Rooster Can't Crow, Contemplating Surgery

[lockedhearts]

My Partridge Cochin Rooster, Rusty. Has lost his crow, this happened about 3 weeks ago. I also noticed his comb turning darker. He absolutlely has no other symptoms. I found a lump in his throat, it is hard and does now appear to move.
I tried oil for a few days, and it does seem that when his comb goes dark , if I massage the area, his comb brightens and he can breath easier.
Since the oil has not moved this thing along, I am considering opening him up to see if it is some food stuck in there. I am trying to remember time frame, if he had scratch right before this happened or not. I found a pic of anatomy on the internet and have circled the area where the lump is.
Has anyone done surgery before, I know how to stitch (done it on horses and dogs before) I can get access to stitches, scalpels etc from my vet. My biggest question is, do I need to sedate? If so how, I spoke to my vet briefly about this and she is unsure of sedation on a chicken (she is a Large Animal Vet and it has been many years since she did small animals and has never done chickens)
I just hate that he is going through this, he is such a sweet boy and I am sure this is not entirely pain free.

Edited to add photo

 

[Kassaundra]

I have no first hand knowledge, but from my reading of every caponizing thread I could find there is no safe way to sedate a chicken.

 

[lockedhearts]

I guess I will have to try it without sedation. At least I feel I need to try to fix this, he can't be comfortable like he is and if I were to not see his comb turning dark, he could die anyway........

 

[Kassaundra]

His comb becoming dark does seem to indicate it isn't getting enough Oxygen. It not moving worries me for him that it might be a tumor or growth rather then a stuck food bolus. Either way, at least you will know you did what you could for him. My husband had to stitch up a hen we have that was attacked by a preditor and he said after he laid her down and started the stitching she just kind of fell asleep and didn't make a sound or try and get away or anything.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Have you gotten an assistant to hold him while you look down his throat with a bright light? Maybe there is a shell or a stick or something stuck in there? It may be able to be removed without evasive surgery by using some long tongs to grab it out.......just a thought.

 

[lockedhearts]

Quote:
Tried all of that, even stuck my finger down his throat, it is far enough I can't see it or reach it. I thought tumor too, but wondering why when I manipulate it a bit he starts to get oxygen? That does not make sense to me. Although I am thinking it is in the trachea and not espohegus, which would explain his voice.

 

[speckledhen]

No idea, Karen. Wish I could help here.

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
Tried all of that, even stuck my finger down his throat, it is far enough I can't see it or reach it. I thought tumor too, but wondering why when I manipulate it a bit he starts to get oxygen? That does not make sense to me. Although I am thinking it is in the trachea and not espohegus, which would explain his voice.

It is definately in the trachea and not the esophagus if it affects his voice and breathing. If it is a tumor or growth that is either on the trachea wall or pushing on the trachea wall when you rub to try and move it you are probably making openings on either side allowing more air to go through.

 

[lockedhearts]

Quote:
Tried all of that, even stuck my finger down his throat, it is far enough I can't see it or reach it. I thought tumor too, but wondering why when I manipulate it a bit he starts to get oxygen? That does not make sense to me. Although I am thinking it is in the trachea and not espohegus, which would explain his voice.

It is definately in the trachea and not the esophagus if it affects his voice and breathing. If it is a tumor or growth that is either on the trachea wall or pushing on the trachea wall when you rub to try and move it you are probably making openings on either side allowing more air to go through.

This is what I figure, unless by some odd chance he somehow inhaled a piece of grain and it is stuck. I have just been ruling things out as I go. Do you think I could effectively open it up ? If it is a tumor, I can always just stitch it closed again and make a decision from there.

 

[Kassaundra]

I know it is possible in humans it is done for emergency airways as a last resort. If the chicken anatomy is similar

you would need to know your land marks so as to avoid permenant damage, like the position of the larynx if cutting through the trachea. Also you would need to make the inscission long wise w/ the trachea (weather or not you are cutting through it) b/c if the chicken is anything like the human nerves and major blood vessels run along either side of the trachea. The trachea in a human is in front of the esophagus, but we do not have a crop so I'm not sure of the position in a chicken, if it is behind it will complicate the surgery, you will have to displace the esophagus to reach the trachea (IF it is reversed in chickens) and that would increase the odds of vascular and or nerve damage. and increase the size of the inscission needed.