loumabel Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Sometimes I find Henkeeping really hard and wonder weather I am cut out for it. One of my ex batts Daisy has been poorly since before Christmas, I have been to the vets with her 5 times now and sent samples to Retfords and she has been on various antibiotics on and off for the last 4 months but she still has not really improved,I don't want to go back to the vet again as I feel he just rolling his eyes when i walk in the door now and can see him thinking 'oh no not the mad chicken woman again'!! She seems to improve when I put her in the hospital wing and then go downhill again when I put her back with the others, she is top hen so not getting bullied. I think she has peritonitis as she has the classic john wayne walk and a heavy underneath and she spends much of the day hunched in the run but she will come out to freerange and is still eating,drinking and running for treats etc. I don't want to be cruel and make her suffer but am finding it hard to make a decision if she should be PTS, if I was reading this post from someone else I am sure I would have a clear opinion on what should happen but I am really struggling and would really like to hear what you all think. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superkitty Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Hi LouMabel, I don't have enough experience to advise you on what to do but I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you're having to deal with this. It sounds as if you are a very dedicated chicken mum and are really doing your best for her. Hopefully someone will be able to give you some sound advice. In the meantime, keep your chin up, you're doing a great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I'm sorry to hear that LouMabel. ex-batts can be a bit intensive at times and perhaps aren't the best option for new or less confident chicken keepers. Bear in mind when you go to the vet that you are paying the bills, so don't be wary if you think that your hen needs treatment. On the other hand if you think that she has peritonitis and the vet hasn't spotted it, then perhaps it's time to change your chicken vet..... Peritonitis can go on for ages with the chicken just looking unwell, but the any stress can make it seem worse. The hen will be in some discomfort as her abdomen will be really weighty and the excess fluid will be pressing on her internal organs. Eventually she will really struggle. Obviously the decision to PTS is up to you, but try to go away from them, and then go back to look at her with fresh eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Good advice from The Dogmother. The question I always ask myself when faced with a tricky situation such as the one you describe is 'am I prolonging this hen's life ... or am I prolonging her death?'. It sounds to me that you have done as much as you can for this hen, and that it might be time to let her go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Firstly, I do really feel for you. I think illness amongst the flock is by far the hardest thing to cope with, and sometimes we are all better at dealing with it than at other times. I suppose the first thing is to get a definite diagnosis, although it does sound like EP. I also wonder what the Retford's analysis showed and what the ABs were for, this might help us/you decide whether your girl can ever be properly well. Also there is her age (?), the amount you have already spent, and the fact she is an ex-batt to take into account - these factors would help me decide what to do if she was my hen. Lets assume she has EP. I've never had a hen with the type of egg peritonitis (sterile) which can be drained or at least managed for some time, perhaps with an implant. I have only experienced it when the hen has it badly and will die within a few days - they shut down everything, so its quite easy to tell. In the latter case I would always say cull/PTS quickly, the hen will not get better, she will starve or dehydrate. However, in your case, its a personal decision. If it was me I would still cull/PTS because I wouldn't use vet treatment which is not going to work in the longer term,except the implant perhaps, but then I wouldn't pay for it. I would take the decision for exactly when to do it based on a close observation - I would weigh up the percentage of time your girl is happy, scratching about etc with the amount of time she is standing about moping, its about quality of life. If she were to stop eating/drinking I would act fast. As I say, this is what I'd do - not what you should do. Good luck with whatever you decide. Cross posted with DM and Egluntyne - but posting anyway, it might help you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I agree, I rarely have a hen with peritonitis, but I do despatch them as soon as it starts to look uncomfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Hello there I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble and there's some good advice already on this thread. You are obviously very caring and want to do the best for your hens. I just wanted to add that, despite your best efforts, some ex-batts are just too weak and don't last long. It's not your fault and there's not a lot you can do. Our first poorly ex-batt was Brian back in 2007. I tried everything - back and forth to the vets, ABs, weekly injections of this, that and the other etc, etc. Everyone got stressed and Brian still died after just 7 months of freedom. I now realise that there was nothing I could have done and I should have called it sooner. It was also at that point that I realised I had to harden my heart a little if I wanted to continue rehoming