4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[shtw00724]

Hi all and firstly, my condolonces to anyone who has recently lost a chook

 

Gertie's crop remains swollen and having tried the daktarin (got a funny look at the pharmacy when I said it was for a hen!) for potential sour crop and white maggotts for potential crop impactation, neither has worked and she's now doing that 'thing' with her neck where it looks like she's stretching it and craning/having difficulty swallowing.

 

My own vets said they don't really deal with poultry but would be happy to take a look. It didn't fill me with confidence so I phoned the vets in Solihull (it's still 30 miles way but closest to me that 'specialize' in poultry) and asked to speak to Lesley.

 

By Lesley's own admission she isn't an 'expert' BUT has a very keen interest in poultry. Lesley said it sounded like Gertie has an impacted crop and that I could either take her there or to the surgery in Acocks Green or she would be happy to talk my vet through the procedure which bascially involves giving a general anaesthetic, making an incision and emptying the crop. Lesley was very helpful indeed and we are booked in tomorrow to have the op so keep your fingers and claws crossed for us.

 

As for price (I was expecting it to be horrendous and have already paid out over £1,000 in vets bills in the last 3 weeks!), I was very pleasantly suprised; Lesley has quoted me around just £36!

 

So chicken lovers, if you don't have a specialist vet near you, it may pay (as some of you have already probably found out) to speak to a specialist who may be happy to speak to your own vet at no charge or, if you are in travellable distance to either Acocks Green or Solihull near Birmingham, at that price it's well worth the trip.

 

Lesley tells me that in the past she has tried emptying the crop by tipping the bird upside down etc., giving it warmed olive oil but has never had much success with that. On the other hand, it appears the majority of the birds she's performed surgery on have gone on to do very well.

 

I'll keep you posted.

 

Susie & tribe

[emmaw298]

thanks, thats good to know as I live near Worcester and although last time did go to a different vets which was a bit better than my local one, I'm still not convinced I've found a 'poulty specialist' vet. Solihull wouldn't be too bad for me to get to on the motorway.

Hope it all goes well for Gertie - keep us posted!

[Lewis]

Its good to know theres one sort of local.

Hope her operation goes well.

 

 

( Sound like I'll need to convince the vets to take poultry)

[shtw00724]

Phew! Gertie made it through the op. Picked her up last night and took her home. From her demeanour, you would never have guessed she'd had surgery. Lesley (vet) said she was a feisty one!

 

Prognosis is good IF it was impacted crop only but vet said the crop was quite 'squashy' and when she opened it up, there wasn't a 'ball' of grass like she'd expected although there were lots of strands of grass (plus some corn, grit and cooked spaghetti I'd given her the night before). She said it was quite 'mucousy' in there. That and the fact that she is so thin could hinder things.

 

Gertie is back in the and is to be fed soft foods and given Baytril (I've had to sign a disclaimer as it isn't licensed for use in poultry but i bet you Eggperts knew that anyway!) We go back Wednesday night for a check up.

 

Can't eat any of Gertie's eggs for 5 weeks due to the Baytril but does anyone know if it's safe to feed them back to the hens?

 

Lesley's bedside manner with Gertie was lovely to see; she is obviously very fond of chooks. She also answered my many questions and explained everything to me. Very nice vet indeed.

 

Oh and the cost? Wait for it.................................................

 

 

 

 

a 'poultry' (sorry) 28 pounds something including the antibiotics!

 

Fingers crossed Gertie continues to improve.

 

Susie

[Lewis]

Good news

Hope she is alright

[shtw00724]

Thanks for the best wishes. Gertie is active and bright but I am concerned as she is doing that thing with her neck again where it looks like she can't swallow; also, her crop is noticably far more swollen again than the other 2 chooks. I will check her crop in the morning and see if it has shrunk again. Might phone the vet on Monday to ask about the neck thing. Anyone had any hens with similar problem?

 

Susie