Worms?

[Sberrie]

Is there some residue left in her crop in the morning before eating and drinking?

Yes, it stays solid even after oil and massage. It seems like something that can't break down is stuck in there. Plastic or something like you mentioned.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you lose her, keep her body cold, not frozen, and wrapped in 2 garbage bags. Contact your state poultry vet on Monday early to check on getting a necropsy. Here is a list of state vets to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[LaFleche]

Yes, it stays solid even after oil and massage. It seems like something that can't break down is stuck in there. Plastic or something like you mentioned.

Then it is high time for a crop surgery. Does your vet have experience treating birds?

 

[Sberrie]

Then it is high time for a crop surgery. Does your vet have experience treating birds?

Unfortunately not. Even getting a vet to look at her before was a hassle. This was weeks ago and she was too skinny to survive a surgery. She's worse off now but I think that either she dies on the table, under anesthesia or she dies from whatever is going on with her now.

 

[Sberrie]

If you lose her, keep her body cold, not frozen, and wrapped in 2 garbage bags. Contact your state poultry vet on Monday early to check on getting a necropsy. Here is a list of state vets to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

Thank you. I was wondering about that. She seems to have neurological symptoms now as well that none of the others presented with.

 

[LaFleche]

Unfortunately not. Even getting a vet to look at her before was a hassle. This was weeks ago and she was too skinny to survive a surgery. She's worse off now but I think that either she dies on the table, under anesthesia or she dies from whatever is going on with her now.

A crop surgery will be performed without any anaesthesia whatsoever and any willing vet should be able to do it. The only important things to consider are:

• Not to cut into the big blood vessel that can be seen right in front of the crop.
• After removing all contents also check the passage to the gastro-esophageal vestibule, flush thoroughly and be careful not to stitch/glue the crop to the skin, as this would impede a proper functionality.

This should not take more than 10-15 minutes and the chicken usually is quite cooperative if wrapped in a towel to prevent wing flapping.

Mine all survived the procedure and recovered.

 

[Sberrie]

A crop surgery will be performed without any anaesthesia whatsoever and any willing vet should be able to do it. The only important things to consider are:

• Not to cut into the big blood vessel that can be seen right in front of the crop.
• After removing all contents also check the passage to the gastro-esophageal vestibule, flush thoroughly and be careful not to stitch/glue the crop to the skin, as this would impede a proper functionality.

This should not take more than 10-15 minutes and the chicken usually is quite cooperative if wrapped in a towel to prevent wing flapping.

Mine all survived the procedure and recovered.

I will pass this along to her. Hopefully my girl can pull through but it kills me to see her suffering.

 

[LaFleche]

I will pass this along to her. Hopefully my girl can pull through but it kills me to see her suffering.

Fingers crossed that all goes well.

And yes, to see them suffer and not being able to help immediately is nothing for the faint of heart.

ETA: There is a plethora of videos on chicken crop surgery to be found on youtube, you could watch some of them or even show them to your vet before getting started on your hen. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=chicken+impacted+crop+surgery&t=ffab&iar=videos&iax=videos&ia=videos

 

[Sberrie]

Fingers crossed that all goes well.

And yes, to see them suffer and not being able to help immediately is nothing for the faint of heart.

ETA: There is a plethora of videos on chicken crop surgery to be found on youtube, you could watch some of them or even show them to your vet before getting started on your hen. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=chicken+impacted+crop+surgery&t=ffab&iar=videos&iax=videos&ia=videos

Thank you very much! I'll post an update here regardless of the outcome

 

[Sberrie]

Well I went out to check on them one final time for the night and she's passed. Im glad I was able to get her out to enjoy the sun today. I'll be calling the vet tomorrow for the necropsy