RIP Bella! (A rant)

[hoosier]

I'm really sorry you went through that ordeal.

 

[BarkerChickens]

I know how you feel! Well, my husband, moreso. We had a 9 week old that we had to cull and he tried to break the neck. He said never ever again! We bought poultry shears...much quicker.

As for the impacted crop, some chickens will eat whole pieces of the hay (or long strands of grass) and it gets caught in the crop causing the impaction. My guess is that she had a wad of hay stuck in there. In her case it was probably a large mass and she aspirated on whatever couldn't fit in the crop. Not sure if there as anything else that you could have done. You did the right thing!

We had one choke on a lizard....luckily we were there to pull it out, but things happen.

But, if you suspect an impacted crop in the future (and it isn't as bad as this one was since I don't think you had any other choice) and it isn't relieved by the oil, etc, here is a link to a BYC post on how to do an emergency crop surgery. I know some people are against it since such things should be left to the medical professionals, but on a farm sometimes it is a DIY solution or cull the bird.

 

[GreenGoddess]

Quote:
Well, I plan on getting some meaties here in the next few months (just need to build the run) so i am definitely going to get a hatchet for both purposes...

As for the impacted crop, some chickens will eat whole pieces of the hay (or long strands of grass) and it gets caught in the crop causing the impaction. My guess is that she had a wad of hay stuck in there. In her case it was probably a large mass and she aspirated on whatever couldn't fit in the crop. Not sure if there as anything else that you could have done. You did the right thing!

We had one choke on a lizard....luckily we were there to pull it out, but things happen.

If i could have seen something down her throat, i would have pulled it out.. or at least tried.. but, i didn't see anything... Of course it don't help when she was pulling her head away everytime i opened her mouth....

But, if you suspect an impacted crop in the future (and it isn't as bad as this one was since I don't think you had any other choice) and it isn't relieved by the oil, etc, here is a link to a BYC post on how to do an emergency crop surgery. I know some people are against it since such things should be left to the medical professionals, but on a farm sometimes it is a DIY solution or cull the bird.

I have no problem doing a surgery if i need to and I understand that sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.. I would have much rather have done that then do what i did last night.. As I said, I don't think she would have even lasted through it though so it was one of those lose/lose situations.. I believe that a long time ago, farmers and herders didn't have vets at their disposal and in an emergency type situation it was either cull or fix and they had to make the decision quick! I'm the kind of person that don't even use bandaids very often, let alone go to the dr or hospital unless i am in such pain that i think i am dying.. If I cut something, i wrap it up and wait for it to heal (after cleaning it of course!).. Dont get me wrong.. I think it's necessary to see a dr if you are truely ill or badly hurt.. But, i think society in general takes it to an extreme to go for every cough and scratch...

Goddess