Sour Crop (Crop Mycosis)
A yeast (Candida) overgrowth in the crop, often following antibiotic use, spoiled feed, or an impacted crop. Crop feels like a water balloon and the bird's breath smells like sour milk.
Mix of AI illustrations and anonymized real cases shared by community keepers. Visual severity varies by bird, age, and stage.
Symptoms
- Squishy or water filled crop
- Foul or sour breath
- Lethargic / not moving
- Not eating
- Yellow mouth lesions
Treatment
Withhold food for 12 hours, water still available. Gently massage the crop several times a day. Offer plain unsweetened yogurt or a poultry probiotic. Vet may prescribe nystatin. Never tip a bird upside down to empty the crop, they can aspirate and die.
Prevention
Avoid long stretches of bread or sugary treats. Throw out moldy or wet feed. Give probiotics after any antibiotic course. Make sure grit is available so feed digests properly.
Typical recovery
3 to 10 days with prompt care.