HELP aggressive chicken

[mrsatroy]

On Saturday morning much to my horror I noticed my lovely light Sussex imelda hopping around the run and not putting down her right foot. Within 2 hours I had her at the vet. The vet examined her leg and didn't think it was broken and decided that a week of rest and quiet would give it a good chance to heal. So she got a jab of painkiller and a weeks supply of antibiotics. DH sectioned off a corner of the shed and we put Imelda in with all her treats, water etc. close at hand. She has been so good - she is a hen that has always been timid but she has been so good about being handled and given her medicine and hasn't once pecked or been nasty. But she is still showing no signs of improvement and I am so worried. She just sits in the one spot and is only pecking at bits of food and has little or no interest in meal worms, yoghurt , all the usual favourites. She is my 5 year old daughters hen, named Imelda Staunton by her, and I dread what I will do if we have to put poor Imleda to sleep. I just don't know how I will explain it. At this stage I feel I am hoping for a minor miracle.

[mollyripkim]

Fingers crossed that she makes a good recovery.

[merlina]

I have a hen with lameness problems who is improving (but it's a bit up and down). I read that limestone flour (or other source of calcium) could help, so Ena is being fed treats coated in the stuff.

I also gave some probiotic and wormed (but then I worm them every time they look peaky!) - result is a hen who's still wobbly on her legs and sits more than usual, but is otherwise perky. Might be worth trying?

[mimi5]

Hi there. What a worry!! I lost my favourite chicken Mr Monty suddenly to Marek's and I was broken hearted to have to have him PTS Anyway I know how your'e feeling!

 

Have you tried the Nettex Nutridrops? They are great for boosting a poorly chooks appitite and contains vitamins too!! I have used them and found them very good with poorly chickens and always have some in the cupboard!! Also keeping them dark and warm can help especially at night when very chilly!(milder now I know, but they use up energy keeping warm!)

 

Wishing Imelda a speedy recovery! Let us know how you get on!?

[gongladosh]

Fingers crossed that she recovers. In addition to 'easy' to eat food, don't forget to give her ready access to water.

[Egghead68]

I second nutridrops. Fingers crossed for her.

[Luvachicken]

I hope Imelda is soon feeling better.

Can recommend the nutri drops although quite expensive for a tiny bottle, but certainly picks up a poorly feeling chicky.

[minieggs]

Hi,

 

I just wanted to say that exactly the same happened to my girl, Chook the other week. She wouldn't stand, looked very lethargic, especially for a very feisty top chicken. So we took her to the vets who said she had hurt her knee, as they are a weak joint in chickens. She spent about 5 days in the house, and seemed to love to poultry tonic (the same as what others have recommended but this was only a cheap one for about £4) and after a few days she really picked up. She's back outside now with the rest of the gang and back to her normal self. So have faith and keep positive, and hopefully Imelda will be we'll again soon x

[mrsatroy]

Unfortunately can only get the Poultry Tonic here in Ireland - but I got that and will give it a go. I could get the nutri drops from the UK but I fear by the time they would arrive it might be too late. Vet said if there was no improvement within the week that it would be best to PTS.

[mimi5]

Oh shame about the nutridrops But I am sure I read on here that you can mix up tonic (like life guard) and then use it to make a" pellet porridge",top it off with a few mealworms Mine just love pellet porridge!

 

Something I always remember my vet telling me is give them whatever they will eat, as it's when they stop eating (their digestion shuts down) it's end game

 

Best wishes

[mrsatroy]

Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I thought yesterday we had turned a bit of a corner - we let Imelda out for a little walk in the garden as we couldn't assess if she was improving or not. Much to our great delight she seemed to be weight bearing a litlle on the leg - still hobbling - but improved and she took off eating daisies and grass mad. But to my dismay this morning she has taken a real turn for the worst - she is just sitting in the shed - huddled down barely moving - I feel so bad no that maybe we did her more harm than good by letting her out for a short spell. She ate a little bit of cottage cheese and meal worms this morning but she looks really bad. I am heartbroken and don't know how I'll explain it to my little girl who was all delighted yesterday when Imelda seemed to be on the mend.

[jasperaliceuk]

My favourite, Mimi, had a similar episode last year and for a time I was really worried as she didn't seem to want to bear weight on one leg. I took her out of the Cube and WIR and just put her in the Go by herself, leaving her for just under a week. She was just lying down a lot of the time, but she ate, drank and little by little you could see strength come back in the leg and she is now fine. Rest may just be the answer - perhaps the temptation of getting outside for a walk and peck may have set her back.

 

Sue

[Egghead68]

I'm sorry to hear she has taken a turn for the worse. Have you got her on a painkiller such as metacam?

[merlina]

Exactly the same happened with Ena - she seemed to get better then got lame again

(touch wood) she's been better (although still clearly not 'right') for a couple of days, and is back outside after a fortnight in my bath!

Hopefully Imelda will do the same (more touching of wood)

[mrsatroy]

Poor Imelda has stopped eating and drinking and this morning when I went into her I actually thoguiht she was gone there was hardly any movement out of her. She won't even put one leg under her now. I think it is time to let her go. I've made an appointment with my vet for this afternoon to have her PTS. *heartbroken*

[Egluntyne]

You are doing the right thing.

[mrsatroy]

You are doing the right thing.

 

 

I know. The poor little girl doesn't deserve to suffer, she is such a sweet little hen.

[Luvachicken]

Sending you lots of hugs.

You did the best you could for her.

xxx

[Egghead68]

I am very sorry. It's a horrible decision to have to make. You are doing the right thing. x

[merlina]

really sorry to hear that. I was so hoping she'd be ok. sending virtual hugs xx

[Olly]

Sorry to hear it, but you've done all you could for her.

[mrsatroy]

Again thanks for all the support. When DH went to bring Imelda to the vet today she had already passed away. I will miss the sweet little girl.

[mimi5]

Sorry Imelda didn't make it But atleast she died at her home and didn't have the stress of the vets. Maybe it was just her time (hybrids don't have long lives on average) Hope your little girl can understand. Maybe she could say goodbye? When a few years back our beloved cat Shannon (she was 16 and very poorly) had to be PTS my 3 children all wanted to be there I was very surprised but I had Shannon before any of the children and they loved her dearly! We were all with her and then we brought her home a burried her in the garden, the children accepted it well.

[Cheeky Chooky]

So sorry to read this The very same thing happened to our beautiful Splash Orpington Bantam Molly Thinking of you *hug*

[clucker1]

Yes, we too have buried all of our animals in the garden, apart from our one chicken as we were running out of space. We had little ceremonies for all of them and the children wrote beautiful words about our lovely animals which were buried with their pets. Thinking of you.