Oh, what good news! I rejoice with you. May I recommend that you go easy with the food for a day or so. And, keep checking that crop. If it's not flat in the mornings, she could be beginning to have some problems.
Again, thanks for the follow up. Tell Squirt that Ruth says "hey." :-)...
Hello, Averkademay.
I've read your description of your lovely little bird and wanted to join in a bit, if I may. I've had some experience with this issue. I know it's not fun, to say the least, and when the stress of feeling helpless is added, it can be downright awful.
Anyway, my hen Ruth...
I had responded without reading any of the above posts so I wanted to add. Ruth had crop surgery and the total bill was "only" $80 or so. The surgery itself was $30 but she had to have antibiotics as follow-up. It was a total success. I would not hesitate to have it done again. She acted a...
Hi, Amy.
Saw your request about your dear little hen so I wanted to respond. I've been down this road before and have learned some
things that may or may not help you.
In addition to trying to help your bird by emptying the crop, I discovered a problem that also results in the crop issue...
I thought of one more important piece of information...is she pooping? If she is, it shows food is passing through her system and it is not likely a crop or gizzard problem.
Sorry to hear about your little bird. Here are some things to check: massage her crop a little and listen for fluid. If you hear fluid, she may have some sour crop or gizzard issues. If you hear the fluid, report back on that and I'll try to help you.
If you hear no fluid, but she has...
Bantygritcrazy,
I feel your pain...when one of our birds need help and we don't know what is best, it is very stressful. It sounds as though you are doing the right things for your little one. ( One thing that is probably not related, is to watch using straw as bedding. Birds seem to eat...
How great to see Bombie doing well! I was just thinking of the two of you the other day and had intended to PM to check. Glad I looked at the site so I could see her picture. It's a wonderful thing to work hard to save one of these little creatures. Many people would sooner do away with a...
I am not familiar with an oral dosing for Tylan. Giving and injection is actually easier than given orally, imho. If you want to give it a try, ask your pharmacy for insulin syringes with a 27 gauge needle. (They sell them by the pack of 10 and they are very inexpensive.) See if you can get...
Another option instead of tetracycline is Tylan 50. It is available without a prescription and is available at many farm supply stores. A year or so ago, it was $10 for a 100 ml bottle. It is injectible. The dose is .25-.35 cc per day for 3-5 days. The best injection site is the breast...
OK, juliachick, I have found your thread. It's difficult without seeing the bird to have a full understanding of what you are seeing. I believe I would confine her away from other birds to be able to monitor what she is eating/drinking/pooping. I would make regular food available for her...
I am extremely grateful. I have had chickens with impacted crop and sour crop before but this is nothing like those experiences. If you could check my thread out and give advice acording to that info it might help me. Once again I am extremely grateful for the davice you have given me so far...
juliachick, you may want to check some poultry sites for pictures of the chicken anatomy. Pretend that you are a chicken and you are saluting the flag with your left hand (wing). Your hand would be over your crop. If your bird is eating, the food is going into the crop first. Generally...
Interesting treatments via the natural products. Would you be able to give more info and/or a link to learn more? My rooster has some "rattles" that are not constant. He was treated with Tylan injectible but it didn't help. I'd like to try the natural remedies you mentioned but I'd need a...
I, too, am sorry you've lost your little bird. One thing for future reference, olive oil is not the best oil to use. Mineral oil is the preferred oil. It is thinner and will work its way down through the crop more quickly than olive oil.
As far as massaging pressure goes, of course you...
For those who are interested in the maggot idea, here is a link that I had saved from a while ago. The issue of botulism was addressed in another article that I am currently unable to locate and apparently it can be a problem. You would need to google that issue to make sure you are not...
What size should I order? I am going to place an order for 5,000-10,000 probably at southernbaitworms.com.
Before you order, why don't you check with WestKnollAmy, a seller on this board? Since we're learning here, why not help those who share so much information? That's just my perspective...
I have a ton of kale in the garden. Grew it for the chickens, but they hardly give it a sniff. I think I tried plain kale leaves for the mealworms without much success either. For those feeding kale, do you just put it into the bin or do you do something else to it...chop it up, etc?