Poorly hen....is seriously poorly, any ideas welcomed.

[paula]

Hello again

After just 1 week of looking as though she was better she has gone downhill, very badly.

She has been taken to a different vet and given a multi vit injection and sent home with more antibiotics (a thicker stronger version of baytril) The owner took her this time and eggbound was on the suspect list but the vet said its just one of those things and if it happens theres not much you can do 09

Her symptoms are: hardly eating, haunched up, weakness, wanting to be alone, puffed up feathers, she cant seem to lie down (?) , what seems to me to be a swelling on her left side, in abdomen,just inside her thigh BUT she has great weight loss so anything will seem obvious. The vet did physically examine her-Ive been told-surely he would have flagged this. Could this be a liver/organ problem?

She is back indoors, Im trying to feed her anything she will eat. Porridge, kale, yoghurt. The vet has said give her 1 week on antibiotics then see if she improves, if not then

What about aspirin 35mg?..I read about it on here, will this help in anyway? Even just to ease discomfort, garlic? for more antibacterial help. Castor oil is something someone mentioned to me also. She likes butter-is this ok for her to eat in small doses? its got alot of calories which she needs right now.

Im no expert on chickens, they arent mine but Im animal crackers so Id like to do the best I can for her.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Marigold]

Hi Paula, sorry to hear she's not any better. Could you remind us, how old is she approx, and what breed?
If she's a hybrid, and 3+ years, I think you are evidently doing all you can to make her comfortable, but it may not be possible to do more to help her to a full recovery. If she were mine, I would agree with the vet's advice to keep her going for the next few days, as you are doing, and see how she goes on the antibiotics, and if there's no improvement, think what's the kindest thing to do for her. Personally i wouldn't try castor oil or butter, as the former is very strong and not likely to help where there is no certain diagnosis, and butter is 100% fat and thus not easy on her digestion. Some people have used aspirin for strains and joint pains as it's an anti-inflammatory, but again it's hard on the gut so probably not appropriate for her - it's not licensed for use on poultry anyway, so shouldn't really be given as a shot in the dark without vet's advice. Bio-active natural yogurt is nourishing and will help to combat the effects on her gut of the antibiotics, so if she will take it, this is good, as is the porridge, being similar to her usual food. You could try ordinary pellets soaked in water until nice and crumbly, with added mealworms and hulled sunflower seeds. Maybe add the yogurt to this mix, but dont make it too wet, though damp food will help to hydrate her. Scrambled egg is good, too, without any salt of course. Keep her warm and quiet, indoors is good.

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Paula. Half an asprin is a one shot treatment and can have dramatic results. But with a swelling in the abdomen that antibiotics can't fix sounds like egg peritonitis. That's where incomplete eggs slip from a tear in the ovaduct and sit in the abdomen. There is a possible cure for that which I have read about. It requires hormone treatment to stop egg production and the abdomen surgically draining. In that case the first attempt failed but the hen had enough strength to attempt a second try. The hormone dose was doubled and the drain re-done. A year later she is laying again -£200. Not sure many vets would attempt that.

No butter. Feed as Marigold suggests. Cod Liver Oil is inappropriate for these symptoms -best for generally run down or crop problems. Best of luck Paula. We are fighting for our pet cock Bottom at the moment. Have thrown absolutely everything we have at him for two months and he is still struggling. 5 years old and a huge part of our lives and we just can't let go.

 

[paula]

Thank you Marigold and Chris for your very good information. Sadly she passed away last night I went in to see her when I finished work and she was collapsed struggling a little. I wrapped her in a towel and sat in the living room with her in my arms, once in my arms, she went still and quiet as she lay warm and comfortable. She passed about 20 mins later Im sorry to offload like this but I know Im talking to a sympathetic audience here. I cried so much. I was SO glad I got there to help her and I hope she knew I was there.

The vets, both different practices..in farming area I might add(!) had been pretty useless tbh, none had suggested the oviduct problem, none had suggested lymphoid lucocsis. It is very hard when you want to help an animal and you cant find the right professionals. It is very upsetting (I know from having kitties myself) So thank you for all you have all said to help.

I do hope that Bottom gets better one day soon Chris and its wonderful you love him so much to keep on fighting for him, I do understand why you do, truly.I will stay on here to read (I cant help sorry) and ask advice about the remaining hens, to put forward to their owner ways to give them an optimum life.

Kind wishes

 

[Marigold]

Im so sorry to hear she died, Paula, but she was a very lucky girl to have had such a peaceful passing, and of course she knew you were there and was comforted by your kindness. If the vets didnt suggest an oviduct problem they sound pretty useless as this is so common in hens who are past their first couple of years, or even younger, and this can result in several versions of painful problems where an egg gets stuck, or travels down the wrong way into the hens's gut, (egg peritonitis) because of the way the oviduct is related to the digestive system. I expect this may have been the cause of the swelling you noticed (that the vet apparently missed.) Sadly, such cases are invariably fatal because the egg begins to decompose and bacteria spread throughout the hen's system.
Yes do stay on here with us - maybe one day you will get a few lucky hens of your own, or even rescue your neighbour's girls if she isnt too keen on them any more?

 

[paula]

Thanks Marigold for your support and sympathy. Yes the vets didnt do their job well at all Im very sure. I will look in on here regularly.

Best wishes

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Paula. Just got back after my drive home -17 hours! Sorry to hear she didn't make it. Commercial vets rely on autopsy to diagnose the problem. They know next to nothing about chickens, just how to post samples and read the results. I had them to take samples for our chicken export.

Bottom is still hanging in there. Had a big hug from Daddy Bird when I returned.