How to treat sour crop and impacted crop and how to know which one you're dealing with

Thank you so much for this article.
One of mine had been withdrawn, not surprisingly as she was moulting and had lost most of the feathers on her back, but as the feathers were growing back nicely, she started to sit all hunched-up and wouldn't talk to me. There was clearly a problem. Usually she's the feisty one.
I'd not liked to handle her whilst the feathers were forming - I've read that it can be painful for them - so I wasn't sure what to do but when she stopped doing chicken things, I did pick her up and found a hard lump. The article confirmed that this was an impacted crop.
I read the instructions in the article and sat down with chicken in one arm, syringe of oil in the other, realised I hadn't a clue how to get the oil into the chicken and was interrupted by the cat walking in and dripping blood from her rear end! Isn't life just like that! Anyway my partner grabbed the cat and took her out of sight. Fortunately Ginger seemed to like sunflower oil and massage and something moved in the crop. However, we got messy from the runny oil.
I read about solid coconut oil, which I don't have, but the ingredients in my partners anti-cholesterol olive spread seemed ok for chickens and that was much easier to give. I put a dollop on the lid of a yoghurt put and Ginger stuffed her beak into it eagerly, scattering grease all over. I put the next dollop into the inverted rim of the lid, which made a beak-sized trough, and that was much less messy.
I massaged upwards as instructed. I was perturbed that several other articles on the internet said to stroke downwards. I checked on chicken anatomy and stroking downwards seems to me to be dangerous and probably very painful.
After that session the lump was flatter, but still not right, so I put her back in the coop for the night and repeated the olive spread treatment next morning. The crop didn't clear completely but she seemed much brighter so I put her back in the run. She gradually perked up and is now back to her usual feisty, chattery self.
If the article hadn't been there I'm not sure where I'd have got sound advice. Thank you very much for it.

Excellent article on how to deal with crop issues.

Super helpful. Thank you!!

Thank you for this invaluable, clear and easy to understand advice. I have been following it for 3 weeks. My hen had; sour crop, an impaction and a pendulous crop all at once. I practiced all your suggestions in order, and this morning ,finally, her crop is 100% empty! It has taken 3 weeks but it has worked. I will continue to monitor her, but because of this page I now understand what I am dealing with. Many thanks.

This is excellent. I wish I had found it 48 hrs ago but better late than never. Thank you so much for every word including updates.

Thank you so much for writing this article. I have used the info in the past, and I just pulled it up again. So glad it is here.

Excellent detail and coverage. Very helpful and empowering. I hope I don't need it, but if I do, I will feel (more) like I know how to treat the poor chicken. thank you so much!

Thanks so very for this informative article. I appreciate your help and time.

Very helpful! I used this to help with a hen who had an impacted crop, and will continue to share with others!

Very helpful, thanks.

I always search to see if you have info when there’s a problem. Your article about a prolapsed vent immediately saved my hen, thank you, again!
I have a 16wk old EE, there is fowl pox going through some of my younger ones and perhaps her. Her comb looks crusty on the edges but no true blisters. She is leaking clear fluid out of her beak to the point her beard is saturated, moving a bit slow, eating but hanging in there. I read it could be sour crop which is what brought me here but I don’t see where you say that is a symptom. I’m stumped. Any ideas? Her crop is super mushy not firm this evening.

Thank you so much for this valuable article. I have found this so helpful for what we are dealing with right now

Hi this has been so helpful. I have one of my ladies inside with sour crop and I just started her on the nystatin. Just one question, do you keep food to just yogurt and boiled egg for the whole 7 days? I’m worried about withholding feed from my hen as she is severely emaciated already.

Thank you! I have a hen that may have impacted crop. You didn't mention what color their poop will be but my hen's poop is YELLOW for whatever reason.
Any way her crop is big and hard so I think it is impacted crop. I will try your suggestions. Initially, I was treating for coccidiosis.

Excellent read.
Loved it

Currently have an ill hen with a possible impacted crop. Very helpful in explaining the differences between Sour and Impacted crops and the common treatments. Thank you!

Loved this article. Soo well done! One question I have through is what is the "crop drain"? The grains and food I feel in my chicken's crop, do they need to be placed in like a corner of the crop, near the "crop drain"? Like how will the massaging get rid of the food in her crop?
Thank you!!