What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Trougher]

One of my ex-batts (I've had mine for just over 18 months now) has been rather lethargic for a couple of days, doesn't seem to be eating much, but is drinking a lot. She seems to be puffed up all the time, and when in the run spends most of her time in the henhouse. I've just let them out for their morning free range, she came out ok, but just mooches around, pecks a bit but doesn't scratch or seem to eat anything, but went to the bird bath and had some more drink.

 

I suspect I am not going to have her for much longer, but I am wondering if I should take her to the vet. I'm worried that the vet will just say she has to be put down, and I would rather she just died peacefully in her own home, so to speak, but would that be cruel?

 

Any advice or opinions please?

Edited April 30, 2012 by Guest

[jackian]

I am sorry to hear about your lovely girl but it is a hard decision.

I had to have my lovely Eva PTS yesterday and it was so sad but the vet was great and took her away to do it.We had only had Eva for 3 months but she broke her leg and cut it and she was was in pain and not able to walk I did not want her to suffer.

The vet said that she maybe could have sorted it but it would have meant weeks if not months of treatment and no eating of her eggs for 2 months also a big vets bill..The sad thing was that I was not rich enough to say "Damn the exspense do your best"

I think that her not suffering is the most impornent thing.If she does not seem in pain see what happens.

[Tweety]

I am in a similar position. One of my ex batts, who I have had for 16 months, looks as if she is slowly winding down and I change my mind every day about having her PTS.

 

There are no signs that she is ill or suffering - and she is still eating and drinking and wandering around with the other hens, but just doing it all more slowly. She is not at all hunched today, though she was yesterday and I was ready to take her to the vet this morning.

 

I have decided to play it by ear, and when she goes downhill from her present state I will have her PTS. I know it is only a matter of time

[loumabel]

so sorry to hear about your little girl. If she is drinking lots this can be a sign that she has an infection, I would take her to the vets and see what they say, a course of antibiotics may sort her out and should not be too expensive. Good luck

[Trougher]

Thanks all for your words. I have decided to take Cleo to the vets tonight and see what they say. She has no food in her crop, and is still hunched over, although she is wandering round the garden. I've tried to do a bit of research on my computer at work and it seems that if she is drinking a lot and not eating the outlook is not good. However, if the vet thinks antibiotics might help I am willing to try.

 

Will post the outcome.

[counturchickens]

Do let us know. It is hard to decide when it gets like this. We have lost 2 (we have all ex batts) so far, one to peritonitis who was pts and another who died in her sleep after a very short illness. 2 of the 3 we rescued last year are slowing down, and I don't think they will be with us much longer. I sometimes think about getting pure breeds so not necessarily having the grief so often, but they are such characters plus we get plenty of eggs from 3 of the 6 girls we have.

[cavysqueak]

One of our ex-batt hens was only 'free' for two months when a similar thing happened but with a dark purpley red comb as well. The vet said that the comb was an indicator of circulatory issues and the constant drinking, but not eating was an indicator of kidney failure. Sorry, but you may not have her company much longer.

 

I hope you find a better reason for your lady's lethargy. XxX

[Trougher]

Well, Cleo went to the vet last night, and after a long discussion with a very sympathetic vet (chicken owner herself) we decided to try Cleo with some antibiotics and see what happens. She had her first dose last night.

 

I know antibiotics can't work that quickly, and its probably a coincidence, but this morning she seems much brighter and actually tucked into a nice mash with peas and sweetcorn that I made. Its probably only a temporary reprieve but I'm glad I didn't have her put to sleep.

 

Thanks again for all the kind words.

[LottyJ1]

Sorry to hear about your ex-batt.

 

If you have had them for 18 months then for ex-batts that not too bad. I have re-homed five over the last 2.5 years and lost three for various reasons. The first was just 6 months after freedom and she was lethargic, not eating and very weak. I took her to the vet and she was PTS as she was too weak. I think she had sour crop. The second we lost from the second batch of ex-batts only 2 months after freedom to what I think was peritonitis/egg bound. I tried everything at home (olive oil, warm bath, keeping her in and warm by the radiator) then took her to the vet who could not feel anything gave her antibiotics but she died at home a few days later. She was puffed up, lethargic, not laying, not really eating. The last one we lost recently was one from the first lot so she had been free for 2.5 years when she just gave up really. She suddenly just went to sleep under a tree and wouldn't move so I had her in the house with me over night and in the morning she was gone. She had always drunk a lot but was ok apart from that. I think with ex-batts is that they are bred for massive egg production in the first year and this causes problems later on. Sometimes they won’t last long at all and sometimes ages. I still have one from the first lot who will have been free for 3 years this September making her 4.5 years old.

 

Sometimes they will go quickly so if you separate them from the others it will happen overnight and other times it will take longer and then I will always take them to the vet. I hope your vet can prescribe something to help.

[gongladosh]

is her stomach swollen? (if so, could be sterile peritonitis - they drink lots when they have that)

[sandyhas3chucks]

the best success for keeping them alive is getting the right diagnosis and the right treatment. there is a lot of advice on the little hen rescue web site .

For EYP a lot of success with large doses of Noroclav ..

Early intervention also helps enormously.

 

There are also a few forums dedicated to ex bats where there are lots of experience in dealing with their problems.

Not suggesting for one second that folks here don't know, but I personally flip across all the forums, as you never know where that special piece of advice will pop from.