Any luck with surgery??

[Wyorp Rock]

Final update on Willow:
She had her final recheck today at the vet and the thumbs up! We are so relieved.

It’s been a long journey. For anyone who read (and got thru) this long thread about spaying a chicken if needed, I would say do it. The surgery itself went well and was successful. The chance of any other chicken having a weird skin problem after surgery is highly unlikely and her situation was super rare.

Willow is an awesome, good natured chicken and she is a trooper. Since she’s no longer acclimated to the cold it will still be a few weeks until she reunites with her flock (it’s still bitter cold and snowy in western NY). Willow and I would like to thank you all for your support and encouragement!

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As always, I'm happy to see an update about Willow and find out how she's doing!
Glad that she is doing so well and I hope she continues to do so.
Good luck with the integrations, please keep us posted.

 

[rebrascora]

I agree. Please don't make it the final update. We are all invested in Willow's story. Hoping she has a smooth introduction but long term it will be interesting to see if she continues not to ovulate and will her comb stay pale because she isn't ovulating. I understand that after removal of the oviduct there is less likelihood of her ovaries functioning but just hoping that is the case for her and what changes you see in her comb and general demeanour once she is back with the flock and it is spring when hormones would normally be surging. Also, do you have a rooster and if so, whether he still shows an interest in mating her.
Keeping my fingers crossed for a smooth integration for her back into the flock.

 

[aart]

I understand that after removal of the oviduct there is less likelihood of her ovaries functioning

Maybe I need to read back to see exactly how much of her reproductive system was removed.<scratcheshead>

 

[rebrascora]

Maybe I need to read back to see exactly how much of her reproductive system was removed.<scratcheshead>

I believe it was just the oviduct. Removing the ovaries is generally much more risky due to the heavy blood supply and how closely it connects into the main aorta, similar to testes in sexually mature male birds.
Apparently there is a significant chance that this will actually prevent the ovary from producing follicles and therefore make removal of it or hormonal implants unnecessary but if it does continue to function then the bird will obviously lay internally.

 

[aart]

I believe it was just the oviduct. Removing the ovaries is generally much more risky due to the heavy blood supply and how closely it connects into the main aorta similar to testes in sexually mature male birds.
Apparently there is a significant chance that this will actually prevent the ovary from producing follicles and therefore make removal of it or hormonal implants unnecessary but if it does continue to function then the bird will obviously lay internally.

Makes sense, thanks.
IIRC bird was already on implants..wonder how they'd know if ovaries were still active?

So everything from the ovary to the uterus?

 

[rebrascora]

So everything from the ovary to the uterus?

Yes, I believe so.

 

[leighks]

Thanks so much for the update. Willow is just so special to us.
I would truly like updates as she continues to recover her story is so fascinating. So as she hits her milestones during reintroduction to the flock etc...let us know.
I just love happy endings. So happy for Willow & You!

Ok, I won’t deny the people more Willow! She is pretty amazing. It Will be a few weeks til reintroduction but I will let you know how things go....

 

[leighks]

Yes, I believe so.

Willow only had the oviduct removed, and @rebrascora was spot on in the description above.

 

[leighks]

I agree. Please don't make it the final update. We are all invested in Willow's story. Hoping she has a smooth introduction but long term it will be interesting to see if she continues not to ovulate and will her comb stay pale because she isn't ovulating. I understand that after removal of the oviduct there is less likelihood of her ovaries functioning but just hoping that is the case for her and what changes you see in her comb and general demeanour once she is back with the flock and it is spring when hormones would normally be surging. Also, do you have a rooster and if so, whether he still shows an interest in mating her.
Keeping my fingers crossed for a smooth integration for her back into the flock.

Yes I can continue to post about any changes I notice with her. She did have the implant a week prior to surgery to shrink the oviduct to make it easier to remove, and it generally can last up to 6 months, so I may not see true hormone changes this spring.

I do have a roo, but he’s a young, overzealous mating maniac, so he is separated from the hens during the spring and summer. I posted last May or June about trying the hormone implant on him, to calm him down, but it didn’t help for too long. He was too old to get maximum affects at a year old. Willow was his favorite hen, so I will be interested to his reaction to her return (they are only separated by chicken fencing, so he can still see them and semi-interact with them).

I’m truely touched by how much everyone loves Willow!

 

[nicollee]

I'm glad your and Willows story has a happy ending...
It is amazing to me, the lengths we will go to for our furred, scaled and feathered friends..... the stories can be truly inspiring....
I wish the world operated on a similar note.