Crop injury

[Maqui25]

A few hours ago a prey bird attacked this girl and upon inspection we found she had this wound in the crop area. I couldn't find any puncture in the actual crop but there's a poop like smell in the wound. She had just eaten so her crop was very full so we just cleaned with iodine and let her rest by herself. Does it look bad? What should we do tomorrow, does it need stitches? Or should it close by itself? Does it need antibiotics? Should we limit her food?

 

[alinas2010]

Aw poor girl, she looks sweet. Sorry this happened. I’m going to tag those with more experience for this one. I do not think it looks bad, but I don’t have experience with crop injuries and I don’t want to tell you to treat it wrong. @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive

Is she doing okay? Does she seem lethargic at all? For now try to keep her hydrated and somewhere warm, dark and quiet to recover from shock.

 

[MarlaMac]

I don't know what the poop like smell would be. What type of bird of prey was it? Perhaps it was dirty/smelly and it transferred to your girl.

If there are not any obvious puncture wounds to the lung area, I would flush the wound with a saline solution or some properly diluted chlorhexidine, dry it and then apply triple antibiotic ointment to the wound. Do this 2 to 3 times a day. It should heal up nicely. Keep your nose to the wound and make sure it doesn't turn smelly like infection.

If she is not eating/drinking, offer some electrolyte or sugar water (this will hopefully entice her to begin eating/drinking). Keep in dark/quiet room to help her recover from any shock she may be suffering from.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

A few hours ago a prey bird attacked this girl and upon inspection we found she had this wound in the crop area. I couldn't find any puncture in the actual crop but there's a poop like smell in the wound. She had just eaten so her crop was very full so we just cleaned with iodine and let her rest by herself. Does it look bad? What should we do tomorrow, does it need stitches? Or should it close by itself? Does it need antibiotics? Should we limit her food?
View attachment 4217946

Poor Girl!

Good questions.

Did you notice a poop smell after you cleaned the wound? That is concerning. Just questions - could she have gotten the feathers soiled and the odor is from that, or you feel that there is feces that has moved to the crop somehow?

IF you are detecting the odor from the wound, I'd also check very carefully for any other punctures underneath her just to be sure there's not a puncture to the intestines, gizzard, etc.
The Crop should not have feces in it, but strange things can happen.

There are 2 layers there at the crop. The skin, then the crop itself.

Cleaning with the Iodine is very good. IF the crop wall is not torn or leaking, then the skin should heal up in time with cleaning as needed and applying an ointment like triple antibiotic ointment like you would care for a wound.

If she drinks, can you tell if any fluids come out of the puncture? Since she has a full crop, I would only provide some sugar water to work her through stress and see if the crop will empty overnight.

I'd think about coloring the sugar water or mix up a little red jello water and having her drink that so you can tell if there's a "leak" I think colored water would be (hopefully) easier to spot. I really don't know for sure though.

As for antibiotics. For me, yes, I would administer them since you detect an odor. What do you have on hand?

I'm going to tag @azygous she has instructions for crop surgery in this link. She's very good with crops, so I think her thoughts/suggestions would be welcomed. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/emergency-crop-surgery-question.1607576/post-27944019

 

[azygous]

You and your hen are lucky that the injury is small. It's also excellent that you cleaned it and got the iodine on the wound immediately. It should heal quickly.

All of the responding posts above gave excellent advice. I have nothing else to add.

 

[Maqui25]

Thank you so much everyone for your advice! After resting last night she's now acting normal, the wound seems to be starting to heal, there's no leakage, no redness or inflammation. Hopefully she won't have any complications

 

[Maqui25]

I don't know what the poop like smell would be. What type of bird of prey was it? Perhaps it was dirty/smelly and it transferred to your girl.

It was a local type of hawk about twice her size, luckily we were close and noticed right away and rescued her. I'm thinking she might have rolled in something while she was fighting? because she doesn't smell anymore.

 

[Maqui25]

Did you notice a poop smell after you cleaned the wound? That is concerning. Just questions - could she have gotten the feathers soiled and the odor is from that, or you feel that there is feces that has moved to the crop somehow?

IF you are detecting the odor from the wound, I'd also check very carefully for any other punctures underneath her just to be sure there's not a puncture to the intestines, gizzard, etc.
The Crop should not have feces in it, but strange things can happen.

There are 2 layers there at the crop. The skin, then the crop itself.

Cleaning with the Iodine is very good. IF the crop wall is not torn or leaking, then the skin should heal up in time with cleaning as needed and applying an ointment like triple antibiotic ointment like you would care for a wound.

If she drinks, can you tell if any fluids come out of the puncture? Since she has a full crop, I would only provide some sugar water to work her through stress and see if the crop will empty overnight.

I'd think about coloring the sugar water or mix up a little red jello water and having her drink that so you can tell if there's a "leak" I think colored water would be (hopefully) easier to spot. I really don't know for sure though.

As for antibiotics. For me, yes, I would administer them since you detect an odor. What do you have on hand?

I was worried about a punctured crop first bc she's free range and they eat each other's poop sometimes or bugs. But there's no smell anymore and no puncture so I think she just rolled in something.
No other wounds except for a small one in her comb.
I applied ointment, for antibiotics I only have amoxicillin pills I can crush and dilute. I have used that before but I don't know if there's a better option I should keep in hand for future emergencies?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I was worried about a punctured crop first bc she's free range and they eat each other's poop sometimes or bugs. But there's no smell anymore and no puncture so I think she just rolled in something.
No other wounds except for a small one in her comb.
I applied ointment, for antibiotics I only have amoxicillin pills I can crush and dilute. I have used that before but I don't know if there's a better option I should keep in hand for future emergencies?

It sounds like the feathers may have been soiled since you don't notice the smell any longer. That's good news!

If you think this is healing fine, then an antibiotic may not be needed.
Amoxicillin is a good choice to use for wounds if you find you need it.
Dosing is 57mg per pound of weight given orally twice a day for 7-10days in case you need that.

Keep us posted on how she's getting along.