Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

Well, it seems that I've got a girl in quite the pickle. She has a heavily impacted crop that just isn't loosening up. I am at my wits end & have tried everything I can think of; naturally she is an all time favourite. I welcome any & all advice.

Oh no, that's bad........ what have you have tried to do so far?

I wonder if the person who did surgery on the crop is on this board, can't remember who it was. Ross, do you remember?

Yep me KB . Sorry bad nite just woke up . I've found if it can't be flushed out with warm water & baking soda flushed in crop massaged & turn bird upside down & squeeze out gently like milking a cow then I've resorted to opening crop 1-1 1/2 finger with razor blade / utility knife . Clean all out then flush with baking soda / water , sew back together with normal thread . Put in small isolation pen water / baking soda mix & no feed for day . Check regularly . Luck
Baking soda mix is 1 heaping tablespoon per gal . Also look at what is in there . Sometimes grass clippings etc can ball up more if hand picked / fed to long a pc than free range tear off .
Use short 4" pc of aquarium tube on end of syringe to flush & not get in lungs . Put iodine on cut after stitching . Some folk use crazy glue to hold together over stitch . Whatever works .

I'll give the baking soda flush a try tonight...I saw this on YouTube but was concerned with drowning the beast. At this stage it is a moot point tho really.
You make the surgery sound less daunting...there is hope, many thx

Robbie wrote:QR_BBPOST Oh no, that's bad........ what have you have tried to do so far?

Oh I've been giving oil & massaging my fingers to the bone (we are quite close now), she is in ICU being dished with vitamin/electrolyte mix & food withheld but I did cave & give watered down cat food with probiotics.
I did try a bit of a flush (missed on the baking soda tho) but she is packed pretty tight & full so it is tough to get much in there really before she shakes her head & sends it flying. I feel like I have regrouped tho & will definitely be getting down & dirty with Ross's advice.

MuskokaMaiden wrote:QR_BBPOST I'll give the baking soda flush a try tonight...I saw this on YouTube but was concerned with drowning the beast. At this stage it is a moot point tho really.
You make the surgery sound less daunting...there is hope, many thx

Welcome , just take your time & have someone hold bird if easier . I've used tweezers or long nose pliers to pull out impacted whatever if needed . I usually hang um upside down by ankles , keeps um quiet & settled when cutting & stitching etc . You'll find a way . . Luck

The baking soda treatment that Ross mentioned is good and might sort her out. I have done it with one of my hens, and she bounced back - hasn't had a problem since.

The baking soda in this case is in case crop feed has started to go bad (ferment) it will clean that up . The baking soda in the drinking water is like in a glass morning after to clean up stomach acid . Luck

ross wrote:QR_BBPOST The baking soda in this case is in case crop feed has started to go bad (ferment) it will clean that up . The baking soda in the drinking water is like in a glass morning after to clean up stomach acid . Luck

BTW...did you have to remove the stitches?