[Lucky13]

Hello,
I will try to describe this as best I can.....My 5 month old blue Quaker kind of gags several times a day.....at first I thought he was regurgitating to my other Quaker who is just a tad older than him. But Tattoo does this in his cage when he is by himself so I know that's not it.....Tonight, while I had him out, he was sitting on the back of my computer chair and gagging like he was trying to get something to come back up so he could chew it up again and swallow it. His breath smelled like sour cream. That's the only way to describe it.......sour.......

I know sour crop is more common with chicks that are being handfed......he is 5 months old and is eating normally and his weight is normal....but he gags a lot.....enough for me to know it's not normal. He doesn't seem to be vomiting, just gagging and chewing and then trying to swallow again.

I e-mailed his breeder and she said from the way I described the smell, it sounded like it may be sour crop or some kind of bacterial infection.....to take him to the vet tomorrow and get them to do a culture.....

I have "Potent Brew" that I bought with some other supplements and it sounds like that would help it. I asked his breeder and she said to try it.....that it couldn't hurt.

Have any of you had this or heard of this....Of course I am concerned.......and sorry this is so long.....just trying to describe it to everyone to get feedback.

Thanks,
Jill

[Quincy's Slave]

It could be sour crop or a yeast infection. Try a little bit of unsweetened apple juice and a pea sized bit of plain yogurt. I think a sign of sour crop is a crop that always looks full even if a bird hasn't eaten for awhile.

Definitely get to the vet though, meds will work faster than anything

[Andie's Mom]

if it smells sour chances are she has a yeast infection...It can be treated several ways and the object of the treatment is to change the PH in the crop....

You are correct in the statement about sour crop...it is most common in chicks being hand fed, and its caused by the food not leaving the crop fast enough and it actually starts to ferment in the crop. Most of the time its caused from feeding them too cool of hand feeding formula. But there can be other causes.

I've also used GSE...grapefruit seed extract to help change the PH in their crops as well as apple cider vinegar...ACV However...you might want to check with your vet before doing anything because if he's doing that shortly after he eats he could have a blockage of some type...

But to me it really sounds like regurgitation to me...because even that can have a pretty sour smell... Its best to check with a professional to be sure...better safe than sorry.

[Rachel and Doodad]

Doodad does a thing like a yawn....now im worried. Except she also does it when i scritch where the ear would be. Is this the same action??????

[lg2312]

Hi Jill,

I am going through something similar with my Maddie, except the only time she does it is when I first wake her up. Other than that, she acts pretty normal aside from some behavoiral changes.

We went to the vet yesterday, and after a lot of stress, time and money we are still scratching out heads.

I sure wish you luck with Tattoo, keep us posted on what you find out.

[Uncle Zippy]

I had a similar situation with Maya last year. She had the smelly breath, but wasn't trying to regurgitate.

I gave her apple cider vinegar(with the mother!)for a few days in her water(actually did it with all the birds since it doesn't reall hurt). When her breath was back to normal, I gave her some plain yogurt to get the good bacteria back up.

This is a simple home remedy to treat a yeast infection. It in no way is a substitute for a trip to the vet, especially when you're not sure what is causing the smell in the first place.

I would go to the vet and get a proper diagnosis. If it is a yeast infection, you can ask the vet about ACV as a treatment.

[Cosmo & Marti's Mom]

Rachel, your qp is just popping her ears, all my birds have done that when i rub their ears., perfectly normal!

[TariAngie]

You got some great advice but still make sure you go to the vet. Many things can cause a baby to regeratate. As stated above better save then sorry.
My Topaz got a yeast infection and it took 6 weeks to get rid of it mostly cause she threw up most the meds. It was a scary time and she even had to spend two nights at the vet for shots. Sounds like you caught yours a lot earlier then I did.
Rachel many birds yawn. I ever make it into a game with some of mine by opening my mounts and wagging my tongue at them when they do it. lol It can go on for a long time when my birds are in the mood. lol
Good luck

[Tara Rose]

Just on a side note..I would be leary of any breeder/vet etc that tells you to 'give it a shot, it can't hurt.' Birds are pretty darn fragile when they are sick..so be careful.

Just my two cents Hope you bird is feeling better soon!