4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[tanyajb]

Hi i urgently need some advice please one of my ex battery hens has looked a bit poorly for 3 days been quiet with the typical sick chicken stance. she has lost some weight and she has a slightly squishy crop. i recently lost a hen who did not recover form a sour crop i tried for a few weeks syringe feeding her and giving her nystatin and antibiotics but she was bascically still starving to death so she was put to sleep. yesterday i started to give the other hen some left over antibiotics and nystatin along with manuka honey and aloe vera juice. but today my puppy somehow got out and has attacked her i came home to find her she looked in a terrible state her feathers are all wet, red marks around her neck but no blood drawn. i took her immediately to the vets who has said she is just bruised and in shock but was also very concerned about her condition ie weight and prominent breastbone plus she is a bit swollen underneath between her legs. i have bought her home to warm her up and see if she perks up if not the vet thinks i should put her to sleep. i feel absoutley awful very guilty about the puppy getting her she is normally ok with the hens although i don't let her in the garden with them unsupervised. i left the puppy in her crate this morning while i took my daughter to school but when i returned she was out and down the garden. i think my elder son must of let her out before going to school himself. i have the chicken in a cat carrier at the moment and she looks awful she is standing just but with her eyes closed and her breathing is funny like she is snoring. i don't know what to do andy advice would be appreciated.thank you

[quinlan]

Poor girl, I know its never an easy descision to make, but i would say if she's not getting any better it would be the kindest thing to put her to sleep as she sounds really poorly. At least she had a chance for a normal life for a while, be pleased about that. Try not to feel too bad about your puppy.

[Egluntyne]

Maybe some Bach's Rescue Remedy might help her over the shock, and some Arnica for the bruising.

 

Try to make sure that she takes fluids at least, and perhaps she will take some sloppy porridge made with pellets and warm water.

[Happy Hennie]

Sorry to hear about your poorly girl. She has experienced more of life than most ex batts so don't beat yourself up. What does concern me are the general symptoms of your hen - the soured crop, general poor health and the swelling between her legs - I've lost a number of ex batts to Lymphoid Leukosis. It's symptoms are numerous but an enlarged liver, soured crop, weight loss and tumors seem to be the most common - certainly with my girls. It is only very mildly contagious so don't worry. Sounds it might be time to let your girl go - so sorry, it's always hard.

[tanyajb]

Hi thank you for your kind words of support but sadly this evening she was put to sleep,she collapsed and was unable to get up i couldn't bear to see her suffering. the vet is going to do a post mortem as she thinks she may have a tumour. she said the damage done by the puppy was just mild bruising but she was very weak so she couldn't run away. one of my other hens had a liver tumour and was pts and another was pts after having weight loss and sour crop that wouldn't go i did everything i could for her (antibiotics,nystatin,manuka honey,live yogurt,aloevera juice) but she was just wasting away. i wonder if they all have the same thing? i now have one hen remaining i wonder if it is going to happen to her? thanks again for your help tanya x

[Egluntyne]

Am very sorry to hear it.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

What a lot of bad luck you've had . I'm so sorry to hear about your poor girl .

[quinlan]

Sorry to hear your news, hope you are ok

[Happy Hennie]

Sorry to hear your sad news Tanya.

It doesn't necessarily follow your remaining girl will suffer from the same disease. I lost 3 to Lymphoid Leukosis but my remaining 5 have been fit and healthy for a number of months. The incubation period is about 2 weeks. As a precaution I would clean out the coop with a mild bleach solution to kill the retro virus and just build up your remaining hen's immune system as much as possible. I give mine regular yoghurt, grapefruit seed extract in their water, poultry spice and additional protein during the winter months.

I hope that is the end of your problems.

Best wishes,

Claire x

[tanyajb]

Sorry to hear your sad news Tanya.

It doesn't necessarily follow your remaining girl will suffer from the same disease. I lost 3 to Lymphoid Leukosis but my remaining 5 have been fit and healthy for a number of months. The incubation period is about 2 weeks. As a precaution I would clean out the coop with a mild bleach solution to kill the retro virus and just build up your remaining hen's immune system as much as possible. I give mine regular yoghurt, grapefruit seed extract in their water, poultry spice and additional protein during the winter months.

I hope that is the end of your problems.

Best wishes,

Claire x

thanks alot claire x

[tanyajb]

thank you everyone for your kind words!xx