very sick 11 year old bantam

[Anonymous]

Hi, I am new to this forum and am desperate for any help tips advice with regards to my very sick 11 year old bantam.

I know that most will probably say that it is old age but I would very much like to do all that I can for her.

She has looked a little off colour for a few days, is very quiet, has fluffed up all her feathers and has a drooped tail and her head is sort of down, she has been moulting which she has done every year, she does not lay eggs (her excuse is that she is to old and I agree) this morning she was not up and out as normal but did come out and ate a tiny amount of food, I have been puttting a hotwater bottle in her nest box, tonight she did not put herself to bed, I had to carry her in again putting a hotwater bottle underneath her.

I did notice that she is very thin but she has never been big, she has had slight stumbles and just stands most of the time looking very sad.
She does not eat her corn if I put poultry spice on it normally but I have still tried doing this butthis morning the bit she ate did not have any on it.
Any help much appreciated
Thanks
Esther

 

[tygrysek75]

I'm so sorry for her.She is 11years old-thats really great age for a chicken,she may be on the end of her road.So sorry.I gues if you can exulde parasites,cold etc .you may just make her comftable as possible.Maybe other will have difrent sugestions.

 

[chrismahon]

Sorry to hear about your bantam. Moulting takes a lot out of them and even our 4 year olds are struggling. Important she keeps drinking even if you have to trickle some down her throat with a syringe. Presume she isn't pooing green, which is an infection. Could check for crop bound (hard full crop) as she may have eaten too many feathers, in which case cod liver or olive oil and a massage may clear it. Would explain lack of appetite. Lots of fuss helps as well.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks very much for the reply, I have others that are fine, she has had vermex about 3 months ago and no wheezing or cold like symtoms, I really dont know what else i can do, her best made died in may at 10 yrs old so it might just be the old age, but thanks anyway

 

[Anonymous]

I will feel her crop in the morning as i know it should be empy by then, and try the water with a syringe, no green poo, and will also try the olive oil if its full, would some warm mash and water help if i can gaet her to eat any of it?

 

[Chuck]

You can try bits and pieces to see if she'll eat and try to get some fluid down her but it sounds like she is at the end of her days.

 

[jubilee]

Ah, really sorry to hear your hen is poorly, bless her, we have lost two Jubilee orpington girls just recently, and ours were both 12 years old. They went down hill at the begining of the moult, and sounds like exactly the same as your old girl, it's really sad, but everything has to go eventually, all i can say is, you must have given her a wonderful life if she's made it to double figures, so you have been doing something right all this time.
The best thing to do now, is make her comfortable, and lots of cuddles. And if she goes down hill, have her put to sleep. It's the one last kindness you can give her.

JubesXX

 

[ncotb]

A while since the last post, but, how are things going for your girly?