Chicken boarders

[brownandfluffy]

We are really upset and torn over what to do with our poorly hen.

 

Thelma seemed eggbound at first, but on examination and realising that she was not, we figured perhaps she had perotinitus , took her to the vet and got her on antibiotics.

 

She perked up from being a very poorly chicken, to quite quickly looking much better and with a lot more energy. She has not laid an egg for months.

 

Over the last week or so, she has quickly detiorated again. She's been to the vets, we have been giving her a cocktail of antibiotics and metacam. She's been wormed.

 

She once again is waddling, has a puffy tummy and seems to generate a lot of heat. She is quiet and reserved.

 

On the other hand, she still eats a little ( but not much ) and still slowly potters around the garden a bit. Today however, with the weather being wet and pretty miserable, she has simply been sitting around looking puffed up and fed up.

 

She has been this way before and recovered, only to slide down again. Its almost as if she had a problem with an egg internally , absorbed it and fought off the infection, only to go back where she started again as perhaps another egg developed.

 

We can't keep her on antobiotics and metacam for ever, the syringing of meds stresses her out, and we are starting to worry if we are being unkind in keeping her going.

 

Should we carry on and nurse her along or should we call it a day? I know I can't expect an answer to that question, but any experience of a similar situation would be very happily received. We are worried about our dear little brown friend as she is a real character, but we want to do the right thing.

 

Thanks !

[Budgies]

I'm so sorry to hear this, and I know the heartache of going through this situation.

 

We had a hen very similar - she suddenly stopped laying and then began to get bulbous!

 

Our vet said it was a painful condition because the fluid inside her obstructed the various 9 air sacs the chooks have around their body. When she roosted, her breathing was visible, where it never had been previously.

 

She responded well to treatment initially, but after a couple of days she was very fluid filled again, and this time we noticed the tips of her comb began to look a bit purple as she fought for air.

 

I couldn't put her through any more at that time, and heartbreaking though it was, we had our darling girl put to sleep.

 

She'd given us so much joy and pleasure that I felt I owed her something in return - she'd had a lovely life with us and I wanted to spare her any unnecessary suffering too.

 

It's a very difficult decision to make, my heart goes out to you, but personally I didn't feel there was any other option as there's no cure for peritonitis.

[kelschooks]

Hi there,

 

I feel for you. 3 or 4 weeks ago we lost one of our 4 ex-bats (Maisy) to egg yolk peritonitis. She was behaving the same way as yours and was clearly not happy. As soon as I realised she was suffering and was advised by people here on the forum of the likely cause and the fact that, although antibiotics can improve things for a while, EYP is not curable, I took Maisy to the vet and had her PTS. We didn't give her any treatment because we knew that it wouldn't cure her and just felt it was too stressful. Being an ex-bat she had her fair share of suffering before she was rescued and I couldn't let her suffer again. You will make the right decision for you and your hen but from your post it sounds as though you have already decided enough is enough. (((((Hugs)))))

 

Kelly

x

[Plum]

I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. Be brave and go with your gut feeling. You know when the time is right and everyone here will empathise with you. Hugs x

[Egluntyne]

I'm sorry to say that I have had several hens go like this.

 

It is not a condition that will improve unfortunately. Anything you do is merely palliative.

 

I now let them go after a couple of trips to the vet for drainage and antibiotics.

 

I know how you must be feeling.

[brownandfluffy]

Thanks to everyone for their kind words. It really is awful and quite surprising how these little brown creatures work their way into your lives and affections !

 

Poor little Thelma is definitely poorly and has been up and down for weeks now, so we will see how she is in the morning.

 

Our little family has reduced already, as we had to give our Rhode Island red away to a friend because she bullied the 2 pepperpots, including Thelma.

 

If we lose Thelma, we 'll be left with a single little girl all on her own !

 

We have both an eglu pod and a cube, so there is plenty of free accomodation !

 

Facing the challenge of re-integrating a new hen or two is quite daunting...

 

I hope upon hope that Thelma may have some miraculous recovery, but i fear the worst for her. Bless her.

 

Thanks again everyone.

[kelschooks]

I know it wouldn't replace Thelma but seeing as you have lots of space (even with Thelma by the sounds of it!!) could you perhaps consider taking some ex-bats? You may have seen the post about the farm in Norfolk that is closing with so many hens needing a good home. Just a thought. One little hen would be very lonely.

 

Kelly

x

[tooties]

So sorry to hear about poorly Thelma. I'm sure you will make the right decision for her when the time comes.

 

((hugs))