GeorgieB Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Bernie my ex-bat has an impacted crop which I noticed on Thursday, as she was spending most of the day on the nest. It was still full first thing on Friday morning so I've brought her in to the house and am giving her 2ml twice a day of liquid parafin and 1ml twice a day of Metaclopromide (as advised by a vet) and massaging her crop after each dose. The vet gave her a 10ml injection of Metaclopromide yesterday to get things started (as it's supposed to help the crop get things moving) but this morning it feels just as bad as it did Friday morning. I expected it would at least feel a little better as it felt softer at the end of yesterday. I~'m pretty sure she hasn't swallowed anything like straw cos her crop just feels grainy. Although I did notice a funny noise in one part of her crop that sounded a bit like a polythene bag, but I'm hoping that it is just a noise due to moving the contents around. I would reallly like to know if people think it's worth having the vet open her crop up and remove the contents or should I continue with the medication and massage? For how much longer? I'm also syringing 2ml twice daily of some water with critical care formula in to her and giving her a teaspoon of live yoghurt as I'm keeping her off food. Has anyone had any success or failure after a crop operation? The vet (who doesn't know much about hens) thinks it would be 50/50 as she could get an infection of the wound when they take the contents out or the stiches could come undone but he also said it was 50/50 about medicating her too. If anyone can share their views on this with me I'd be really grateful. Thanks, Georgie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgieB Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 I've just been told on this forum - http://exbatteryhens.com/topic/4677469/1/#new that the vet has got the dosage wrong. It's supposed to be 0.1ml per kg of chook. The vet also didn't mention that if nothing is moving in her crop then it is pointless dosing her orally as the medication won't be getting through to work where it needs to, so I really need to be taught by the vet to inject into the breast muscle. I've been told it might be crop/gut stasis. Anyone familiar with this? Thanks, Georgie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Sadly yes, doses ??? Depends why it is in stasis, most likely egg problem. You have likely read best advice there already, but if she is still eating, I would only let her eat white maggots as many as she wants and Live yoghurt to help her contents to NOT go sour.... maybe mixed with water made ready brek. What does her bum feel like? hard ? big? small? fluidy? good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgieB Posted February 5, 2012 Author Share Posted February 5, 2012 Hi Sandy, thanks for your message. Yeah I'm just giving her the maggots and live yoghurt to eat at the moment and I'm hoping that she'll be back to normal soon as her crop felt a lot smaller and more fluidy this morning. I've continued with what the vet told me about the dosage amount of metaclopromide as she has improved today and I didn't want to risk her going downhill again. I've felt her bum and apart from it being poopy it feels fine as far as i can tell. It's not hot or hard or fluidy. It did occur to me today that she might have a softy on the way (as she spent most of Thurs on the nest- which is when i noticed her hard crop). How would I able to tell if she has that problem tho? Thanks, Georgie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 hard to say really, my vet would have felt inside her to see. though if it is a way up you still can't always tell. if it is reducing that is good. I have one that often is not fully empty in the mornings. Long as she is ok I don't stress now, as clearly she just does this. I try and see she is drinking and keep her topped up with maggots, it has crossed my mind that she may have a partial blockage for some reason and the maggots help move it?? She also may have a lash on the way... Just watch for her going down, as if it gets stuck it will need removing by the vet if he can get to it, and probably antibiotics, you can imagine how bad it is for a piece of meat to be decomposing inside. (just so you are aware) .. hopefully she will shift whatever in her own. I have had metro on occasions but no idea what dose I am afraid, many vets have different views anyway... even on metacam!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgieB Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 Hi Sandy, Good news! I checked Bernie's crop this morning and it's empty! Hooray! Her tail is back up too so I'm now hoping it was just a bit of straw that caused it and keeping my fingers crossed that it won't happen again. Thanks again for your advice and concern, I really appreciate it Georgie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Sounds as if your vet knew what s/he was doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 fantastic news. maggots are brill little burrowers... what ever did it great... i know that feeling.. now you can breathe now!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
