gemschooks Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Hi all I'm still battling to keep meadow and scraggy alive - they are on daily medication now and regular vets trips - anyhow, as they seem to be competing to be the ill-est chicken!! I think meadow now has impacted crop - i've not had this problem before so not exactly sure what I'm looking for - but it feels very hard and almost like plasticine/ putty. It seemed unusual so i gave olive oil and massaged last night and today i bought live maggots (yeuch). Does this sound like impacted crop and is there anything else i can do? thanks Gemma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 That's what I did but it took a few days. Is it in the morning her crop is like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 we could feel the impacted crop on Kiki slowly going down as we syringed avipro into her and massaged the crop. Hers was caused by gorging on too much grass and oyster shell grit ( ) when we first got her. The vet suggested this course so we syringed several times a day to keep her hydrated and massage to move the mass onwards. Several days later my YD had the great pleasure of easing out a long snake-like mass of grass from her nether regions so i suppose it worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemschooks Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 thanks Plum and Laurmurf i've tried two days with the maggots now and her crop still feels hard. I haven't wanted to continue with olive oil and massage due to not wanting to crush any live maggots that made it in! As it happens, they have an appt with the vets today so at least the vet can have a look. I think meadow does eat a lot of grass so that might be it - she'd also only been eating treats and no pellets/grit mix. Where do I get Avipro from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 I bought some from here but you could get it here or here too. It sounds like you're doing a good job . Good luck at the vets today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemschooks Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 ooh great - thanks for the speedy and efficient response ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody here..i will get onto it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemschooks Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 oh dear, never mind the impacted crop. Vet said that he thinks she has a tumour (as well as scraggy) and thinks she might only have a week or so. Has anybody heard of chickens having surgery on such things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 oh I am sorry, gemschook! My vet and I talked about surgery on birds generally when my Anya was poorly. We generally agreed that it wasn't for us. It wasn't just a cost issue (much mula) but about excepting that not all things can be fixed. He did say that he's performed surgery on really valuable parrots but even then wasn't keen as birds just don't handle the process as well as mammals. that's not a tale to put you off making whatever decision you do, just a tale to share from someone else who had a poorly chook that I wanted to get better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemschooks Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 Hi Thanks for that - to be honest, i didn't even ask the vet. His tone suggested the situation was pretty dire and sadly i have resigned myself to them going at some point soon. However, my boyfriend thought it might be worth finding out. It is difficult as i just have the two now, and although i think i will get more, i was considering having a little break. All these poorly chooks have made me very stressed and sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 I'm so sorry that is really sad news. I believe it is common in chickens. Your vet will advise you if it's possible for her. I expect he would biopsy first and xray, then consider operations but if she is so near the end she probably wouldn't survive. It's your call. I have read of chickens on here having abdominal surgery and people going to long lengths for their girls but I can't remember the outcome. I have already made that decision. I think my little Sparrow has a tumour though it's not been confirmed and I have decided that while she has a good quality of life I will let her carry on. If she was in pain or distress I would take her to the vet to treat the symptoms if possible but I would not choose an operation for her. It's hard I love her dearly and a while ago I thought she was dying but she picked up thank goodness and I will not let her be in distress. Oh I do feel for you, what did the vet advise. Guess I know the answer already. Hugs x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 That is the hardest decision in the world to make, you will know when the time is right to say goodbye Although your time with the chooks hasn't been easy, you have given them more love and attention than they could ever have dreamt of in their previous life, I hope you take comfort from that fact More {{hugs}} from me too Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemschooks Posted August 15, 2009 Author Share Posted August 15, 2009 Hi all Meadow isn't looking great today despite remaining on baytril and daily massage of crop - she's eaten a little and still drinking, but is hunched and spending most of the time with her eyes closed. is there anything more I can do for her? thanks x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 I'm sorry she's not picked up at all. I don't know what else you can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
