Sour Crop/Impacted Crop - Graphic Pic- what I took out of it and how

My Bantam Cochin Hen has had what I believed what a Sour/impacted crop for a over 2 weeks that I have noticed it. Was most likely impacted for longer. I had tried everything I have read about to try and resolve the problem. I massaged it, gave her olive oil and butter. I tried turning her upside down and pushing gently on the crop to see if she could expel the stuff. After, reading on BYC about a guy that had to cut the stuff out of his hen to clear it up, I figured this was my last choice or she would die.

Last night I gave her a good bath and removed the feathers from around the Crop area. I put an old sock around her to keep her snug and secure and cut a hole out around the area that I needed to work on. I prepared the area with Iodine and used a new exacto blade to cut through her skin. I actually poked a little hole with the tip of the blade and turned the blade up and cut this way so that I did not cut too deep. It bled just a little and it didn't seem to bother Angel at all. Once I got the blood cleaned up and the hole was big enough the crop actually came through the hole I made.

Next, I did the same thing only I made the cut horizontal in the crop. I started by putting a small puncture in what looked like an air pocket at the top part of the crop that was bulging, a bunch of air came out and the crop settled down. I cut about a 1/2 inch opening in the crop and all the dark brownish green liquid started to come out. I saw the problem right away; there was a ton of grass built up in the crop. She would have never gotten it out. I started pulling it out bit by bit. It came out in little chunks with feed mixed in with it. I grabbed what felt like the middle of the mass which was hard and pulled it out. It was huge and all clumped together, it almost didn't fit out of the hole. Once that was out I rinsed the crop and the area with saline solution and looked in the crop the best I could. I used sanitized tweezers to remove the stuff. I used the tweezers to feel inside the crop and I could still feel stuff down in deeper, so I kept working little at a time and got some more feed and grass pieces out. I worked for about 45 min. removing all the stuff. The smell was terrible and it almost turned my stomach.

I rinsed the area with saline again and patted it dry with a sterile dressing. I used superglue to seal the crop (It took several time for me to get a good seal) then I pushed the Crop all the way inside and filled the area with Neosporin. I then picked up the ends of the skin and lined them up. I put superglue down the edges and held it together with the tweezers for a few seconds. Then I put a little more glue on the incision after I let go of it just to give a better seal. I covered the outside of the incision with more Neosporin and then covered it with a large Band-Aid and vet wrap. I held her for about an hour to make sure she was ok and then I gave her a little vitamins and electrolytes and put her in her cage with some water mixed with antibiotic. (NO FOOD).


I will check her incision tonight, clean it and cover it again. If it looks sealed up tight, I will let her have a tiny bit of wet food.

**I have to say that I was really scared about doing this to her, but after I thought about it, She would have died if I hadn't tried, so I am glad that I did. Hopefully she will heal up well and be ok from here on out.

Please keep her in your thoughts.

Here is a picture of what came out of her - Notice that I have a full size marker next to it to give you an idea of the amount.

 

Quote:It was grass and lots of it. Someone told me that chickens that free range love grass, so we were giving them grass clippings. That has stopped now. Luckily no one else seems to have any issues. I guess when the eat the grass on their own, the break off what they want, but when they eat clippings it is what ever size the grass you cut was.

I guess this is how you learn. I hate it that my baby had to suffer, for us to learn something.

 

7:30 update.

Angel is doing well. She seems to be a lot happier and was anxious to get a little food when I got home. But first I had to check her incisions. The superglue is starting to come off the skin, but most of the incision looks to be closed up well. There is one little spot of skin that in still a little loose, but I am going to leave it alone so that I can still get some antiobiotic under the skin while the Crop is healing. I covered the area in Neosporin again and put a topper spounge on it and wraped her in vet wrap. It works pretty well, I just go under her wings and around her breast, she really does not seem to mind it.

I gave her just a little food that is ground to a fine powder. She didn't seem to mind, she just wanted to eat. I feel bad not giving her more, but I don't want her to stuff the crop and break open the insision.

Someone asked if I have a medical backround. I do not have any medical training other than what I have learned on my own or been taught by our local vet. I take care of most of my dogs and cats issues, and if I can't figure it out it is off to the Vet. But I ask a lot of questions so if it happens again I wil know what to do.

Don't get me wrong, I was really nervous about doing this.

She is tucked away in her cage with some fresh antiobiotic water and just a tiny bit of food. I will check on her again before bed and try to let you know how she is tomorrow.

Thanks,
Teresa