[sheila]

one of my hens is looking very raggy and her crop is almost trailing on the ground. She has been like this for about six days. Is she constipated? The others seem to be bullying her also. Any ideas?

[lindy]

There is a condition called sour crop. I have no personal experience of it  - I would suggest doing a search for more info.
If you think it is full with food I was advised to try giving a few drop of castor oil(prob any lubricant oil) and gently massaging the crop. Obviously it is very difficult to give proper adivce without seeing the hen.

[sheila]

After seeking advice I decided that my hen had "Sour Crop" so tried a number of things,none of which worked so I opted for surgery which my neighbour and I carried out in the garage. With a scalpel I cut a three inch slice into her crop. What we removed was remarkable! At least two pounds in weight of matted long strings of grass and other rubbish. We then tried to superglue the wound together but it wouldn't stick so I ended up stitching it up with purple sewing cotton. The hen seems chirpier then we have seen her for a long time although I have had to fashion a collar( something like you see dogs wearing when they come from the vets) to stop her pecking at the wound!
now 4 days on I am considering putting her back with the others. What do you think?

[carl]

well done, braver than me. i would wait a while before putting her back as she may still get picked on. I would like to see her wound fully healed so the other birds can't make it worse. birds can be awful once they taste blood.

[jameslindsay]

Well done, brave you. Did you "knock" the bird out before surgery? Hope all goes well when you finally re introduce her to the others.

[sheila]

No I didn't knock the hen out before operating. I tried hypnosis and it seemed to work. The hen lay still during the whole procedure. There was very blood and she didn't seem to suffer in any way.

[jameslindsay]

Amazing, well done again. I hope all continues to go as good as the last 4 days.

[The Relic]

i have an ulcer needs removing wanna give it a go.

[sheila]

I can't believe how easy it was . I would recommend it to anyone  who can't afford to spend money on a vet. sorry you have an ulcer. try not to get stressed. Sit and watch your chickens!

[doganjo]

You're braver than me.  I know how to hypnotise birds if it helps anyone else. We do it to pigeons for training the dogs so they lie still in the grass. The dogs is sent out to hunt, they point the bird, flush it and the bird then wakes up and flies back to the loft.  You swing the bird round in a circle for a few minutes then tuck it's head under its wing and place it on the ground. It will stay there till the dog flushes it.

[sheila]

My method of Hypnotising a chicken is different to yours. I simply hold them firmly on their back and sharply tap their beak several times. She will lie quiet for ages but you can repeat the beak tapping at will.

[flipflopper]

Fantastic

great reading the tips

did'nt realise i had to get surgical gloves and gown to keep chickens 

ER has nothing on chicken keeping

Well done you

[sheila]

sadly we had to despatch the patient as her crop was full again and she was suffering. never mind, I tried.

[flipflopper]

that is a shame shiela

but good on you for trying and sharing this info with us.

[Rosemary]

Sorry to hear that the post-op didn't go well.