Biker Betty Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Hello all I have a girl with an impacted crop. I have tried her for the past two days on firstly olive oil and then switched to liquid parafin yesterday. But to no avail. So yesterday I bought her some live maggots. Well she is refusing to eat them at all! She keeps going for them and spitting them out so I'm guessing she just doesn't like the taste or the wiggling sensation. So this morning I resorted to forcing her beak open and feeding them to her just to get them inside whilst they're still alive. I managed to give her about 10 - do you think that's enough? I also wondered (and this may sound like a daft question) she is also drinking a lot of water - would this drown the maggots before they started to work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 I'm bumping this up for you. A lot of people have expert in this - but not me! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocktail_chick Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 I have exactly the same question! I'm off to get the maggots tomorrow and see what happens and was wondering what should I do if Egg doesn't want to eat them willingly. I've got used to getting her beak open and giving her the antibiotics so not concerned about that bit, but don't want to give her too many or too little, she's only 3.5 months old and teeny weeny! Keep us posted and what's happening! Good luck. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 yes 10 will be good for starters. My poorly girl also refused back in the days when I could not touch them, then a lad who didn't mind warmed them in his hand and she would take one carefully but pointed end only. have you tried feeding them to her with another preferably your slowest eater. Water is really important will she drink at all? Don't let her eat anything dry have ou tried apple puree (babie fod if you nned to get ready made. you can put olive oil in with it,. Some have had vets give liquid parafin. keep trying with the maggots, several times a day, many as she wil eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker Betty Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Thanks Sandy I have now given her 3 lots of maggots - she won't eat them willingly so I'm having to feed them to her - we are basically wrestling every time - but she's getting a bit more used to it now. This morning I managed to get her to eat about 20. I have also been giving her liquid parafin and a massage and then feeding her a mixture of weetabix, apple puree, garlic and yoghurt - she seems to really like this and is eating it well. I have left her in the coop with the others so they've all got wet porridge of layers mash to eat today instead of dry food. She is drinking loads of water so is definitely not dehydrated or anything - I'm giving her warm water in hopes that might help too. In fact, she otherwise seems in really good health - though the poo is not very nice. I've been giving her treatment for quite a few days now (though maggots only since Weds) and there's still no improvement. I have an appointment with the vet for my cat tonight so I think I'll take her along too and get the vet to see what they can do - although my vet is not very knowledgable about chickens really. Any idea what they can do for it? Is it only surgery that can help her? I must say though - I'm glad to hear somebody else struggles with maggots - there's not many things that turn my stomach but that is definitely one of them! Picking one up is fine - but seeing the wriggling pot of them makes my skin crawl. I have had nightmares about them getting out in my fridge for the past few nights! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Sounds like you're doing everything right BB. Are you massaging the crop 3 or 4 times a day? If it doesn't budge, then a trip to the vet will be in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker Betty Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 I can only manage to get to her twice a day at the moment - once first thing in the morning and once in the evening. Not only are these the best times to catch her (she is not a girl who likes being picked up!) but due to workload at the moment, I have no other time that I can get home to do it. I have been feeding her olive oil or liquid parafin and then massaging her. I can feel the lump break up under my fingers but next time I pick her up it's back to being rock solid. It feels like a beanbag so I'm guessing she overdid the pellets at some point or something. She had been drinking a lot a few days before but on examination there didn't seem to be anything wrong with her crop - I guess she must have been hiding it very well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I'd encourage you to take her to the vet when you go this evening as she may need a "crop op" to remove the blockage if all else is failing. She may be reluctant to eat because she is quite literally full up. The other possible cause is a gizzard problem because if that isn't functioning properly, whatever she's eating will back up into her crop. Hope you get her sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker Betty Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Thank Jools. She is not at all reluctant to eat - she just doesn't like the maggots! She is wolfing the weetabix mixture down with no problems. I'm quite sure it is an impacted crop problem - she has the text book signs of it. I'll see what the vet has to say I think tonight. Will let you know how I get on. Thank you for all your helpful advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Keep the treatment up then and see what the vet has. The problem is that if you have a greedy bird, the crop can get too full and doesn't empty properly, leading to a blockage. The crop then gets stretched out of shape and so the problem carries on..... Let us know how you get on later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Sorry I went off last night, did ytou get to the vet with her. TBH I would not even give her weetabix. But "t Experts " will say if they think I am wrong. I would ONLY give wet sloppy like apple puree and the maggots until it is gone. Can you tell if she is laying? I am guessing it would be difficult as seems you might be working and seeing to her morning and evening? Apart from dry food there is often a block with something, some have had cntents drained and it's been a long bit of grass, then theres the screw (was that on this forum?) with an xray photo? I do take it you have felt it very 1st thing in the morningbefore ANY food and it is full? Oh just re read yur post she is drinking lots.... well that is good, however if it is not mioving at all, then you will by now be having to keep a thought about sour crop. what are her poohs like? Do you know wher she sleeps, can you check hers 1st thing .? good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker Betty Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 The weetabix is very sloppy indeed - it's mainly yoghurt and apple with a bit of wb thrown in for some substance. Her poo is liquid with little bits floating in it and it is pretty green on occasions - although since the maggots there have been some more solid bits too so I'm guessing something is still getting through. She is definitely not laying but then mine have been quite bad at laying for a long time now - out of 3 I've only got one good layer. The ex batt pellets were starting to help but the girls didn't like them at all and went on a bit of a hunger strike. I feel her chest first thing in the morning - when she first wakes up - and last thing at night after dark. It is always the same, hard lump