Single hen

[Lizzie]

I do hope somebody can help...

It all started a couple of weeks back - Barbara the chicken wasn't well - it transpired that she had campylobacter (confirmed by tests done at vets). All the flock were treated with antibiotics and it happened that I was treating them for worms as a precaution anyway.

Pen the hen was not so well as Barbara was diagnosed so having been treated as well she was fine. However, Sunday afternoon she started getting very lathargic again, she is passing white liquid with bright green bits in it and clear liquid. She shows some interest in eating but not much. We are syringing water into her and have started giving her the antibiotics again as her poo looks the same as Barbaras was before she was treated - perhaps she didn't shake it off the first time ?

 

Or should I repeat the worming treatment ?

 

We just don't know what to do for the best - we have her indoors at the moment to keep her warm, maybe she wants to pass something, she passed some egg yolk type fluid - do you think she is trying to pass something ? What else can we do to help ?

 

She has weetabix to encourage her to eat as well as pellets, mash, grit and water.

 

Penny's face also looks like it has dandruff - its not flaky skin at all, just white dry dots. What could this be a sign of ?

 

Any advice would be gratefully received

Edited April 6, 2009 by Guest

[sandyhas3chucks]

having struggled since Feb with a sick girls and only just sent off pooh sample to see what we are dealing with and therefore only just got the right antibiotic. It might be a saving in the long run to test her pooh! apart from that keep getting fluids into her. and trying to get some food of any description in her to give her strenghth to fight whatever ails her. Also don't let her stand about in the cold using her precious energy up trying to keep warm,.

good luck

[Egluntyne]

I'd take her to the vet. It isn't a good idea to treat with an antibiotic prescribed for another animal as you might be barking up entirely the wrong tree.

[Lizzie]

Sorry, you have misunderstood with regards to the antibiotics - all of the flock had to be treated as contagious, so Pen had already had a course of treatment.

 

However, she had been indoors with us since Tuesday morning and continuously cared for. As there was no improvement, I took her to the vets vets on Wednesday. It transpires that she has Peritonitis - this has been caused by an infection in her uterus has resulted in a very nasty internal infection. The vet drained her abdomen cavity - I can't believe how much mucky fluid he got out, poor thing, but she was very calm. Sadly her outlook is bleak as this will reoccur, the only question is when.

 

We have been given three options :

a) For her to have a hysterectomy - we will not do this and it would be too much for her

b) If she recovers from this, let her enjoy her life and when it flares up again, have her put to sleep

c) Ditto b), but have her drained again and back onto antibiotics.

 

We could have her abdomen drained again but it depends how soon it flares up and how often and would this be fair to her ? She is such a lovely hen and trusts us but we would not want her to suffer.

 

Anyhow, she is back at home and so far responding very well to Baytril - this morning she has begun to eat and drink again of her own accord and tomorrow we are hoping that she will be well enough to go back with the flock tomorrow. She is chatting away and pottering around our downstairs quite happily. Its encouraging to see and I will update this post again with her progress.

 

Regards

Liz

[Guest]

chelsea has a hen with the same condition, I'll go and shout her over...

[sandyhas3chucks]

I think a couple or more have too. I also read somewhere that having them sleep on a slope helps the fluid not seettle or something. sorry that is a bit vague hopefully someone wuth a better memory for details will have also heard of it & will advise!

Is Becky Boo one?

[chelsea]

Poet alerted me to this post.

 

We have a hen Ella, who has had sterile peritionitis for 18 months or so now. She leads a relatively normal chicken life but can occasionally have episodes when she doesnt appear herself. This time of year is always the worst because it is peak laying time so therefore she has quite a lot of fluid build up. We have never had her drained (most vets are against it as usually the draining can cause interior infection and unfortunately death).

 

Although at the beginning of the year her bowel burst out through her backside (sorry to be so graphic) and the all the fluid came out so she did in effect "drain". The vet operated on her bowel and she was put on a 7 week course of Baytril and luckily she recovered fully . She went for a while without no fluid build up but now she has the fluid back again but is perky in herself. The vet told us she was relatively minor with build up compared to some hens he had seen (he said he had some ginormous hens like big footballs come in before.)

