Impacted crop - so far so good

[Suechooks]

Thought I'd share this experience with you.
One of my young Black Rocks showed signs of impacted crop before Christmas. Treated her as per vet instructions with liquid paraffin and massage. Over the next couple of weeks she continued to thrive, eating and drinking well and laying several days a week even through the cold and snow. About 10 days ago she started to show signs of being uncomfortable, stretching her neck to try and move the obstruction which was still there despite continued treatment. Took her straight to my vet who agreed to open her crop and empty it through a surgical incision. I was aware of the likely pitfalls such as not recovering from anaesthetic or crop being damaged long term but felt the risks were worth taking as she is a young hen.
Unfortunately I don't have a photograph of the obstruction but it was a tangled mat of straw about the size of a tea plate and around 4cm deep! The vet couldn't believe what came out!!!
Ruby is now 10 days post-op and eating well with her crop emptying each night so far. I gradually increased her food over a week and for 2 days has been on ad lib pellets.
I plan to integrate her back into the flock tomorrow so hoping all goes well for her, and she doesn't start eating straw again!
An expensive experience but I felt if it was my dog I wouldn't hesitate so why not for a hen?

[Bramble-Poultry]

exactly Sue. They are a pet too. I tried to explain that to a vet today. I had to register my pigs with DEFRA and they wante dthem checked with a vet, so i trundled off to find one who would come out here.

He was quite cheap actually £36 call out plus costs, but what annoyed me is that when pressed about what to do if a piglet is born and needs help getting out of the sac was "let it die, they cost too much if you interfere. cheaper just to let it die". and he also has the same theory with chickens. as far as he is concerned, unless i have something infectious affecting all my birds, just "neck the rough looking ones".

well thats obviously a commercial farm vet's point of view, but these birds here are pets as well as livestock. so they wont be seeing that vet!

[chris]

Shocking, really from a vet!

Glad shes pulled through!

[Suechooks]

exactly Sue. They are a pet too. I tried to explain that to a vet today. I had to register my pigs with DEFRA and they wante dthem checked with a vet, so i trundled off to find one who would come out here.

He was quite cheap actually £36 call out plus costs, but what annoyed me is that when pressed about what to do if a piglet is born and needs help getting out of the sac was "let it die, they cost too much if you interfere. cheaper just to let it die". and he also has the same theory with chickens. as far as he is concerned, unless i have something infectious affecting all my birds, just "neck the rough looking ones".

well thats obviously a commercial farm vet's point of view, but these birds here are pets as well as livestock. so they wont be seeing that vet!

Mike/Jenni I had a similar discussion with my vet who is a small animal vet with an interest in birds and exotics. She was a student of Victoria Roberts so had a good grounding at Uni anyway. When I commented that she'd soon be known as a "poultry vet" she said she really wanted to remain a small animal vet who was happy to treat pet chickens. Just love her outlook!
We have written up the regime used for this operation - the first time its been done at that practice and I emailed my notes to her this afternoon so if it does work out long term we have a record of the treatment. Just wish I'd thought to take a photo at the time you wouldn't believe that any food could have got through yet she didn't lose any weight and even post-op is very little lighter than she was pre-op!
Hope piggy produces soon for you!

[Bramble-Poultry]

and me - there's only so much black coffee and waking up every few hours to check the farrowing room i can handle!

glad your little one is doing well. good luck with her introduction back to the group. just watch they dont have a go at her if they think she is a newbie to their flock, but i dont know why i said that as you are well knowledgable in what you are doing!

[Hilary B]

Piglets that need help getting out of the birthsac are rather like chicks that need help hatching, more often than not it is because there is something wrong.....
That said, I don't believe it would be any more difficult to make sure the membrane wasn't stopping it breathing than it would be with a lamb. The pigs we had for some years (too long ago now) the situation never arose. I think we had one stillborn, but if there were any more, the sow disposed of them before we knew about it, and with very little intervention from us (apart from first pregnancies we let them get on with it), I don't recall a single 'rolled on' piglet.

[polo]

Great news Sue. Hope she continue to get better - and stops eating straw!!

Polo

[frias]

Hope the integration goes well and she continues to get better.
Took one of my ex-batts to the vet this week with crop problems too. Has been put on antibiotics as there didn't appear to an obstruction although crop was full of water. She was drinking a lot and off her food. My family think I'm mad taking a chicken to the vet but I don't ses it as any different than any other pet.

[PrideRavyn]

I haven't had to take any of the quails to the vet but I know the attitude that's being experienced by others about chickens because I keep (pet) rats and you'd be horrified to hear the opinions some vets have about them. You wouldn't hear a vet say the about a cat or a dog what they'll happily say about an animal they consider to be a throwaway pet - why treat something when you could buy three more for less than half the price? It's amazing some vets make it so long in their industry.

[Suechooks]

I put her back with the whole flock when they were free ranging on the allotment yesterday. She wandered up the path and then proceeded to belt 3 or 4 of the Warrens and her coop-mate (just to let them know she was back!). To be on the safe side I have left her with the other Black Rock in the inner run this morning as I did yesterday afternoon but will let them all back together later on.

[Suechooks]

The cloud above the silver lining!

Well Ruby continues to thrive thankfully, but one of her "sisters" (bought 3 in September from same hatchery) started to look unwell about 4 days ago. She seemed to have sour crop. I drained quite a large amount of foul smelling brown liquid out of her. She didn't seem to be perking up so took her to vet who decided to clear out crop the next day. She also did a slide of the stuff under the microscope which showed fungal cells/spores.
Brought her home last night expecting a miraculous recovery. However I left her in a dog cage ovenight and found her looking really poorly this morning and she died an hour later.
Its really surprising as she was absolutely fine and laying well until a few days ago. I've been watching them really carefully too after Ruby's episode but I guess that's chickens for you.

[polo]

Ah, that's such a shame Sue. You did everything you could by the sounds of it.

Funny you should be having crop problems though because two of mine were looking 'full' this morning, one will be ok I think but the other is looking like sour crop too. I'm just of out now to check on them again after they had some yoghurt earlier. I think its time for my neighbour to come and help me make her sick.

Polo

[RichmondHens]

Sue - I suspect a weakness in the birds you bought given that two from the same place have both had crop problems. Keep a close eye on the other one.
Polo - What are you feeding them? Lay off any treats including corn and just let them have pellets. Are they kept on grass? I know it's not always possible for the surburban hen keeper but daily access to short grass improves their digestive system no end and keeps it toned. My Dad always refers to it as Dr Green. If an animal looked a bit under the weather, particular at the end of the winter, he would say "he needs to visit Dr Green". I've noticed this winter with my hens who despite being in large grass enclosures that they are still putting their heads through the fence and grazing the grass the other side for the freshest tips.

[Suechooks]

Sue - I suspect a weakness in the birds you bought given that two from the same place have both had crop problems. Keep a close eye on the other one.

Yes Sally that's been my suspicion too. The vet thinks there may be an underlying mechanical problem preventing them emptying fully. Its a shame as they're all nice friendly girls and easy to handle.

[polo]

Thanks RH, no they aren't on grass but I did let them out today and they all shot straight onto the lawn. I think I'm going to swap them between runs (the other is smaller but they wont be in so long) and reseed the empty one - and keep swapping between the two.

They are fed pellets and some greens - mainly outside leaves of cabbage and a handful of corn at the weekend only (they are in bed before I get home form work). I will stop this for the time being.

Really appreciate the advice - I seem to be trying my best to kill them all of despite my best efforts.

Polo