in her crop consisting of what feels like pellets - though I haven't fed pellets for days so they've been in there a while. As for it souring - to be honest, her breath isn't bad at the moment - and I know that because over the past couple of days I've spent enough time looking down her throat to make sure the maggots have gone in! I will be taking her to the vets tonight and will let you know the outcome - though I suspect my vet will say 'put her down' - it's the only bit of advice I've ever had from a vet round here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 It's good that she is doing some poos at least; something is getting through then. What area are you in? I wonder if anyone on here knows of a chciken-savvy vet in your area? Have you tried calling the surgeries in your area to see if any of them have an avian vet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker Betty Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 There are only two surgeries in the town and neither of them deal with chickens really - the one i'm with now is by far the better of the two - the other one who I was with originally told me that no normal vet will ever see a chicken and that I would have to go to farming vet who is about 20 miles away. I don't drive so that was an impossibility. The one I'm with now, at least they try but I usually end up telling them more than they can tell me. As you can probably tell, this is a bone of contention with me and I really have tried everything I can. If I didn't have the omlet site and the ex batt helpline to help me out, I would be completely stuck. I generally only take them to the vets if I know it's something surgical which needs to be done or if I need medication for them or if the worst happens and they need to be put to sleep. I would be happy to start a campaign to get vets receive better training in chicken care when they're at vet college. I think there is a failry basic level of knowledge that should be required - like what to do if one is egg bound, how to recognise sterile perotinitis etc - these are all really common complaints and some of them can be fixed with simple remedies - if only they knew them. Anyway - I've just got really good at ignoring a vet's advice to put them to sleep every time. I only do it when I think it's time. I find I lose far fewer chickens that way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker Betty Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 By the way I'm in the High Wycombe area if anyone does know differently for a chook friendly vet or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Hi Betty, I don't know if this is of any use to you but this vet is supposed to be bird friendly and has also been recommended to me by a customer Steve Smith Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre 1 Tring Road Halton Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP22 5PN 01296 623439 Fax: 01296 622112 http://www.whvc.co.uk There are a few others which are slightly further afield too: Aston Clinton Veterinary Centre 107 Aylesbury Road Aston Clinton Bucks HP22 5AJ 01296 630600 Park Veterinary Centre, 256 Cassiobury Drive Watford WD17 3PA Tel.01923 818681 The Henley Veterinary Centre Reading road, Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire 01491 - 574490 My information is getting a bit dated now though so it's always worth giving the surgeries a call first to see if they are still prepared to treat chickens. Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker Betty Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Right - I have just spoken to the vets - they will not see the chicken as well as the cat tonight - they need a separate apointment - and they have none left tonight. I reckon its just so they can charge me another load of money. I pay £25 for 10 minutes - tonight this is going to be £25 to weigh a cat. Real value for money eh? Apparently, I can wait until Monday when the one vet that knows something about chickens is back from holiday. The others apparently know nothing anyway. Does anyone know a vet that I might be able to call to ask if there's anything else that can be done? Otherwise I am going to have to continue with the massage & maggots treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker Betty Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Thank you Barbara - it's like you read my mind! Unfortunately, getting to these is impossible for me as I don't drive. I may give one of them a call to see what else could be done though - hopefully one of them may take pity on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Does anyone know a vet that I might be able to call to ask if there's anything else that can be done? Otherwise I am going to have to continue with the massage & maggots treatment. I know it's not in your area, but try West Bar vets in Banbury - 01295 262332 - they have a coupl eof excellent chicken vets. I suspect that most vets will hesitate to give any advice without seeing the animals first though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 she seems bright still? don't even cosider pts yet. hang on in there, you can dio more maggot stuff often at the weekend and really watcg her. they have scales in those pets corners in garden centres wish i were near I would happily drive you. £25 just to weigh???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker Betty Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Well my cat was poorly the other week and he's just going to be weighed to check he has gained more weight again. I guess it is a chance for the vet to check him out too - but I swear there'd be enough time for the vet to just look at the chicken to tell me if they think they could treat her or not - that's all I want. I guess they want the money though! Mind you, the vets themselves are usually very nice - even if they can't help - but like a doctor's surgery, it's the receptionists that you have to get past... I wouldn't even think about having her pts yet - don't worry. That's will be the ultimate last resort when I know she's suffering. That's just the advice the vets normally give me because they don't know any better. I got told that one girl should be PTS for being egg bound - before anything else had been tried - 6 months on, there is nothing wrong with her at all. Then I had 3 put down a couple of years ago as i was told they probably had some sort of disease because their breast bones were sticking out - nowadays I know that the vet just didn't know what a laying chicken should look like! So as you can see, I have little or no faith in them with chickens - can you imagine if they suggested that with a dog or a cat? There'd be outrage! I'm getting myself very angry this afternoon just thinking about it. I'm around all weekend so I'm going to carry on with the maggots etc - I think I'll stop the liquid parafin/olive oil now though - that can't be good for her longer term. I'll also have the chance to quarantine her this weekend too so that she can't eat anything else and I can keep closer eye on her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 sounds like a plan. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker Betty Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Thanks Sandy - much appreciated. I'll let you know how I get on. Bx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker Betty Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Just had a call from the vets with a cancellation tonight - so they can see her after all! Maybe I shouldn't moan so much about vets... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Good Do let us know how you get on.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
