Crop Surgery Performed - More pics & How To Steps posted - Pg 10

[vicegrip]

Thanks to every body on the BYC for all the great information. Because of the people on the BYC my wife and I were able to successfully perform our first crop surgery last night. It went very well and she is doing fine this morning. Shes drinking water/antibiotics and eating yogurt. Once again thanks BYC members.

The quarter is for size purposes

All stitched up

about 2 min. after surgery

I.C.U.

 

[chickenlady08]

Quote:
Oh this is awesome! She looks wonderful!

 

[pluscwc]

I performed my first crop surgery on a 3 month old Easter Egger 4 days ago. I removed lots of grass and straw, poor thing. Thank you to everyone for the information and giving me the confidence to try this rather than wait.
She was doing good yesterday, eating mush and pooping watery but normalish stool. But I could still feel a small something in her crop. Overnight, nothing had moved from her crop or bowels. I'm worried that I either missed some grass that's now causing a problem, or that she ate some newspaper from her crate while she was recuperating.

What is the best course of action?

Open her up again?
Wait and see?
Massage?

If I have to open her up again, do I use the old incision site or a new one?

Yikes.

 

[vicegrip]

I would give yoghurt and hope it comes out. We did our surgery on Monday and it does seem like there is a little swelling, which I think is normal. I would give it time unless she is still not eating or pooping. Hope it works out. Keep us posted.

 

[pluscwc]

We let her out with her flock for a little bit, but she seemed intent on eating feathers so she's back in the hospital where we can monitor her. Last night we gave her some mineral oil and a gentle crop massage, then some yogurt with a little feed mixed in. Her crop continues to be full, firm, and not clearing overnight. She had several firm poops and seemed a little on the lethargic side this morning, although that may be because it was too early. The incision looks to be healing fine, but I'm scared to give her too much of a massage just yet.

She has access to water with ACV. 1 Tbsp per quart.

Any other advice?
Would you leave her out with the others? Maybe exercise could help her system get moving again?
Should we give her grit? I don't see how it will make it through her distended crop and fear causing problems with the massages if there is grit in there.
I read severe feather eating could be a protein deficiency, should we give high protein treats?

 

[Lucysmom002]

I have a hen here with a golf ball sized crop. I've been massaging and giving mineral oil. ughgh

 

[Gladiator]

Quote:
Tigerlilly.

You can not drug chicken. Anesthetics in chicken are most likely to kill them. That I learned right here in BYC. They are very pain tolerant and strong as well. A fox injured two of my 6 week old chicks. One got the skin of the leg reaped open exposing the entire leg muscle just like you see them in the supermarket. The other one got two puncture wounds on the neck from the fox fangs that exposed the wing pipe a litlle and also reaped some skin open. I had to stitch them back after cleaning the wound good with alcohol. They healed preaty fast and today they are alive an healthy. Chicken dont shock like that; they are not human, theire mechanisms work a little different in some aspects(more eficient than us I would say). Is actualy us the ones who suffer the most from having to perform procedures like this one. I have to say, after the attack, they were eating and just going about their business with theire skin hanging like nothing had hapened wile I prepared my self for the stitching prosess. I can understand your feelings, is even harder when you are atatched to the animal but is realy nothing to worry about. Have you ever found yourself in a situation like this ? I hope I was able to answer you questions.

ruth.

I think you did an awesome job. Is good that you posted the pictures so we all can learn and have a better idea of the proscedure. Very informative !!

 

[sadies chicks]

Wow, great information everyone, thanks!!

 

[pluscwc]

After some more reading, I tried putting her in a crop bra. Her crop is emptier now, but not fully cleared. And she hates it. I made it following these instructions https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=346281

She spends most of the time sitting in the dog kennel looking uncomfortable, so I think we'll put her out in the coop and hope for the best.

 

[vicegrip]

plus,
Our girl is eating hay again and not eating well again. We are going to do surgery again tomorrow night. We will cut in a different spot because there will be scar tissue and may be a little lumpy. The first incision is almost healed, might as well let it finish and start with a fresh spot.
What I want to know is how do you stop a chicken from eating hay?????
I hope yours does well with the flock. And I hope the bra works.
good luck to both of us.