60 Diseases of Poultry 



It will be easier if some person can hold the bird while an- 

 other performs the operation. If assistance is not at hand 

 the bird may be tied, back down, to a board or table. The 

 operation should be done in a place as free as possible from 

 dust and dirt. First, pluck out a few feathers in the median 

 line of the crop. The feathers around the edge of the field 

 of operation may be dampened to keep dust from them out 

 of the wound. With a sharp, clean knife cut through the 

 skin over the middle of the crop. This cut should be about 

 1 inch long. Then make an incision about f of an inch 

 long through the wall of the crop. The distention of the 

 crop will cause the opening to gape, and the mass will be in 

 plain sight. With a buttonhook, blunt pointed scissors, 

 tweezers, or similar tools, take out the contents of the crop. 

 This done, run the finger into the crop and make sure that 

 there is nothing remaining to obstruct the outlet of the 

 organ. After this is done thoroughly wash out the empty 

 crop with clean- warm (108° to 110° F.) water. The opening 

 in the wall of the crop should be closed with 3 or 4 stitches, 

 making each stitch by itself and tying a knot that will not 

 slip. Then do the same thing to the cut in the skin. For 

 stitches use white silk or (if nothing better can be obtained) 

 common cotton thread, number 60. 



The above operation is not a difficult one and is usually 

 successful. Care should be exercised to have the hands and 

 instruments thoroughly clean. In sewing up the wound 

 care should be taken that dirt, ends of feathers, etc., are not 

 drawn into the wound. Chickens are quite resistant to 

 infection with ordinary bacteria, but the results will be 

 uniformly better if care is taken to exclude all chance for 

 infection. The edges of the skin should be well greased 

 with vaseline. For the first day or two it is well to feed 

 the bird only milk or raw eggs beaten together. 



