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

[emmaw298]

would appreciate ideas and help please- gertrude one of my ex batts has lost a dramatic amount of weight these last few weeks with no seemingly obvious cause. i took her to the vets last weekend who didn't know a huge amount about chickens but checked her over and couldn't seem to find anything and actually commented how healthy she seemed despite being obviously very underweight. her breastbone sticks out horribly now and before she was always the heavy bossy one who got all the treats first.

she is still eating and drinking (though not quite as much as normal and am encouraging with lots of treats), but she's stopped laying now (I think it was her that had the 'lash' a couple of weeks ago). today i noticed her bum was looking a little bald and the skin quite red and on closer inspection she has a round swelling just under her vent, almost between her legs, about the size of a large grape that is soft and you are able to move it around a little but it is obviously hurting her to do that. doesn't feel like an egg as it is soft. she looks like she doesn't want to sit down as she is sort of crouching (but not like when they are in lay, more like she is uncomfortable). i've brought her in tonight and she has now developed a really watery diarrhoea that is just gushing out of her. she is really dehydrated as drinking loads. i'm giving her avipro and the vet has put her on baytril for now. can't see any signs of mites/lice and i de-wormed her 2 weeks ago with double dose flubenvet incase it was gape.

im going to take her back to the vets now i've noticed this lump.

any ideas about what it could be and anything to do at the moment??

thanks!

Edited December 12, 2008 by Guest

[laurmurf]

oh poor Gertrude and poor you - you must be worried sick about her! I don't know what to suggest other than getting a small syringe from the vet when you go to syringe some fluids into her to keep her hydrated. I've been using Battles in water and feel much better when I can get some into her. I hope the vet finds a cause that's really easy to treat,

fingers crossed for you both!

[Egluntyne]

My Dixie Chick is like this on and off.

 

She has sterile peritonitis, and every so often the vet draws off the fluid and makes her comfortable again.

 

When she walks like John Wayne I take her back down.

 

She is still pottering about happily in between times, so we carry on.

 

Maybe your girl has the same problem.

[sandyhas3chucks]

My Dixie Chick is like this on and off.

 

She has sterile peritonitis, and every so often the vet draws off the fluid and makes her comfortable again.

 

When she walks like John Wayne I take her back down.

 

She is still pottering about happily in between times, so we carry on.

 

Maybe your girl has the same problem.

That's useful, will file in memory bank!

Can you describe "henopause". Apart from obvios no eggs. PLEASE

[Egluntyne]

Their combs and wattles shrivel and go pale and they become less biddable again...ie no crouching as you approach. Plus a general slowing down....and they get a bit fatter.

[laurmurf]

Their combs and wattles shrivel and go pale and they become less biddable again...ie no crouching as you approach. Plus a general slowing down....and they get a bit fatter.

 

 

Crikey - I must be in my henopause too! (must check my wattles... now where is that mirror?.... Buffy, move over!)

[laurmurf]

How is Gertrude now? Has she picked up at all?

[The Dogmother]

Doesn't sound too good to me.

 

Sterile peritonitis is a general swelling of the abdomen, not usually accompanied by loss of weight. The fluid need draining off to prevent it putting pressure on the internal organs. Not curable, but just ongoing maintenance is needed. It's often caused by a leucosis in the liver, so could eventually be fatal.

 

The lump you describe, plus the wieght loss sounds like she might just have a tumour. It might be worth phoning around the vet practices in your area to see if any of them have avian experience. Her thirst also makes me think this might be the case.

 

I hope that she rallies, but in the menatime, keep her comfortable, warm and be prepared to take her to the vet if she looks any more uncomfortable.

[mostin]

Their combs and wattles shrivel and go pale and they become less biddable again...ie no crouching as you approach. Plus a general slowing down....and they get a bit fatter.

 

 

Crikey - I must be in my henopause too! (must check my wattles... now where is that mirror?.... Buffy, move over!)

 

[Nicola O]

It might be worth phoning around the vet practices in your area to see if any of them have avian experience.

 

 

Go onto the website for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and on the toolbar across the top of the page there is a 'find a vet' button. Click for an advanced search and you can then click 'poultry' and you will get a list of vets starting with the closest to you.

 

I did this and found a poultry expert just 15 mins from me.

 

Nicola.

[dancing cloud]

Thank you for this Nicola - found a poultry specialist about 10 mins away, should I need one. I'll add it to my address book while I remember.

[emmaw298]

hi all, thanks for the messages.

