crop issue, loosing weight, and runny pooh

[embrown]

I have a complex B Human Vitamin in a capsule, can I just use that powder in her water. Or, is there an animal B vitamin I should get.

 

[ruth]

Quote:
I use the human vitamins - I use B, B Complex and/or B12 - also a great use for expired human vitamins which I always have a cabinet of because I never take them myself.

How's she doing this morning?

 

[embrown]

Well, Iput the Vitamine in the water and she will drink it, so that is good. At about 2 I gave her a raw egg which she gobbled up. She is wanting to peck around in the pine nugget litter, I think she is hungry. She looks up at us when we come near, and I think if I took the chicken wire off the top of the box, she would fly out and forage around the house. She may be kind of bored in the box and keeps poking at the side and the litter. Should I feed her something more, and if so, what? I was thinking of giving her some yogurt in a few hours, while continuing the b-water. She is more active today overall, yesterday she was just setting there. I just would hate for her to eat the litter, that may be hard to digest on that crop. I know she will eat the paper if I try to put that down in the box, and the box itself seems to slippery for her. These crazy chickens are complex little patients.

 

[ruth]

If she's really hungry - that's a good sign. You can give her raw or scrambled eggs and yogurt, even wet cat food. All would be very good for her. I wouldn't put her on litter if she's trying to eat it. Use an old towel.

 

[AndreaS]

I'm so very glad to hear this is working out! I'm so scared of having to do crop surgery one day....but reading all of the good stories gives me hope. I'm glad you decided to go back in and get the rest of the impaction. Good job!

Ruth, YOU ROCK! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! I have all of your crop surgery information printed up in a binder with my first aid kit.....just in case!

Hope she continues to recover...

Andrea

 

[embrown]

I was thinking of laying a towel in the box over the litter but was worried about her pecking out strings. I think that since she is on the perch I will wait 'til morning to see how she is doing tomorrow. So, today I fed her first yogurt with a little shreded cheese, several hours later I gave her a wraw egg, then a few hours later I gave her some applesauce, and I just gave her more yogurt with shredded cheese. She had electrolyte water until about 1 P.aM. today and then I gave her three crushed up complex Vitamin B tablets in about3 cups of water. She has drank quite a lot of that. It is nearly 24 hours since surgery number two. I just checked her crop and it is still quite small but has just a marble sized puff of what seems to be liquid. I believe this is totally normal considering I have given her all liquid things today. and, it was flat this morning. She seems comfortable and still holds her head high. She was more quiet this afternoon, she seemed tired, but she was alert when we were around. She shys away from me a bit, poor thing. She used to come right up to me, maybe she just does not want to be bothered and is using her strength to heel.

About her pooh. It is still completely liquid. Again, this may be normal since I am giving her only liquid, but I am not sure of this. Anyone know when I will see some solids. I just want to be sure that she does ot become dehydrated or that the pooh is not a sign of another problem. I do not think we can see it in the litter, but we can certainly hear it when she goes, it sounds disgusting. I think I may put that towel down afterall because it will be easier to see what is coming out of her. I want to make sure she is not bleeding, we do not see any worms or other problems. Plus I will know when things change.

The area around the sutures is not oozing or bleeding, it is dry. I have put triple antibiotic cream on it a few times today.


And, now that it is 24 hours, what should I do next. Should I keep her on soft foods. I am thinking of adding tuna or canned catfood in the morning. I will keep the yogurt going to balance out her tummy. Should I stay with the wraw egg or maybe switch to scrambled sometime? Then I guess I would add mashed up layer feed mixed with hot water and or yogurt to be soft, maybe oatmeal, but I think I might wait until Saturday or Sunday for that.

Any ideas are appreciated and thank you for staying tuned in and helping me smooth out the details of this situation. I just want the best for my girl and to minimize suffering. You guys are terrific.

Beth

 

[fl_deb]

You have done so good!
I'm so glad to hear your girl is doing better.


Keep up the great work!

 

[embrown]

This morning she is a bit more chatty.
She is looking up at us like, "give me more food". We gave her about 2 tablespoons of wet cat food. She ate that up hungrily.

How much should I give her? I do not want her to over-fill her crop, but I want her to not feel hungry and to make sure she is getting plenty to build up her energy and wellness.

My plan for today is to continue the b vitamine water, yogurt and shredded cheese, and add in the wet cat food. Under normal circomstances I know that you want to make sure chickens have enough food all the time. But, in this case, what is the right amount. We are at about 34 hours post crop surgery.

 

[ruth]

I would give her small amounts of wet food a few times a day. That way she can't gorge herself all at once and strectch out the crop. Other than that, hunger and wanting to eat is a good sign. Just stay away from food like scratch or cracked corn.

Also, I would stop putting Neosporin on the outer wound. I find they heal better if allowed to dry. The Neosporin will keep it moist. Since you sutured it, it should be fine.

You've done a great job.

She should start pooping as soon as she starts eating again. She hasn't had anything in her "bowels" so they're empty and will take a little time to build up.