Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[helen1962]

My favourite hen Hilda who I have owned since last September started laying very thin shelled eggs. I increased her calcium checked for worms but still the eggs were no better. She then started laying eggs with no shells. Now she can't lay any. She is hunched up, she won't eat, she only drinks a little. I took her to the to the vet who stated that she is vdery swollen under her belly and then gave her a calcium injection and anti-biotics. He said there was not much else he could do. I spoke to a local hen expert who advised castor oil and live yoghurt. She did perk up a bit at the end of last week but has seriously gone down again taking herself off to bed early and getting up late. She still can't lay. I have checked her vent area as did the vet but he thought the egg is very far up and simply will not come down. I don't know what to do as she is suffering greatly and I cannot stand to watch her. Has anyone had the same problem themselves. Hilda by the way is over 2 years old and is an ex-bat.

 

Thanks all

 

Helen

[Olly]

sorry to say it, but if she's an ex-batt and she's over two years old, then it may simply be that her time has come. It sounds as if she might have peritonitis, which is common in laying hens and there isn't much that can be done for them.

 

I think it's a matter for you to judge her quality of life, and decide whether she is enjoying it enough to carry on for the time being. Sorry I can't be more positive, but it sounds as if you've tried all the things you can.

[helen1962]

Hi Olly

 

What is peritonitis is it catching for the other hens? You have mne worried now. the vet did not mention that.

 

Thanks Helen

[Olly]

No it's not infectious, don't worry - I may be wrong, but it's a common problem reported by owners of hens on here particularly older ones. It's an inflammation which causes fluid to build up inside the abdomen, hens typically walk with a bit of a 'John Wayne' swagger, and although it can be drained it usually recurs. I'm no expert on hen anatomy, someone else who knows more will be along shortly I'm sure, but it's connected with the failure of their egg-laying equipment.

[helen1962]

thank you so much for that but what you describe is her. She has very runny poo that smells terrible. I wash her back end every day with warm water. I gently press her very swollen abdomen to see if I can relieve it somehow. I have used a dropper to put castor oil down her to help her and also finger fed her with probiotic yoghurt for over a week now. The vet I am afraid is not good with hens and so could only do what he could. She is thoroughly miserable and I cannot watch her suffer like this. I feel the only option now is to let her go. She is two and has laid constantly from the day I got her even through winter. I will be very upset. I did notice her comb has gone a funny blue at the tips and she is so thin. I sit her on my knee and try to make her eat something but she just isn't interested. I take it then that there is no cure for her.

 

Thanks Helen

[Plum]

I'm so sorry, it is hard to let them go She has had a time of freedom with you and has been very lucky.

[Chucky Mama]

If she is full of fluid she will feel lousy.Please do not squeeze it as it will make her feel worse and it is really not a good idea. You could ask a vet to consider popping a needle in to draw some of the fluid off which will make her feel much better. It will not be a permanent cure though, the fluid will come back in time. In terms of timescale if is difficult to estimate. You have to consider what is best for her. It is about the quality of her life, not the length. I have a hen that we drained 2 weeks ago who is looking really well (apparently normal) and on examination yesterday only has a very small amount of fluid obvious. She will not get any better with drugs, whilst the fluid is there she will feel ill.

[helen1962]

Hi All

 

I took Hilda to the vet for the final time today. I again asked the vet who did confirm egg yolk peritonitis. He told me he could give her strong antibiotics and drain the fluid but all that would do would be to delay the inevitable. She was also painfully thin and her comb was changing colour which he said was the onset of emphasema. I had a cockatiel with that once and he died too but he was about 14 years old. Anyway I let him put her down for me this morning. It was very very upsetting and I cried buckets but I do think it was the kindest thing really.

 

Ruby the other ex-bat is still doing well and the light sussex Bessie Bunter (she is so big now) and the blackrock Doris (dopey Doris she is always doing daft things) are doing well. However, even though Ruby is tiny in comparison with these two she still rules the roost and gives them the runaround if they dare to stray into her side of the run. I have had to partition it off while the new ones were still young but when I am cleaning them all out they jump over and Ruby smartly sends them back again. I do want them all together soon as these two are coming up to point of lay and Ruby, now Hilda has gone, has a henhouse big enough for six all to herself! Does anyone have a clear idea as to when it would be best just to put them all together. They only have wire netting between them now so they are more than well aware of each other. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

 

Very many thanks all for the help you gave me over my beloved Hilda.

 

Helen

[Olly]

So sorry to hear that, but you have done the best thing for her - and she had a year or more of happy life in freedom with you, that would have been denied her otherwise. It is a hard decision to make, though.

 

With regard to your other hens, I'm not sure how long you have had them side-by-side, but if they've been seeing each other on a daily basis and possibly eating e.g. corn or something similar along the shared perimeter fence, then you might find it's ok just to let them get on with it. There WILL be some pecking and squawking, that is inevitable no matter how slowly you introduce them, because they have to sort out the pecking order. You may even find that the smaller hens are taking cover behind the Eglu for example. Don't worry - as long as blood isn't being drawn, I'd be inclined to let them get on with it at this stage, and they will work out who's top hen.

[Tutti Frutti]

Oh I am so sorry But you did the kindest thing (((hugs)))

[Egluntyne]

You have done the best thing.

 

To be honest, they never really recover from this, any treatment is just palliative.

[Pipichick]

So sorry to hear about your trip to the vets today. We had to have our beloved cat Trudie put to sleep last year after a year of treatment for a liver condition. Like you said although it is a very difficult decision at the time deep down it is the kindest thing to do

[cathybc]

sorry to see your update x

[helen1962]

Thank you all for the kind words.

 

Love Helen

[midori]

I am so sorry, but you did what was best for her.

 

I am not sure if this helps, but I saw a vet progamme on the other night where a hen had egg peritonitis and the vet spayed her, which cured it and meant she could live as a pet. I'm not sure how many vets could spay a chicken though.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Very sorry to hear your sad news .

[Pikey]

Sorry ......its hard but you def did the right thing. Keep in mind that you gave her freedom and a life out of the battery.

[sewitall]

It's hard holding it all together in front of the vet particularly when vets see them as farm animals but they are so much more to us. I hope your sadness is replaced by warm memories of what a good life she was lucky to get with you - one lucky chicken amongst so many hundreds of thousands.