Impacted crop

[lishah2000]

I tried to flush the crop. She did not make it easy and I have no one to help hold her. I was able to get some water into the crop, but wasn't able to get anything back out. She wasn't interested in any of the liquid/soft foods.

I think the crop went down a tiny bit. At least by the amount she took in and maybe a tiny bit more, but it's still very hard.

I have an appointment with a vet in the morning if she makes it through the night. Hopefully he will let me watch what is done, so at least I will have a better idea of what to do. I suspect another hen may be having the same issue. She isn't as friendly, so is a little harder to check. She is acting fine, but it looked like her crop was full this morning. She is in a different coop and run.

 

[ipana]

They can be contrary little critters! But then, who wouldn't with a tube coming at ya'. Anyway, I sit with mine in my lap, head facing out away from me. As I hold her head with the left hand coming from the top of her head, I lift her beak with my finger. She may try to back up but she is then pushing against my body. Then, with the right hand, I can thread the tube into her mouth, making sure I get it on top of her tongue and going down the large opening at the base of her tongue. I'm glad you tried and I hope your vet speaks "chicken language." It's hard to find one that does and it's understandable. How many people in a given area are going to be willing to spend $300+ on a chicken? Some spend thousands on dogs, cats, or horses but chickens...well, that's another story.

Keep us posted. If we can be of help, please let us know.

 

[ruth]

I've done three crop surgeries and now I don't hestitate to do one. Time is critical by the time they've become weak and skin and bones and not passing anything. I've learned that sometimes the crop is so packed with hay that no amount of massaging or olive oil is going to work. Here's a link to my crop surgery thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=229796&p=1

It's so fast, easy and they heal so quickly. My vet just gave me two more boxes of prethreaded sutures. She give me the expired boxes. They make the sewing part so easy. Plus....for all you who worry about the chicken being in pain. My vet said they don't have nerve receptors in their skin (or something to that effect) and that's why they lay so quietly when I'm sewing them up from rooster tears on their backs or crop surgeries.

 

[ipana]

Yes, you're right, ruth, about having a "hay ball" so large that it would never come out with flushing. Knowing that's the case takes a bit of experience, I would think. The surgery is great but, in my opinion, as a last resort. If the sour crop problem is noticed quickly, it's possible it can be resolved without an invasive procedure. I've done the surgery on one of my birds. I would continue to keep it in my "doctor quiver" but only after I knew nothing else would work, and, before the bird was too weak. Somehow, I think that is the main problem in getting any kind of help...the bird has already lost its vitality from lack of nutrition and can't fight back out of the hole. This surgery may seem easy to you since you've done it numerous times but for the everyday person, it is not a "piece of cake." People need to know the pros and cons before deciding to do it. Of course, one of the pros would be that in the case of a large hay ball, the bird is going to die without the surgery! Anyway, with all these words, I'm in agreement...but with caution, plenty of caution.

 

[lishah2000]

Quote:
I read that thread last night. Very educational and I really thought about doing it. But I've never even stitched a wound or cut into something living. I'm not real experienced at feeling the crops and knowing what's in there, but I really think she has a big wad of something that isn't going to pass. I think it has been that way for some time. She is thin and just went through a heavy molt.

Hopefully the vet will let me watch and learn. I do better if I see it done, rather than just reading about it. He is a exotic bird vet, but was willing to treat a chicken (some were not). The lady I talked to said he has treated this problem on at chicken before.

 

[lishah2000]

She came through the surgery and made lots of friends at the vets office. Everyone wanted to have a chance to hold the chicken. She had a big ball of grass, feathers and hair and it had been there for awhile. Not sure how she got grass unless it was just from reaching through the fence and getting it. The hair is interesting, I guess from dogs. I'll have to be careful when I brush them.

Just got her home and gave her some food. She made excited sounds and started eating. (The vet said that the hand-feeding formula was perfect for the first few days.)

I really couldn't afford to spend that much on a chicken, but I couldn't let her suffer either. I really wanted to know what it was in case it was something the others could get into. Didn't help that she was standing there looking at me with those eyes.

 

[ruth]

Glad to hear it went well. Did he let you watch? It is amazing how fast they are ready to eat afterwards - I guess because they were literally starving to death.

 

[ipana]

Way to go, lishah2000! You are definitely a hero/heroine in my eyes. And, I know what you mean about "those eyes." These little things can wriggle into our hearts, can't they? I'm glad things went well. Keep us posted, will you? It's always good to hear about other people's experiences so we can learn.

 

[lishah2000]

I didn't get to watch, but I didn't think they would for a surgery.

She is eating good and made lots of droppings last night. Probably three times (or more) the amount from the day before. She is more talkative too.

I'm trying to decide if I should let her outside with her flock for a bit, but inside a crate so she can't get into anything. Probably not today because it's raining, but in a day or so. I could bring in her roo or my other RIR for a bit. The roo has been in the "hospital" before and doesn't mind being inside. The other RIR would love to spend some time inside.

 

[ruth]

I always put my recovering patients back with the flock ASAP. It helps them heal and recover faster and it keeps them in their place in the pecking order. I use cages or kennels to put them in if they have wounds but put it in the coop so everyone sees everyone. They are social animals and if they are hurt and/or sick and also isolated they seem to lose the will to live. If they are with their flock/family they can't wait to get out of the cage and back with everyone else. If you keep one isolated away too long and then add them to the flock, they can get attacked because they aren't "remembered".