I took her to the vets last night who is very concerned but also very flummoxed by what it might be as despite the huge amount of weight loss and pouring out of watery poo she's actually still quite perky and is eating and drinking very well. today she drank over 500ml!

The vet said this could indicate something metabolic/internal abnormality but we should run tests to check not contagious to the other hens or anything bad in the eggs (not that she is laying now). most likely to be renal failure according to the symptoms. didn't mention a tumour but thats also crossed my mind particularly with the lump.

So today she had a thorough all day examination at the vets and they have taken blood, sent droppings samples and taken x-rays. the x-ray showed she wasn't eggbound, her bones are actually in very good condition and heart and lungs are both ok.

the vet thinks the swelling under her vent is most probably oedema though it does feel more like a lump to me.

so she is back home now and i'm keeping her in a dogcrate indoors as she is losing so much fluid and is so skinny i don't want to add to her metabolic burden by putting her out in the cold. not sure if separating her from the others though will be adding to her misery so might trial her outside during the day tomorrow (was impossible today with her being at the vets). hopefully the blood test results back in next 48 hours and that will confirm the diagnosis but will continue the baytril for now until anything bacterial ruled out.

if it is renal failure there is nothing they can do but it will be hard putting her to sleep while she still seems quite well in herself but don't want to wait until she gets really uncomfortable.

the vet also said that despite obviously being well looked after now, the long term effects on the body of being in an intensive environment such as a battery farm are just not well known and it is very likely that the bad start in life will go on to cause long term conditions. I knew when I took ex-batts on that managing their health wasn't going to be easy but its sad when you get so attached and now I am likely to have lost half of my original four before i've even had them for a year

[The Dogmother]

Oh dear Emma, I'm afraid that it might not be good news, but you sound pragmatic about it all. As with any rescue critters, you inherit an unknown quantity to a certain extent.

 

In the meantime, you are giving her the best care ever and making sure that she is comfortable, so don't worry too much. The main thing is knowing when to take her to the vet to be PTS, which is hard

 

My thoughts are with you.

[emmaw298]

well, the results are back and there are high levels of uric acid in her blood indicating renal failure which unfortunately there is no treatment for

the vet said just to keep doing what we are doing and when the time has come, then to take her back to be put to sleep (or do it myself she said which I absolutely couldn't do!)

feel really sad looking at her all skinny and scruffy (she's just having a massive moult) but she's still quite feisty for now and eating well. Guess it will become apparent when she's had enough.

thanks for your messages - i'm off to get some weetabix and brown sugar as suggested in another post

[sandyhas3chucks]

you might like to try this stuff from something I posted before.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=36029

good luck, we can only do as best we can.

[dancing cloud]

Sad news indeed . Lots of ((hugs)) to you and yours.

 

I'm with you in encouraging her to enjoy what quality time she has, and I'm sure Gertrude will totally enjoy the weetabix and brown sugar.

[Egluntyne]

Poor girl.

[emmaw298]

thanks all - will have a look this weekend for that paste sandyhas3chucks, thanks for the tip.

just brought her in for the night and noticed her vent is now so small and looks really tight and obviously sore to touch - have noticed it shrinking gradually over the last week though thought i might be imaging it and the vet didnt seem too concerned by it but it now looks more like a cats bum than a chickens! (sorry to be so graphic, think i have become a bit obsessed with checking my chickens behinds since peggy got pecked!)

do you think this could be oedema? is this a normal symptom of renal failure?

still think she could have a tumour around that area and might get a PM done to put mind at rest.

[sandyhas3chucks]

sorry, got no idea, hope someone comes along soon. tho wouldn't odema make her puffy with water retension. can she pooh ok?

[emmaw298]

the last few days she's just had fluid constantly pouring out of her (no formed poos for over a week now) but so far this evening since she has been brought inside there is nothing - makes me worried that now nothing can get out!

she is still eating and drinking though and scatching around - most puzzling...

[sandyhas3chucks]

oh dear I suppose all you can do is watch her, love her, let her enjoy the here & now, try & enjoy her yourself. and wait and see.

Can't offervany thoughts on it though, could be the liquid has passed through & it is just settling, but am only guessing. If she is happy, try not to worry.

someone knowledgable will come in soon I expect.

Take care. thinking off you. Sandy x

[mostin]

So sorry to hear about her, I'm sure you will keep her comfortable.

[chelsea]

she must be feeling ok if she is eating and drinking....but its very strange as where is the poo going??

 

Sounds like you are doing everything you can for her bless her, you will know yourself when the time comes for her to eventually go. I have an old gal who is prone to be poorly (sterile peronitis) and we will know when its time .

 

keep us posted .....