- Oct 1, 2010
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I noticed yesterday morning when I went out to feed the girls, that one had a gigantic ball in the front of her chest. I also noticed her cluck was very brash. I picked her up and had a look and felt her crop and it is the size of a baseball, maybe a little bigger. I remember hearing that deep brash cluck now for a while, and I never put two and two together. It must be going on two weeks, and when I picked her up, I noticed how thin she was. From reading here and there on BYC I knew immediately what it was. So I came in to read on how to go about fixing it. I have been giving oil and messaging it for the last two days, and it does not appear to be getting any better. I have withheld food since yesterday, water only. She seems to be drinking ok. I don't know exactly how packed she is, it does move around and squish a little bit, like the consistency of play-doh at the top, but gets firmer further down. I am figuring on giving it until tomorrow night. I really would hate to cull her, they all lay wonderfully, so i guess I will have to prep the O.R. and attempt to remove the blockage. Either way, starving to death is not an option and I don't think any animal should have to suffer. I have read quite a bit about the procedure on BYC and feel pretty confident that I can do it. I just don't want to cut too quick. She seems to be acting ok, but don't want her to take a sudden turn for the worse and end up dying from the surgery if I wait too long.
Their coop has wood shavings in it, so I don't know if she has been chowing on those. I did put straw in the nest boxes, maybe she is eating that. i guess it never occurred to me that they would. That would make sense though, since I put it in about 3 weeks ago.
I'll guess we'll see tomorrow night. I am able to get some local anesthetic, but what should I treat for infection prevention? I have TSC pretty close by and they have antibiotics for horses and stuff, don't know about chickens or what to even look for. I will post pics and maybe some video if any of my assistants will be available to photo/vid. Wish me luck.
Their coop has wood shavings in it, so I don't know if she has been chowing on those. I did put straw in the nest boxes, maybe she is eating that. i guess it never occurred to me that they would. That would make sense though, since I put it in about 3 weeks ago.
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