Impacted Crop Surgery (with video)

[kdtcameron]

The vet handed me permeasured syringes to take home and I didn't check the dose. It was probably only a cc or so, but I can't say for sure. She stayed in the house and got one dose a day, in the thigh, for a week. Soft foods only. She's doing great now... and has even moved up in the pecking order a bit!

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I loved watching the surgery. You have a sweet hen and an even sweeter vet! I read an old British poultry book that said old timers dealt with impacted crop by feeding live maggots, in the expectation that the maggots would eat and break down the matter in the crop while they were hanging out there. Not sure even maggots could deal with that mass of straw though!

 

[pwand]

The vet handed me permeasured syringes to take home and I didn't check the dose. It was probably only a cc or so, but I can't say for sure. She stayed in the house and got one dose a day, in the thigh, for a week. Soft foods only. She's doing great now... and had even moved up in the pecking order a bit!

Glad she is doing well.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Did you say her name was Gidget? Oh now I'm smitten. Favourite tv show.

 

[realsis]

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing! By the way you have a awsome vet! Mine would never let me in the back room even with my own animals! Your very lucky. I wish I knew a vet that nice! Mine is no where near as accomadating,

 

[kdtcameron]

Thank you! She's such a sweet hen. All hens are not created equally when it comes to personality!

My vet is amazing! I won't say how much it cost, but I will say it was not much - very little with all things considered. She was just as excited to have the opportunity to do the procedure.

Now, to figure out how to keep the hens satisfied with their feed during the winter months. It's so bare out there, it's hard to entice them to live on grain and kitchen scraps. Fodder looks a bit too complicated, so maybe sprouting and not waiting as long? We'll see.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Yes, I'm also lucky to have a vet that likes chickens and relishes a challenge. We need more of them! They're badly needed by this growing demographic of urban farmers, hobby farmers, homesteaders and cruelty-free farm businesses for whom animals occupy the role of producers AND companions.

 

[Baychicken]

Did the vet say anything about how long to not let her eat or drink after surgery?

 

[earthly88]

Where can you get penicillin? I just performed a home surgery on one of my girls who had an impacted crop. She is incredibly thin and very weak. So far I have given her water mixed with rice milk and a vegan protein powder. I am worried about how thin she is. Is penicillin the only thing? How much?

 

[Avalon0412]

I have a chicken with impacted crop, she's been like this for about 2 weeks. I have done everything possible from massaging crop to feeding her yogurt and giving her lots of water but nothing is changing. She is very thin. I know eventually she will die if I don't do something. I do not have the money for this type of surgery. I'm not willing to let her die without a fight. Though I have never done surgery on any animal I have some experience in helping animals heal from certain injuries. I am not weak stomachached and I know I can do this surgery on my chicken but I don't know where to buy the lidocaine to number the area. Does anyone know where I can purchase some from? Or what other numbing solution I can purchase to perform the surgery? I already know where I can purchase everything else I need. Any help would be greatly appreciated.