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Let my ex-batt die in peace?

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Sage is not looking well at all today, but can't find anything wrong with her (crop ok) and she doesn't appear to be suffering. She is sitting in the sun mostly with her eyes closed; have seen her drink, but not eat, though she was eating yesterday. Over last few wekks her comb has got paler and there's not much weight to her (have wormed reg with flubenvet).

 

She just looks old to me, rather than with an illness that can be treated. She had sour crop last year and has never gone back to laying, but has seemed happy enough, though slipping down the pecking order from being head girl. I've had her over a year, she laid like a trooper until last summer and to me she just looks like she's had enough.

 

Question is, should I take her to vet to be pts, or leave her to pass more peacefully? The others are leaving her be. If she was suffering would take her immediatly, but truly don't think she is. What do you think?

 

Thanks.

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If it was mine I would let her pass in her own wee home, if she is not in pain it will be distressing for her to go the vet, it is heartbreaking but you have given her a lovely life, they are just the work horses of chickens and they wear out quicker than the pure breeds, focus on the freedom you gave her and that she got to live much longer and enjoy herself more that she would have

 

Others will come along with good advice

 

Big hugs to you and Sage

 

Jackie

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I'm with "E" here. I would take her to the vet.I know someone had an ex bat 4 years!

She will look like shes had enough if she is ill, but what if she has something treatable.

Some do pop their clogs on their own.

Sadly it can take a long time and not be pleasant to watch as well!

I often read how stressful it is to take them to the vets.

but honestly it isn't.

Loads of us take many to vets, have a look on the ex bats forum,many come out chatter to the vet have a pootle around and a poo :)

I NEEDED to take one for a check up today, took 2 others as I was going, onehad some of her cross beak trimmed(I am too whoosie) the other needed to be seen to get more anti inflamitory (a legal requiement as not been seen in 9 months)

40 min drive there and back, ha;lf hour with Vet.

they take it in their stride, honestly.

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She doesn't want to come out of the nesting box this morning, so have tried to get vets appt (have taken her to vets before, it's not that I don't want to, just she looked peaceful yesterday and it seems more natural somehow), but of course both avian vets are away until Monday. :(

 

I know the normal vet can put her to sleep, but realistically they won't treat her as I know from previous trips there that they have limited knowledge - and tbh even the avian vets are fairly ignorant, when I first got the girls and they went off laying as it was December and light levels drastically reduced from the factory farm, the vet thought they would all die due to being eggbound rather than it being a natural reaction to life outside! (They are the recommended vets btw, no others near on the list, and they are very good with my cats!!)

 

Have made appt for this afternoon, and left her in the nesting box where she is cosied up, seemed a bit indignant when I stroked her. It's not cold here this morning, so was planning to leave her there for now. She didnt want any food/drink. Anything else I should be doing?

 

Thanks again.

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I've had that dilemma before now and i ended up taking her to the vet to be PTS. She was old and her body was shutting down bit by bit but it was too painful to watch as her eyes wouldn't open in the end and she looked distressed.

 

I wouldn't leave it if i were you, let her go while she doesn't seem to be suffering because if you leave it then i think whe will start to suffer.

 

xxxx

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As I said in earlier post today, she does have appt this afternoon, don't think will get her in earlier anywhere else. She's drunk a little, but not interested in food and doesn't want to leave nesting box. She's not hunched and miserable looking like she was last summer when she was ill, just cosied up and very tired looking. I don't think that she is suffering much - but it is very difficult to tell with a chicken I know. She's not old in chicken terms, but she does look worn out.

 

Thanks for input, will keep you posted.

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The vet put her to sleep, he could feel a growth in her abdomen, nothing he could do.

 

I don't feel very happy that I took her, but equally felt bad not taking her. It took the vet two goes at injecting her, he had to pluck some feathers from her wing, plus the journey made her almost collapse, so she looked half dead by then, whereas she looked a lot better at home. I didn't want her to suffer and both options seemed unsatisfactory.

 

At least she isn't in any pain now.

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poor you, it was the best thing. :( just one of those things, she MAY have gone down rapidly at home and you would have felt bad too.

I really do feel you made the right decision, and know it is REALLY Really sad and horrible.

I am sure she enjoyed her time of freedom and being loved and cared for, with you.

Happy forever freeranging little on.e x

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my vet always puts them under with some gas before they inject them so they have no idea what's happening. It's traumatic to watch (I always ask to be with them) but I do believe it's kinder than letting them linger when you know it's the end. I think you did the kindest thing for her.

 

Sorry she's gone xxxx

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