?
It might be sour crop. That’s when food and water sit too long in the hen’s crop and start to ferment (go bad). Let’s talk about what the crop is, how to spot sour crop, what to do at home, and how to stop it from happening again.
¿Qué es el buche? (La "bolsa de alimento")
What is the crop, anyway?
Imagina el buche como una pequeña bolsa de merienda que se sitúa en el lado derecho del pecho de la gallina, bajo el cuello. Cuando una gallina come, la comida pasa del pico → esófago → buche. El buche almacena y ablanda la comida durante un corto periodo de tiempo. Después, la comida pasa al estómago y la molleja (que es el triturador que utiliza pequeñas piedras llamadas grit).
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Por la noche: El buche suele estar lleno y blando (acaba de comer antes de dormir).
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In the morning (before breakfast): It should be flat or empty.
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How to check: Gently feel the right side of the chest. Don’t squeeze hard. Keep the hen upright.
What Is Sour Crop?
Sour crop happens when the crop doesn’t empty like it should. Food and water sit too long and turn sour. Yeast (a tiny germ, like what makes bread rise) can grow there. That’s why the breath can smell yeasty or sour.
Where the name comes from: The stuff in the crop smells sour—like sour milk or sauerkraut.
How to Recognize Sour Crop
What will I see or feel?
Check her first thing in the morning, before breakfast.
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Crop feels squishy or sloshy instead of flat.
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Sour or yeasty smell from the beak.
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She may act tired, eat less, or lose weight.
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A veces un poco de líquido gotea del pico.
Safe First Steps at Home
What can I do right now?
Keep it gentle and safe.
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Isolate her in a quiet, warm spot so you can watch her.
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Rest the crop: For 12–24 hours, no solid food. Offer small sips of fresh water. (Electrolyte water for chickens is okay if you have it.)
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Very gentle crop massage while she is upright—soft circles to encourage movement. Stop if liquid moves up toward the mouth.
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NO la pongas boca abajo, forces agua ni viertas aceites por su garganta. Esto puede provocar asfixia.
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Tras el descanso, ofrece alimento blando y fácil (como papilla tibia o un poco de huevo revuelto) y grit si no lo tiene disponible.
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If she is not better in 24–48 hours, or seems worse, call a vet. A vet may give medicine for yeast and check for a blockage.
What Else Could It Be?
Sometimes crop problems look alike. Here’s a simple guide for morning checks:
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Sour crop: Crop feels squishy/sloshy; sour smell.
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Impacted crop: Crop feels hard or tight, like a little golf ball (often from long grass, straw, or stringy treats).
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Pendulous crop: Crop hangs like a saggy water balloon and refills easily (crop wall is stretched).
Si el buche está muy lleno de líquido, o tu gallina está débil o respira rápido, llama al veterinario de inmediato.
What Causes Sour Crop?
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Crop doesn’t empty on time (food sits and ferments).
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Yeast overgrowth in the crop.
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Moldy or damp feed or dirty waterers.
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Impaction first, then sour crop on top of it.
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Too many soft or sugary treats, or sudden diet changes.
Why Grit Helps Prevent Sour Crop
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Grit is your chicken’s “teeth.” Chickens don’t chew. Grit (tiny stones) sits in the gizzard and grinds food. The gizzard is your chicken's muscle stomach that grinds the find. Crazy right?!
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Ground-up food moves out of the crop on time, so it doesn’t sit, ferment, and turn sour.
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Grit also lowers the chance of a hard, stuck crop from long grass or stringy treats.
Use the right kind
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Choose insoluble granite grit.
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Oyster shell is for calcium (eggshells), not grit.
Pick the right size
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Chicks: chick grit
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Young birds: medium
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Adults: regular/large
How to offer
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Put grit in a small dish, free-choice. Keep it dry and refill as needed.
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If birds eat only pellets/crumbles and no treats, they may need less—but keep some out.
Cosas que NO hacer
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Don’t use sand or aquarium gravel.
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El grit previene problemas; no cura el buche agrio. Si una gallina está enferma, sigue los pasos de cuidado y llama al veterinario si no mejora.
Previene el buche ácido
Keep things clean, dry, and simple:
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Feed fresh, dry feed; store bags off the floor; toss moldy feed.
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Scrub waterers weekly (more in hot weather).
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Give grit if hens don’t have access to coarse soil.
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Limita los recortes de césped largos y golosinas fibrosas; mantén el cordel y el plástico fuera de su alcance.
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Don’t overuse antibiotics; ask your vet about probiotics after any antibiotic use.
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Do a quick morning crop check once a week. Crops should be flat before breakfast.
When to See a Vet for Sour Crop (Big Red Flags)
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Crop is very full of liquid or she is drooling a lot.
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Hen is weak, wobbly, breathing fast, or not drinking.
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No improvement after 24–48 hours of gentle home care.
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You suspect a blockage (hard crop) or pain.
Lista rápida para el hogar
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☐ Isolate and keep warm
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☐ No solid food for 12–24 hours; small sips of water
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☐ Upright, gentle crop massage (stop if liquid rises)
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☐ No upside-down draining, no force-flushing, no oils
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☐ Soft feed + grit when you restart
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☐ Call a vet if not better in 24–48 hours
Friendly Disclaimer
This article is for education, not a diagnosis. Sour crop can get serious. If your hen is weak, breathing hard, or has a very full, liquid crop, contact a poultry-experienced veterinarian right away.