Has anyone ever tried to do surgery on a chicken that is internally laying? WARNING ( semi graphic p

[casportpony]

This is what I found in my hen:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/i/5417776/a/6318690/egg-bound-prolapse/sort/display_order/

 

[PAchickenlover]

Yes, my hen's insides looked very similar.

 

[Beaky Buzzard]

Great to hear Rags is doing better so happy for you!!!!!

 

[PAchickenlover]

I did not take any pictures while I was doing the surgery. I did not want to divert my attention away from her. I wish I would have had another person here helping me that could have taken some pictures. As for the procedure I went through, I started actually with her in a pan of water in my tub to wash any dirt away. Then I clipped the feathers around the area I wanted to make the incision. Next I used a little rubbing alcohol to clean things I was going to use. Then I covered her head to help keep her calm and layed her on her side. I then looked at her skin and tried to determine where the veins were. I made a 2 inch incision throught the skin and muscle, found the blockage right inside, made an incision in that to remove what I found to be an egg yolk mass. It was rubbery but broke apart with a little manipulation. I made sure I got it all out then stitched her up carefully.

 

[Beaky Buzzard]

Good job!!! Its scary to do surgery but I think you did the right thing, and I'm glad you did what you did and wish rags a full recovery!!!

 

[PAchickenlover]

Good job!!! Its scary to do surgery but I think you did the right thing, and I'm glad you did what you did and wish rags a full recovery!!!

Thanks, I hope she does also.

 

[PAchickenlover]

Thanks, I guess. LOL She is looking healthier than I have seen her in a little while. She is watching the kids play and "talking" to us. The kids are very happy that she is still alive.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Very happy she is doing so well.

 

[nothingbutbirds]

yay. So happy for you and rags.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

I did not take any pictures while I was doing the surgery. I did not want to divert my attention away from her. I wish I would have had another person here helping me that could have taken some pictures. As for the procedure I went through, I started actually with her in a pan of water in my tub to wash any dirt away. Then I clipped the feathers around the area I wanted to make the incision. Next I used a little rubbing alcohol to clean things I was going to use. Then I covered her head to help keep her calm and layed her on her side. I then looked at her skin and tried to determine where the veins were. I made a 2 inch incision throught the skin and muscle, found the blockage right inside, made an incision in that to remove what I found to be an egg yolk mass. It was rubbery but broke apart with a little manipulation. I made sure I got it all out then stitched her up carefully.

Rubbing alcohol may have not been sufficient to prevent contamination. Which antibiotic are you currently using, and how long you may continue it's use, might be somethin' you should discuss w/ casportpony.

Which material(s) you used for your stitches may also be of importance. Those used internally should have been capable of being absorbed, or of a material not prone to harbor infection or invoke any response by her immune system, and those used to suture the skin should be independent of those used to suture the muscle.

Now, on to a guess ... there should be ways of preventing a hen from forming an egg (for example, the addition of higher levels zinc supposedly will after a few days, and for a week thereafter). She may have complications, which you might wanna look into.

Fage Greek yogurt claims to contain 100,000,000 living microorganisms per gram at production, which might prove most beneficial, along w/ some blueberries 'n such, if liquified and incorporated into a pellet type food. I've seen these two used together, along w/ apple cider vinegar in the water, and improvement was seen w/in three days, when, save for God's intervention? The bird involved should not have been expected to recover at all.

And, in closing, I hope your bird does ... hope you'll keep us all informed as to her progress ~'-)