 

I really hope your girl pulls through, Baytril is good stuff (if not a tad expensive!) but if you keep her on it she should clear of any infection hopefully.

 

Sterile peritonitis doesnt always mean the end though, it can be managed - we call Ella our "special hen" as she does need a lot of attention and regular monitoring and we know exactly when she is not herself.

 

Kate (moderator) had a hen who also lived with this condition for several years also.

[Lizzie]

Thank you very much for your reply - I do hope she pulls through also, she does seem to be doing well so far.

Your post has given me some hope. Can't wait to show my hubby

 

Best wishes

Liz

[sandyhas3chucks]

my goodness Chelsea, do you ever go away?

it must be a worry that she would be poorly while you were away!.

there are a few special girls about aren't there.

wonderful to be able to give someone such positive hope!

[chelsea]

my goodness Chelsea, do you ever go away?

it must be a worry that she would be poorly while you were away!.

there are a few special girls about aren't there.

 

Yes there are some special girls Sandy . Ella is my oldest & original girl.

 

We do go away, (went to Skye last year) but my sister has strict, written instructions that she must not deviate from! (she worries herself silly when we go away). We havent been abroad since 1996 as we got a dog then and couldnt bear to put her in kennels! Off to Cornwall this year so if there is any major problem we can pop home.

 

 

How is Pen the hen today Lizzie? Hope she is improving.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Liz have pm'd you.

[Lizzie]

I am very pleased to update that Pen the Hen is responding very well (so far) to Baytril. We put her back with the other girls first thing Saturday morning and today (Sunday) she has done her first solid, normal looking poo for an age. I can't say that she is 100% but she is eating really well and certainly looking happier. Her antibiotics will finish on Saturday (04.04) so we will be watching her very carefully.

 

Many thanks again for the posts.

 

Regards

 

Liz

[chelsea]

yay solid poos are a good sign! Another week of Baytril will help no end aswell.

 

Keep us posted, really hope she makes it.

[Lizzie]

Hi

Pen is still do doing very well.

Eating and drinking very well, the happiest we have seen her in a while, I wonder how long she has truly been under the weather.

Her treatment finishes tomorrow morning so we will be keeping a very close eye on her and hope this does noit flare up again very quickly

Thanks again for your inspiration and hope.

 

Regards

Liz

[Egluntyne]

Good to hear that she is making progress.

[Lizzie]

Sadly, Pen the hen took her last dose of her antibiotic on Saturday and by time she went to bed, was showing signs of being unwell again. Yesterday, she ventured out into the garden, but we could see she was not right and her abdomen had started to swell

My husband has just taken her to the vets and he confirmed it had returned, so sadly we have had to put her to sleep.

Very sad day for us but at least she went in a nice way and did not suffer.

 

Regards

Liz

[madchickenlady]

Sorry that you lost your girl

[Chickvic]

Sorry that you lost Pen

[chelsea]

oh no, so sorry to hear this I had hopes for little Pen.

 

You did all you could. bless her. x

[sandyhas3chucks]

oh dear there do seem to be a few of us at the moment. thoughts are with you. such a sad time x

[Lizzie]

Thank you all so much for your kind words - its very much appreciated.

We buried Pen this evening, nearby to Margo who we lost suddenly after just six weeks of rescuing her.

My husband said that when he went to get Pen from the nest in their coop, all of the older hens were sitting inside with her, its as if they knew she wasn't well and were keeping her company.

Anyhow, we won't forget her and at least she has had nearly nine months of being very spoilt and pampered.

 

XX

[Lizzie]

yes for you to Sandy.

Sorry to read of your loss too.

[chelsea]

My husband said that when he went to get Pen from the nest in their coop, all of the older hens were sitting inside with her, its as if they knew she wasn't well and were keeping her company.

 

I've heard this a lot with a sick hen actually, its almost like the others know. How sweet of them. Just tugs at my heart strings *gulp*

[sandyhas3chucks]

yes both my girls best friends would go & sit with them every now & then & talk to them. so sad, the 2 left sleep in separate Wglus, hoping they will decided to sleep together, as the ex bat has never been alone & was sounding sad saying goodnight to me tonight (if you get what i mean) breaks your heart!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear your sad news .