Chickens crop is literally rotting off

[AngelicaRoss]

I can visualize how a crop can become infected from an injury on the outside skin, then ulcerate and infect the crop sack. It's not a common occurrence. Just as a meteor falling on your house isn't a common occurrence, but both are possible.

When you are dealing with infected tissue and necrotic tissue, it is possible to treat, but it will be complex. A vet would be experienced enough with dealing with infected and necrotic tissue, they would be able to surgically remove the necrotic tissue, clean out the infection and prescribe an antibiotic to treat any lingering infection.

For anyone not familiar with chickens, dealing with the crop may be a bit tricky. Hopefully, your vet will inform themselves enough to be able to surgically repair the crop and close the incisions, either by suturing or gluing. It's something a vet is better equipped to do than you, but you could do it if you need to.

I did find an avian vet a 43 minute drive from here. I was wondering if that could be done. Just skin could be pulled over the crop? She has plenty of loose skin since she's had pendulous crop all of her life. I don't know how many days it might take to get an appointment. I guess the skin is already dead and as long as she feels ok she can wait a day or two? I'm just heartbroken that she has been through so much and seems to feel just fine.

 

[AngelicaRoss]

I can visualize how a crop can become infected from an injury on the outside skin, then ulcerate and infect the crop sack. It's not a common occurrence. Just as a meteor falling on your house isn't a common occurrence, but both are possible.

When you are dealing with infected tissue and necrotic tissue, it is possible to treat, but it will be complex. A vet would be experienced enough with dealing with infected and necrotic tissue, they would be able to surgically remove the necrotic tissue, clean out the infection and prescribe an antibiotic to treat any lingering infection.

For anyone not familiar with chickens, dealing with the crop may be a bit tricky. Hopefully, your vet will inform themselves enough to be able to surgically repair the crop and close the incisions, either by suturing or gluing. It's something a vet is better equipped to do than you, but you could do it if you need to.

I had super glue and scissors. I looked at it thinking I could cut away dead tissue and glue it but it's a lot of dead tissue. It's a circle of dead skin the shape and size of her crop. I really am sorry I ever got chickens. I have had to do horrible things.

 

[CHlCKEN]

I did find an avian vet a 43 minute drive from here. I was wondering if that could be done. Just skin could be pulled over the crop? She has plenty of loose skin since she's had pendulous crop all of her life. I don't know how many days it might take to get an appointment. I guess the skin is already dead and as long as she feels ok she can wait a day or two? I'm just heartbroken that she has been through so much and seems to feel just fine.

Call, they could probably get you in tomorrow (likely not today since it’s Sunday) as it is an emergency of a sort. Good luck with her.

 

[AngelicaRoss]

Call, they could probably get you in tomorrow (likely not today since it’s Sunday) as it is an emergency of a sort. Good luck with her.

Thank you. I will definitely call in the morning. We only have 1 emergency vet in the area and they only do domestic animals.

 

[azygous]

If the vet says they can't treat her, you definitely can operate on your hen. She doesn't require sedation. You would need someone to hold her still on her back. I can give you a check list of materials you need to gather for the surgery, and an instructional video so you can see how it's done on a real chicken.

It appears you know the difference between healthy tissue and dead. You will make clean cuts to remove the necrotic tissue, and then you can glue the healthy tissue together.

You have nothing to lose. She will die without surgery.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Sorry about your chicken. Good luck with her.

 

[AngelicaRoss]

If the vet says they can't treat her, you definitely can operate on your hen. She doesn't require sedation. You would need someone to hold her still on her back. I can give you a check list of materials you need to gather for the surgery, and an instructional video so you can see how it's done on a real chicken.

It appears you know the difference between healthy tissue and dead. You will make clean cuts to remove the necrotic tissue, and then you can glue the healthy tissue together.

You have nothing to lose. She will die without surgery.

Thank you so much. I really hope I don't have to do it!

 

[AngelicaRoss]

Sorry about your chicken. Good luck with her.

Thank you so much.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

Before you do anything drastic please see a vet. The crop is an actual sack that sits under the skin. If it has a hole, that part needs to be repaired as well as muscle and skin, something you really shouldn't do at home.

This along with the fact that she needs to be anesthetized for the surgery. Can you imagine the pain of someone cutting the skin off your chest while you were awake with nothing to dull it? It would be excruciating. Animals do feel pain just like us. She could easily go into shock just from cutting the skin alone.

 

[Ascholten]

If she is not feeling pain when you cut at it, it's pretty advanced stage problem you have there. The thing might be acting normal because so much has rotted away the nerves are shot too and she's literally not aware of how bad she is. All that rot, she's swallowig it and it's getting into her system too. I don't want to be the danny downer here but I think this is a dead bird walking. Don't be surprised if maggots show up soon, because the flies will smell that rot and lay in it too.

IF you decide to do surgery, super glue will hold the skin together over the wound, it can hold flesh together too somewhat, just be careful when applying you don't glue your fingers to her, and cause more tissue trauma having to rip your glued finger out of her... whatever.

Good luck and I hope she gets better but this sounds so bad already.

Aaron