Ammonia smell in coop-first time owner

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Well, it seems our hunch was right. Whent the vet rang today he reported the pm showed that koukoula had a tumour on her ovary.

 

This explains why she stopped laying in April after only 10 months and possibly why she started feather eating, despite have a well-balanced diet. Other symptoms were very watery undigested poo, plus the extremem weight loss this past fortnight. Apart from that she was bright, ate reasonable and colour & condition of her comb & wattles were good. She just wasn't behaving like top hen any more and kept trying to sleep in the nest box.

 

The good thing is that she hadn't got to the point of suffering before she was PTS, so we made the right decision.

 

Posting these details in the hope that it helps others in the future.

 

Vet said that tumours are very common, based on the reports gathered from hens being sent to slaughter for human consumption. If a hen has a genetic predispositon to cancer then nothing will prevent this.

 

RIP Koukoula.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Poor girl . As you say though, you did the right thing and she didn't suffer .

[Plum]

Lost my first with a tumour. As you say it seems to be pretty common.