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[veggiesue]

Hi,

Can anyone please help. We have an ex-battery hen, who periodically looks lethargic and sorrowful. She stands by herself. This has happened about 4 times since we have had her (1 year now) and this is the first time we have seen her comb shrink. It is still red and standing up but really shrunk.

We have been giving her some cat food and pro-biotic yoghurt to try and help boost her energy. Some of her wing feathers seem to be missing, but she is not being bullied etc.

We have 3 girls, all ex-batts, and we have not had an egg since December 2009. There is an occasional softie with no shell.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Veggiesue

[Egluntyne]

I'd give her a thorough once over as described **here**, and if nothing obvious shows up, I'd consider worming her.

[veggiesue]

Hi Egluntyne,

I have checked the link (thanks) and cannot see any apparent disorders. She seems to have gone worse and is now laying down (slumped) and appears to be breathing from her mouth. She has just done some very watery pooh. I don't know what else to do.

[GeorgieB]

Sorry to hear about your poorly ex-bat. Sounds like she may have peritonitis Has her bottom got runny yellow poo on it? We've had a few ex-bats go this way. They get the dirty bum, comb shrinks, don't move much, bum and wings down, hardly eat anything and then once they start to open their beak to breathe it's time to put them to sleep as it's not fair on the hen.

The vets are useless at treating hens generally. They will just put her on Baytril which never works with peritonitis (in our experience). They may drain her of fluid if she has filled up in her abdomen but it will just fill up again, so a waste of time, money and unnessasary stress on the hen. Ask if she can have a bit of gas to render her unconscious before the vet gives her the euthanasia injection (it's quicker and kinder to the hen). I learnt this the hard way and it was very upsetting.

 

I have heard that some people keep their hens going if it's sterile peritonitis but I think if they aren't doing anything, including eating then it's kinder to let them go.

 

Good luck,

Georgie x

[Egluntyne]

I would take her to the vets, to establish a diagnosis at least. It might be a chest infection or similar.

[veggiesue]

Thanks for the replies.

I have called a vet and have an appointment for tomorrow. She is not looking good

[veggiesue]

We took her to the vet, and the vet said she has a tumor, and we were advised to put her to sleep. The vet said he would give her some gas, so she would not be agitated, before giving her the needle.

Good bye Softie (that was her name)

Thanks for the advice etc.

Feeling a bit sad right now

[Tutti Frutti]

I'm so sorry, RIP Softie

[hippy chick]

so sorry for your poor girl. Rip Softie xx

[GeorgieB]

Sorry to hear about Softie We lost one to a tumor not long ago too which we felt really sad about, especially as she was one of our first 3. Whenever I think about her though I just try and concentrate on the fact that she had a good life with us before she went, which is more than most battery hens get. Glad to hear the vet offered gas before the injection.

 

Georgie

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it.