crop will absolutely NOT go down, tried everything!

[princess araucana]

I think I have done everything possible for my roo's crop and it still will not go down.
It was impacted for a long time. I did surgery and he healed fine from that. crop is not sour. He has been in the house for over 3 weeks eating soft food and his crop is still huge! I massage it and it won't go down.
He is eating and pooping fine ('throws up' sometimes) but I know as soon as he goes outside he will eat rocks and sticks which will get stuck.

Does anyone know what else I can do?

or if he has to stay on soft food forever, then FREE ROOSTER!
Does anyone want the prettiest friendliest lap rooster ever? He just wants to sit at your feet or on your lap!

His is otherwise so happy and curious and preens and coos that it does not seem right to cull him.

Any advice?

 

[sred98]

Well, I may not be much help, and I may not understand what you are asking, but when my hen eats really soft foods (yogurt, oatmeal, bread, etc.) her crop gets huge and pendulous. It usually stays that way til morning. I am just wondering if it is normal for it to be that big, since they eat a lot more of the soft food, so it might not really be a problem for him.

Sorry if I am misunderstanding what you are asking. Just thought you'd like to know mine does it too.

Shelly

 

[katrinag]

I would cull. No need to drag it on any longer. Sorry.

 

[chickenlady]

Impacted crop is usually a result of an underlying illness. If you have not treated that illness, he may continue to get an impacted crop. I finally put my hen down that had recurring problems. It was hard but had to be done. Best wishes to you and him.

 

[akd23237]

princess araucana--- does your rooster still crow?

 

[princess araucana]

Yes, he still crows every morning. (and sometimes at night)
He has a strong appetite. He preens himself, he is grey and red and his red feathers are really shiny.
Thats why it doesnt seem right to put him down.

But if I put him back outside I'm worried his crop will fill with what ever leaves and pebbles are in the run, crop gets hard impaction and he will slowly lose weight and starve like before...

I do not have the space or resources to build a special dirt-free coop just for him.
He is so sweet and gentle!

 

[sunnydee]

I agree...sounds like another underlying problem. Has he had any other signs of illness besides the crop problem?

 

[redhen]

have you tried to withhold food(not water) from him for a day while in your house?....so..you can see if his crop goes down at all....maybe hes just pigging out alot..and so it always stays full..and you think its not going down..? also...does he have access to grit while in your house?...i would give him some "chick" grit (because i think it may be easier on him than adult grit)..it may help...and cant hurt any...best of luck!, Wendy

 

[dlhunicorn]

It sounds as though (even though you removed the impaction) that there is residual crop stasis >>> this mean the muscualture is not functioning to move the food through (which means he is starving). I believe if the crop was severely distended then it will have become overstretched and in this case a veterinarian will remove that overstretched portion... I am assuming you did not and this may be the cause of the stasis.You can check out the link below for more information on this and other crop problems and the underlying conditions most often associated with it. (btw >Please dont pass this problem on to another unsuspecting person ... I would not rehome the rooster till you are sure he is fully recovered)
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=emergencies&action=display&num=1161893898

 

[princess araucana]

Thank you for your suggestions, and dlhunicorn that link is incredibly informative!
I do believe he has crop stasis due to overstretching.
I took him to three different vets who would not perform the simple impacted crop surgery so I don't think they would do crop reduction surgery either. Not to mention I really really can't afford a big vet bill. (trouble paying my own doctor bills!)
One vet did an x-ray which did not show any obstruction down the GI tract.

If there is an underlying problem it seems almost impossible to find out?

I'll try withholding food and maybe a crop bra?

He is sleeping at my feet next to the dog right now!

And I would never pass him on to an unsuspecting person, a vet student who wants a pet would be perfect!

thanks again for any thoughts and suggestions