1 month old chick with blocked crop: Update: surgery

[curranchickens]

Wow! That is amazing! I hope that if something like that ever happens to one of my chicks, I am as brave as you. I hope she makes it.

We did surgery on her tonight. Poor thing is skin and bones and starving to death.

The surgery went well, and I didn't find it particularly disgusting or difficult.

Her crop was PACKED FULL of wood chips. I had to pick them out, which took awhile. We then rinsed out her crop a few times with a turkey baster. Sewed her up with super glue. She's now resting in a box with NO wood chips, next to her sisters. I'll give her some soft food tomorrow.

 

[CptCluck]

Well, like most people I thought about letting her die or putting her down. But, I can still do those things, except now the little thing has a chance.

I gave her a dab of paste made with chick feed this morning and she gobbled it up fast, but I'm going to wait some time before giving her more food, and I'm going to keep it soft food for a week. I had to put a "Cone of shame" on her to to keep her from opening her incision.

 

[lindseyloo]

Omygoodness, You get Chicken Owner of the Month award! Prayers sent her way that she starts to get better... What did you use to keep her still during her procedure!?

 

[CptCluck]

There's a couple of other good informational threads here - a google search on "chicken crop surgery" will find them. I read these threads beforehand as well as watched the couple of Youtube videos on the subject.

Basically, the chicken goes completely docile if you cover their heads. Wife helped me keep a washcloth over her head and I kept my hand on her side as she lay on a folded-up towel. No problems at all!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-crop-how-to-treat-your-chickens-surgery-graphic-pic

http://chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=36814.0

http://www.chickencrossing.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3970

 

[CptCluck]

She's so cute.

 

[klmclain1]

Awwww...that's just too adorable!

 

[HenThymes]

I soo wish I could do this with my little one, we have a two week old with a blocked crop.

Little thing is tuff and hanging in but not sure what I can do at this age??? I did get some up and out earlier today but you can still fill a bunch in there. It has drank today as well as some yogurt but you can fill it filling it up again.

So glad you were able to save your little one.

 

[LuvinChickens]

• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641069/sour-crop-update-another-hen-has-impaction-sour-crop

This might help...

 

[CptCluck]

We're not out of the woods yet. She's healthy , feisty, and I don't see infection, but it keeps on coming open... looking into putting a stitch or two in her now.

 

[klmclain1]

Someone else was having that problem a couple of weeks ago. You might do a search for it and PM them to see what they finally did if it's not in there! Look for crop and super glue. Or superglue.

Found it! https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-leaking-after-impaction-surgery-update-photo