Exposed but intact crop

[NewAtThis8]

My chicken has been through it this past week. It started with impacted crop; vet cleared a bunch of feathers and prescribed antibiotics and meloxicam post procedure. Couldn’t get it all out, so he asked me to get mineral oil and give her about 5ml, massage crop, and see if the rest cleared. It seemed to be making a difference so I did that for two days, and at the end of the second day I put a crop bra on her (last night) because she always had a pendulous crop. I thought it’d help things continue to move. I then had a medical emergency myself this morning and couldn’t get to her to take the bra off until about 11:00am. Unfortunately, it looks like she tried clawing the bra off of herself and tore her skin open over her crop. Her crop is fully intact, but it is exposed. The skin is shredded and from what I’ve read stitches/glue/etc don’t help chickens much. I flushed it with clear iodine and then before bed, sprayed with vetricyn. What else can i do?! Does the skin scab over/regrow if i can keep her clean? Thankfully, she’s been on antibiotics which will help prevent infection while i deal with this but i feel awful. No pics currently as she’s roosted for the night but I’ll get some tomorrow when i give meds and more vetricyn. How often also, should i be applying topicals? She was separated in a dog crate with clean bedding but i did let her roost with the flock for bed because leaving her in the dog crate at night left her exposed to predators and i can’t keep her indoors because we have cats that would hurt her.

 

[cavemanrich]

I see that you are in a terrible position right now. If you don't think chicken will have a good quality life,, consider discussing Euthanasia with your veterinarian.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[ksbkeys]

My chicken has been through it this past week. It started with impacted crop; vet cleared a bunch of feathers and prescribed antibiotics and meloxicam post procedure. Couldn’t get it all out, so he asked me to get mineral oil and give her about 5ml, massage crop, and see if the rest cleared. It seemed to be making a difference so I did that for two days, and at the end of the second day I put a crop bra on her (last night) because she always had a pendulous crop. I thought it’d help things continue to move. I then had a medical emergency myself this morning and couldn’t get to her to take the bra off until about 11:00am. Unfortunately, it looks like she tried clawing the bra off of herself and tore her skin open over her crop. Her crop is fully intact, but it is exposed. The skin is shredded and from what I’ve read stitches/glue/etc don’t help chickens much. I flushed it with clear iodine and then before bed, sprayed with vetricyn. What else can i do?! Does the skin scab over/regrow if i can keep her clean? Thankfully, she’s been on antibiotics which will help prevent infection while i deal with this but i feel awful. No pics currently as she’s roosted for the night but I’ll get some tomorrow when i give meds and more vetricyn. How often also, should i be applying topicals? She was separated in a dog crate with clean bedding but i did let her roost with the flock for bed because leaving her in the dog crate at night left her exposed to predators and i can’t keep her indoors because we have cats that would hurt her.

Is she eating and drinking or does she act like she is suffering? How big is the wound? I have had chickens recover from a big wound (weasel attack) but it took awhile...however I have had less success from an impacted crop. I would make my decision based on whether she is acting normal or is acting sick and seems to be suffering.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would try to seek vet care if possible. Get some first aid supplies such as Telfa or non stick bandage, saline spray or a wound spray, and plain triple antibiotic ointment. T shirt material can be cut and tied around her chest to shield the crop area, but first use the a cage and ointment. Pictures of the wound would be helpful to see what you are seeing. It sounds like she may have a hard time surviving this wound, but chickens can survive a lot of bad wounds with good care. Crop problems themselves can be hard to treat or survive. Keep us updated on her condition. I am not online all day but will check back from time to time.

 

[NewAtThis8]

Is she eating and drinking or does she act like she is suffering? How big is the wound? I have had chickens recover from a big wound (weasel attack) but it took awhile...however I have had less success from an impacted crop. I would make my decision based on whether she is acting normal or is acting sick and seems to be suffering.

She’s eating and drinking. The wound looks smaller today, i think because her crop emptied overnight as it should which is a plus. It’s about an inch long. She is moving around like normal, not acting like the wound is bothering her but she did develop this high stepping thing when her crop became impacted and she is still sometimes doing that. The poor girl has been through it but I do think she has a will to fight so ill in turn do anything to help her, I’m just out of my league. This is my second year with chickens and she has had health issues from the start (we inherited her from a friend, she got bullied by their chickens after an injury to her vent that has caused her to not lay eggs).

 

[NewAtThis8]

I would try to seek vet care if possible. Get some first aid supplies such as Telfa or non stick bandage, saline spray or a wound spray, and plain triple antibiotic ointment. T shirt material can be cut and tied around her chest to shield the crop area, but first use the a cage and ointment. Pictures of the wound would be helpful to see what you are seeing. It sounds like she may have a hard time surviving this wound, but chickens can survive a lot of bad wounds with good care. Crop problems themselves can be hard to treat or survive. Keep us updated on her condition. I am not online all day but will check back from time to time.

I plan to call them tomorrow; I think they’re closed for New Year’s Day today so hoping I can get her back into reassess crop and now the new injury. My suspicion is that he’ll say to keep doing what I’m doing since we’re giving antibiotics, treating topically and the wound looks to be healing. I’m worried about covering it because the whole reason there’s a wound to begin with is because she had that crop bra on and tried to rip it off of herself.

 

[NewAtThis8]

I would try to seek vet care if possible. Get some first aid supplies such as Telfa or non stick bandage, saline spray or a wound spray, and plain triple antibiotic ointment. T shirt material can be cut and tied around her chest to shield the crop area, but first use the a cage and ointment. Pictures of the wound would be helpful to see what you are seeing. It sounds like she may have a hard time surviving this wound, but chickens can survive a lot of bad wounds with good care. Crop problems themselves can be hard to treat or survive. Keep us updated on her condition. I am not online all day but will check back from time to time.

Well, I’m at the emergency vet…. She ripped herself even more open today and things look grim. I called for euthanizing because I just can’t do it myself but they’ll evaluate her to see if they can save her. I’ve seen worse injuries after animal attacks/etc but I’m guarding my heart on this one. I feel like I’m not good at this. We had a sudden death (apparently internal infection with no signs, found at necropsy) in the spring, and a disabled Pekin duck that i nursed through several bouts of joint infections that passed earlier in December after another one seemingly came on suddenly and aggressively despite veterinary intervention.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

So sorry you’re going through this. Hopefully she’ll recover.

 

[Eggcessive]

I’m sorry that she may need to be euthanized. I normally don’t recommend covering wounds, but since the scratching may have caused this, that was why I did. Give us an update on what the ER vet does.

 

[ksbkeys]

Well, I’m at the emergency vet…. She ripped herself even more open today and things look grim. I called for euthanizing because I just can’t do it myself but they’ll evaluate her to see if they can save her. I’ve seen worse injuries after animal attacks/etc but I’m guarding my heart on this one. I feel like I’m not good at this. We had a sudden death (apparently internal infection with no signs, found at necropsy) in the spring, and a disabled Pekin duck that i nursed through several bouts of joint infections that passed earlier in December after another one seemingly came on suddenly and aggressively despite veterinary intervention.

You are doing fine! Don't be too hard on yourself. Anyone who has chickens for any length of time has health issues in their flock of one kind or another. I have had so many things happen over the years...I just did my best...

For example: I had a chicken get her chicken saddle ensnared and tangled on an empty hook in the roof of the coop...When I opened the roof to change their feed, I found her dangling there for who knows how long...she survived...I then removed my hook! I also have had predator attacks, crop issues, prolapse, etc.

My friend and neighbor who also has chickens told me not to beat myself up but that I had to put "farm face on" and do what is needed and just do my best.