ex-batts. Few hens recover from the John Wayne walk and it just gets worse as time goes on. I've lost more ex-batts to peritonitis than anything else. It's always sad and it's never easy to cull them and I wish they had longer lives. However, I reason that they've had a good life with us and we did all we could, including helping them on their way at the end. Just to add that, although there are some ex-batts who check out early, I've had many more who enjoy and year or two (or more) of freedom so it's not always doom and gloom. Take care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 Thanks so much to you all for your replies, I really do appreciate your advice. With regret I have decided that it is time for her to be PTS. I think she has more bad times than good and I am just keeping her alive because I didnt want to have another chicken PTS. Thanks again to you all, its good to know that you all understand. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I'm very sorry to hear that, but I am sure that you are doing the right thing. It doesn't sound as if she is going to get better, and I think you have done everything you could for her. She is lucky to have had such a caring person looking after her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I too have had the same problem with one of my chooks recently with a 'John Wayne' walk and heavy swollen underbelly. I took advice from someone who has kept chickens all his life. Here's what he said:- "From your description she has what is normally known as "Ducks Disease"!, it is not actually a disease but is called that because the hen stands more upright and waddles rather than walks. This is due to the swelling between her legs (Abdomen). If the abdomen is swollen, hard and solid then she has become an internal layer is as much, due to a malfunction at the ovary to the Oviduct stage, she is dropping yolks down into the abdomen which are then cooking due to the body temperature. As more yolks fall down the mass becomes greater causing the ever enlarging swelling. There is no cure for this whatsoever. If you can press your fingers into the swelling, in other words it is not rock hard, then is a build up of water in the abdomen called "Water Belly. It also comes under the same general term and both are not normally seen in first year layers, only as they become older. In both cases it would be humane to put them down. A bird with Egg Peritonitis would have no swellings, be running a very high temperature and would be dead within 24 hours from the onset." Sadly my little chook had the first condition so I took her to the vets and put her to sleep. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 Hi all,I have booked Daisy in at the vets at 6.30 and my hubby is going to take her for me so I don't do the blubbing in the vets reception again!! very embarrasing.This is the third chook in a year that I have had PTS and it doesnt get any easier. I have given her all her favourite treats and she has demolished a half an apple and some meal worms then had a nice snooze in the cat basket so hopefully it was a good final day for her. Your replies all really helped me make this decision, so thank you all for your help and advice. EGLUNTYNES words about prolonging their death not prolonging their life really struck a cord and made me realise that I was not being fair to Daisy. I really want to continue rehoming ex batts and as LYDIA said I need to harden my heart a little to cope with these situations better and also think about the positive, Daisy would have been Chicken paste or Dog food last July if I hadnt rehomed her and she has had 8 months of happiness and running free. I have four ex batts left now and 3 of them seem really healthy so fingers crossed they will keep going for a bit longer. oh almost forgot to say, CHOOKS ALOUD, Daisy has the rock hard, heavy swollen belly so I really don't think she could get better. It has got steadily worse over time. Thanks again to everyone, you are the best!!!xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 You are doing the right thing. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 So sad to hear, but you are doing the right thing for her now, just as you have always done with all the efforts you have made to improve her quality of life up to now...xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 It never gets easier, especially if you have to nurse them and get attached that way. Allowing her to go with peace is doing her the utmost favour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimmyCustard Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 You are doing the right thing, I hope I'm as brave when I have to make the same decision! Hugs. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 well, its done. My hubby took her for me and brought her home. We have wrapped her up and put her in a shoe box and popped her in the freezer until we can dig a big deep hole next to the other departed girls at the bottom of the garden. RIP my little Daisy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Sorry to hear of your loss, you have done all you could and given her a better life well done you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superkitty Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 So sorry. You definitely did all you could; she had a taste of freedom and a much better life because of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 So sorry too that you have been having a tough time but think of all the happy free time she had with you. Sending hugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Very sorry. Sweet dreams Daisy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
