Should I let them sedate her??

[BWchicken]

I've already lost one bird to sedation, birds don't always handle it well like mammals. Now my fav Bantam hen, 3 years old (definitely a pet) has something very large and sharp in her crop for at least a week. It's over an inch long, misshapen and very sharp, I can easily feel it. Vet wants to sedate her and flush crop and try to pull the thing up, with actual surgery as a last resort. The vet is okay but not a chicken guy, he mostly sees parakeets and such. He says he can't do the procedure without sedation.

So I have to make a decision. She's in the house now, food is passing through fine, she eats but doesn't have her usual appetite. We don't know what the 'thing' in her crop is, it showed up on xray as the same density as the grit surrounding it but because of all that grit in there, we couldn't see the whole 'thing' to know what it is or what it's made of. The grit has since moved through and we'll do better xrays of her with an empty crop. But his treatment plan will likely be the same.

I know you're probably thinking I should just do the surgery myself but that's impossible. I have no helper and I can't do stitches. What would happen if I did nothing? Is there any chance this thing could dissolve? I think I already know the answer but I am really conflicted. What would you do?

 

[Judy]

That's a tough one. I think I'd discuss with the vet losing the other one and just ask if he feels he can do this without losing her, while acknowledging there is always that chance. I guess it depends at least partly on your relationship with this vet. At least he's accustomed to handling birds -- they all have a whole lot in common.

 

[ValleyPoultryFarms]

That all depends n ow much your willing to spend on a bird.

I put down birds that get In a lot of pain, but this bird sonds special to you.
Good luck

 

[BWchicken]

Thanks Flockwatcher and VPFarms!

Her crop has emptied. The 'thing' has moved on, but she hasn't passed it. I'm hoping it's in her gizzard being safely ground up.

And she laid a 'lash' egg. This is what's been making her feel so bad! She was back to her old self after she passed it.

If she continues laying these, I may make a new thread about it, 'lash' are apparently rare so there is very little info out there. The vet suggested I worm her right away so I did, with ivermectin. I'm really hoping this was a one time incident. For now, it's just good to see her feeling good again!

 

[lclough1998]

What is a lash egg? My sissy has a bird that had an enormous crop and I held the bird while she opened her up and scooped all the gunk out. It was nasty, I had to walk away, wasnt sure if I was going to throw up or faint. but she couldnt afford to have the surgery and the bird didnt peep once. No sedation. Both my sissy and her bird were brave and strong, I was a woos. She asked me to help, I would never say no. Bird seems to be doing okay today. Hope we dont have to do it again for a while, tho. Good luck with your bird.

 

[Imp]

What is a lash egg? My sissy has a bird that had an enormous crop and I held the bird while she opened her up and scooped all the gunk out. It was nasty, I had to walk away, wasnt sure if I was going to throw up or faint. but she couldnt afford to have the surgery and the bird didnt peep once. No sedation. Both my sissy and her bird were brave and strong, I was a woos. She asked me to help, I would never say no. Bird seems to be doing okay today. Hope we dont have to do it again for a while, tho. Good luck with your bird.

You and your sissy are brave in my book.

Here's info about Lashes:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/rule-roost/strange-object-nest-box_25234.html

Imp- Gotta read all the way.