Part 0800.0005

[chickenlicken72]

Last week I discovered that one of my hens had an impacted crop. Not only was her crop full to bursting in the morning she was all out of sorts, looking really miserable. I took her to the vets who performed an ingluviotomy (unzipped her, removed contents and zipped her back up again) she came home for a bit of R&R for 12 hours before returning to her friends in the cube. I did keep her in for a couple of nights (as it was very cold last week) but during the day she was out an about.

 

My problem is that Trinny obviously thinks that the stitchs (which cannot be seen from under her feathers) are not the fashion item that a young trendy bird should be seen out with and has started to remove them. On Friday she went back to the vets to be sewn back up again and I fashioned her a jumper out of some fleece in order for there to be a barrier.

 

To my frustration today, she has also undone the stitches again. Until i can get her back to the vet I have used some steristrips to seal up the wound. And I have also given her a fabric 'cat/dog cone hood' to wear (vet reccomended it and fashioned it blue peter style at the surgery). It is quite light and means that she cannot pick at her stitches. But she is taking some time to get used to it. She can still eat and drink OK but tries to walk backwards alot.

 

So my question is... should I keep the fabric hood on her (even though her coop cred points and her pecking order position must be dropping like a stone) or remove her and keep her in isolation (where I can keep a closer eye on her) to make sure the wound has a chance of healing. I don't want to have to do a full introduction again if I can help it by taking this her out for a while. To make matters 10x worse I am going away for a week on Wednesday and my chicken sitters can only drop by for an hour or so a day (although they could manage her alone at theirs if required)

 

Has anyone else had a similar problem with chicken stitches? Advice on what to do next would be welcome!

[Chucky Mama]

Not sure really but the priority has to be getting that wound to heal. Their skin is so thin that it wont take restitching too may times without it getting infected and it all going pearshaped. Can you make her a body stocking of some sort? They are easier to anchor on if you cut holes to put the wings through.

[chickenlicken72]

Agreed - priority is the wound healing... tried three different sorts of jumpers, bandages (both self gripping and the standard tie up sort) over different widths (one just short of wrapping her up like a mummy) but she manages to wriggle free (even if done up quite tightly) of them within about 10 minutes or just manages to expose the wound enough so that it is ripe for the picking.

[Chucky Mama]

Have you tried coflex bandage? Actually thinking about it, bandaging is probably not particularly practical. I would go for a body stocking. Shame the vets didn't glue it rather than stitch. You may be able to make her a collar/hood yourself out of transparent material like an old plastic drinks bottle so that she can see better. Blue Peter time

[chickenlicken72]

Have just bought her in again - to get her measurments for a little haute couture number. I'm thinking of a sort of chicken sleep suit. Will let you know how that goes!

[Chucky Mama]

I think that is a good plan. In order for it to anchor on properly it will have to cover much more of the body than you need to. Cutting slits for the wings or legs will help. Obviously keep in mind the risk of her getting in a tangle and throttling herself Making it a snug fit will reduce the chances of this happening.

[staceychristie]

Personally, I'd separate her, and keep her away from her compatriots, but still in view if possible.

Like the haute couture idea though

 

Stacey

[Luvachicken]

Could you use an old sock and cut a small hole in the toe part for her head and a couple of slits down the foot part for her wings ?

I hope she gets well soon

[chickenlicken72]

In true blue peter style I fashioned a sort of henny straight jacket out of some thin-ish fleece with holes cut in it for the head and wings. It is held along the back using velcro - which despite a number of attempts to undo (Trinny may have a new found career in escapology) is holding firm. I do take it off her at night (when she is too dozy to peck) and that seems to be working well.

 

She is still quite fragile. She has moments of henny-ness (dustbathing in the newly fashioned jacket; reminding the hen who is the lowest in the pecking order that she is at least still above them, trilling whilst roosting in the sunshine). I have seperated her (but still within view of the others) a fair bit over the past few days because the rest of the time she is snoozing/resting or just stood quietly on her own. She has eaten a little soft food and was free-ranging for some time today and she is drinking a reasonable amount. I just wish I had some sort of get better quick solution. I had hoped, rather naively that she would bounce back straight away but this seems to be a bit more slowly slowly. I just hope she gets there in the end.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Personally, I'd separate her, and keep her away from her compatriots, but still in view if possible.

Like the haute couture idea though

 

Stacey

me too when you are not actually watching her.

I have had a few separations and reintro's and provided they see her daily it has all gone well. ( I know you have a suit but wanted to reassure you that separating ffor a while is not horrific.)

good luck

[chickenlicken72]

That is good to hear since the intros in the first place took a while (although a lot of that was just the difference in their sizes to begin with). Trinny is currently curled up on the sofa dozing in front of the telly. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

[sandyhas3chucks]

awww bless

[chickenlicken72]

Today there has been huge improvement...she is much much brigher and was racing down the garden to get back with the others. All going well so far and vet has given her a clean bill of health.

[Chucky Mama]

Great news, well done.