Sour Crop in Pigeons

Sour crop in pigeons can be quite common and is usually linked with the poor grit or the consumption of bad grains.

The term “sour crop” generally refers to an infection in the crop or digestive tract. The infection causes the crop to shut-down and any food content in the crop to turn “sour”.

Additionally, the hand feeding of pet birds such as parrots, especially young birds has been known to increase the risk of infection.

Symptoms

Contaminated birds often show the following signs:

• Won’t eat anything
• Open the beak, crop smells if it’s sour
• Lose a lot of weight
• Crop fills with water
• Adult pigeons may pull out feathers
• Frequent Vomiting – This vomit can have a quite putrid odour.
• In less serious instances, thrush will show as just small whitish spots in the throat, which is often mistaken for canker.

Prevention

(Credit: Gretchen E Kaufman)

Plenty of good quality grit at all times, a good diet and corn that isn’t mouldy.

Sources:
https://www.siegelpigeons.com/asked-sourcrop.html
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/crop-infections-in-birds