NannyOgg Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 (edited) When my husband went to lock the chooks in for the night at about 8pm he called me to say Ebony, our barnevelder, looked ill. She was lying at the back of the cube run, beak open wide, panting. The others were pecking her a little, more out of curiosity than anything else - they were just nipping at her. I crawled in and carried her out, she didn't even try to move away, which is not like Ebony (she's not the cuddly type!). She felt REALLY heavy (although she is heavy anyway), and suspecting impacted crop I had a feel, and her crop was large and very hard, probably about the size of a cricket ball. I syringed her some water to start with as she was gasping, and then some warmed olive oil and massaged her crop for a good while. I tried to massage it up out of her mouth, but only got a few dribbles of brownish liquid (probably the olive oil). She hasn't pooped since we've been 'nursing' her, but has tried, and just passed a small amount of white fluid, probably only about 2ml. She seems exhausted and can barely stand. I've put her in a box with some bedding and water, in the dining room for the night. I wonder if any of you lovely chicken experts can offer some advice? I am fearing the worst, and want to do all I can to help our lovely Ebony, she's such a lovely girl, and has always been my secret favourite. Thanks for reading Edited June 10, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NannyOgg Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 I am also wondering - if anybody local to Crayford has a spare eglu they would be willing to rent me while Ebony is sick, so that I can isolate her from the rest - I worry that they'll peck her to death if I have to put her in the run with the others while she is like this, but as we both work I'm really stuck! Thanks again for reading Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NannyOgg Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 I'm really worried now, as I've come across something in searching for info - Ebony's rear underside (if she were laying along my forearm, the part that would be resting on my fingers) is quite oedematous - it feels spongy/fluidy. From what I've read this could be a sign of peritonitis? This morning Ebony is still with us, but is just lying there completely lethargic. She is hot to the touch and hasn't touched the bowl of water next to her. Her beak isn't open and she's not panting today though. I stood her up in the box she's slept in, but after about 5 seconds she semi-collapsed back down and is just lying there. I'm going to syringe her some water in a minute, but just wanted to update on here quickly and make another plea for advice I really want Ebony to pull through, but my instinct tells me that's probably not likely to happen - but please somebody, tell me otherwise? At the moment I am thinking that if there is no improvement later today (which is very unlikely as "Ooops, word censored!"ody will be at home today to make sure she at least keeps well hydrated), the kindest thing may very well be to have her euthanised. Please, please, please can somebody tell me if this sounds like the kindest thing, or if it sounds like a gross overreaction and should I just wait it out and see what happens? I don't want Ebony to suffer more than she already seems to be Thanks for reading Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I'd get her to a vet. It could be that the crop hasn't emptied because something else is going on elsewhere, sending you on a wild goose chase, so to speak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 It sounds like she is really struggling. I would take her along to a vet, she is beyond home nursing. If getting her to a vet is not an option I think you should consider culling her to prevent further suffering Sorry I can't be more positive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NannyOgg Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 Thank you both. Chucky Mama you are right, she is struggling more by the minute. I have put together an emergency nursing wing, and when I moved her into it, she stood unsteadily for about 10 seconds and then semi collapsed onto her side again. I managed to syringe a fair amount of water into her, but lots of it has just dribbled back out, despite her swallowing it at the time. Her crop was much softer after last night's massaging, and she did manage a runny poo this morning, but the crop is now hard and large again. She is also hot to the touch. I am under no illusions that I am equipped to nurse her through this, and will call the vet from work when they open at 0900, and am hoping that work will let me leave for a couple of hours to take her there. I feel awful, and have had a little cry this morning, mainly because I feel so helpless to help her. Not looking forward to the children's reactions Thanks again Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 It is such a horrible situation They do cope with and hide serious illness until it is quite advanced and often beyond treatment. Don't feel bad, you are doing all you can by getting her to the vet ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NannyOgg Posted June 13, 2011 Author Share Posted June 13, 2011 Well I got through to the vet at 9.45 and they said they could see her straight away if I could get her there - my boss let me go and so I rushed home to collect her. When I got home she was laying right where I had left her. I lifted her into the box she had slept in the night before, and she didn't move at all, just tilted her head towards me. Ten minutes later we were at the vets, and when I looked in the box - Ebony had already passed away I burst into tears in the reception of the vets, and felt a bit silly but I just couldn't help it. The staff were lovely, checked with a stethoscope for heartrate, but it was obvious she had gone. I was surprised at just how upset I was, as I kind of knew she would die one way or another, but it was just so sudden. The vet staff were absolutely lovely, bearing in mind that I had never been to them before, they asked if I wanted to leave Ebony with them, and explained it would be a cremation with ashes scattered in the gardens, which I was happy with...to my eternal surprise, after checking with her manager, I was told there would be no charge Which I thought was so nice of them, as I was fully expecting a charge. Thank you to those of you who gave words of advice. The other five girls spent a couple of days looking quite disorientated, they definitely knew that something was amiss, but are a little more settled today. Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearls007 Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 You poor thing - what a horrible stressful time you've had. Sending sympathetic cyber hugs your way. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 So sorry to hear your news, but what a lovely vets practice they sound. You couldn't have done anything else for her, at least she passed away peacefully in comfort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
