[jo40]

Hello
I have made an appointment for my welsummer tomorrow.
She has an impacted crop, the vet said he would try to flush it out, he didnt give an option to remove it by op. I think her breath is a bit smelly (but that could be the olive oil Ive tried) should I expect a course in anti-biotics, if so what kind of dosage.
I would like to know what I should expect because although they said they did treat chickens my confidence in them is limited as they asked me if she was female when taking the details!
Thanks Jo

[Flowerpower136]

Jo, will be following this with interest, and hope you dont mind me adding a relevant question to yours.

My girls arrive on Saturday, and as part of my prep, I've mentioned them to our vet.  Who is lovely, but clearly not a hen person.  They definately don't stock any hen stuff, but said they would always be happy to read up and buy things in for me if required.

Thinking might need to look round for another vet?  What should I be looking for? Do hen vets have any special 'registration' or 'qualification' that signifies they are hen vets?

[Roll Roll]

Stupid question I know, but have you tried massaging the crop as well as using the olive oil?

[poultrygeist]

I think Foxy has stood in on the crop op which is apparently uncomplicated and sorts them quickly and without fuss.
Either way, she'll probably want anti-biotics (baytril?) and some natural active yoghurt should rebalance her digestive system.

We have a poultry friendly vets thread here...
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=26140.0

If you find any that specialise or are keen to learn, you can send Aunt Sally a PM about them.

Rob

[poultrygeist]

Also info about crop problems here....

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=4345.0

Rob

[chickenlady]

My vets dont have a huge knowledge on chickens but when one of my hens got wind puff i had to talk them through the piercing of the skin etc! they are good and listen to what i say! and if i say i need aureomycin they know what it is and just order it for me! 

Debbie

[Sarah Mitchell]

My vets have a vet who specialises in birds including chooks which is great but I still do my own research before visiting them just in case.  My last visit wiped out their entire stock of a particular antibiotic though because they are not geared up for smallholder scale chook keeping but as we are in a semi-urban area there are no agricultural vets nearby. 

My brother in law is a vet (doesn't live near us unfortunately) and he has noticed an increase in customers at his practice who have chooks so he is going on a chook-vetting type course - I'd like to assume that because more and more people are keeping chickens, more vets will become 'competent' in chook care.  Lets hope so anyway.

Wish it cost less though!!!

[SarahJC]

Jo40, there's a list of poultry vets in Practical Poultry magazine, there's one that does poultry only I think. If you can't lay your hands on a copy, let me know where you live and I'll have a look in a copy of mine 

[joyfull]

We have 3 vets practices near us - 1 used by Grannie Annie, another by Chickenlady Debbie and another by myself. All of us discuss treatments with each other and go armed with the relevant details of possible problems and what treatments they might need. It seems all of our 3 surgeries read up about chickens before we get there and are prepared to listen to what we have to say. Can't really ask for anymore  .

[jo40]

Update after the vets.

We did massage the crop along with the oil, on the advice of a vet we also syringed sugared water in and starved her for 24 hrs.
they worked a treat! Her crop is much smaller.
I still took her to the vet as she is so small and had such a bad start.
He said:
The massaging/oil trick is working so continue, less stressful than 'flushing her out'.
She is half the weight she should be, so supplement her feed with poultry spice.
Give an injection of anti bac? and scribed 'clavulanate-potentiated amoxicillin? (it says for dogs and cats on the box) for 7 days.

It cost £50

Can anyone comment on this, does it sound like we got the right advice/treatment and does the price seem appropriate :blink:

Thanks Jo

[joyfull]

I have only taken one of mine to the vets - for mycoplasma - got a check up, given an injection, bottle of metacam (for dogs) -- enough for a couple of chickens mine and chickenladys - and a large tub of aureomycin antibiotic enough to treat around 50 hens at least - cost me £32. After having seen one of my hens if what I want is just routine I can call and order the stuff so no consultation fee  . Felt mine was worth it - hen got better what more could I have asked for?

[jo40]

I think I need to shop around for a new vet!
 
However, if the £50 puts my lads favourite hen back on track it was worth it
Jo

[joyfull]

Like you say if your hen recovers it will have been worth every penny 

[jo40]

Hi
I will keep an eye out for Practical poultry, I know Ive seen it somewhere, just cant remember where
If I dont have any joy I will let you know, thanks for the offer Sarah.
I live in Mid cheshire, 2 of the vets I contacted put me onto a place in Tarporley but they wanted £40 just for a consultation, I thought this was too steep. 
The place we went with charged £20 for consultation, that put the injection and 50ml of amoxicillin at £27

We are very please with our selves for managing to shift her impacted crop though!
When I checked her on Tuesday morning and it was still full (felt like she had swallowed a golf ball) I thought she was a gonna
Vet said if her digestive system is under-developed we need to keep close eye on it and wouldnt do any harm to do the olive oil trick every now and again just to make sure shes not retaining anything in her crop.
Thanks again Jo
 

[Foxy]

start her on apple cider vinegar and make sure you have lots of grit available. I would also suggest a probiotic to help gut motility, and help to counteract any sourness. Keep her off grass and  keep her on small amounts of food, do not allow her to "gorge" or go hungry.