Solitary chicken - need advice

[staceychristie]

Violet (2 year 6mth) ex Batt has been poorly for a while. She's seen the vet, and had a course of Baytril.

she's very sleepy, and waddles when she walks, and props herself up in the catbox where she sleeps away from the others.

I suspect Peritonitis, as she's a fluidy bum. She's not laid for 9months. We've been feeding her by syringe liquid batt-pellets , BoostX herbal supplement , and water too.

The two vets we use (they are both avian) say there's nothing else they can do, but she's still hanging on in there.

I think she needs the liquid draining off, but I know that's risky.

As she's still breathing well, and her heart is thumping so strongly, at what point would you consider PTS?

I don't want to do the PTS, as she's been fighting for over a week, and she doesn't want to quit.

Always said we'd do what was right for the hennies, but find it hard to give up on her, as she's not given up on us.

 

Any ideas what else we can do?

 

 

StaceyTheHen

[Beantree]

Peritonitis can be treated by an abdominal drain and a hormone implant to stop them laying. This may need repeating and in all is a very expensive process indeed. If have read posts on other forums describing successful treatment in this manner but, unless she is a very special pet, I think the stress on her isn't in her best interests. Obviously they never lay again.

[Patricia W]

The difficulty with chickens is that they don't admit to pain because it makes them vulnerable. Personally, I would have her pts if she doesn't seem to be enjoying life. I'm not sure you're doing her a favour by keeping her going.

[Egluntyne]

Me too. It never ends well in my experience.

[Dolly]

Sadly this condition makes them very uncomfortable and miserable and in my experience doesn't end well. I've had a couple of hens with this now and the kindest thing was to have them put to sleep. I know some people try draining the fluid at the vets but I wouldn't put my girls through this. By the time they start to look poorly, they really are poorly

[The Dogmother]

Agreed; it's a bit of a one-way street TBH; I usually let them bother along until it starts to compromise their enjoyment of life, then cull them.

 

Sorry

[staceychristie]

Well today she's started to feed by herself. We started using pipet to feed her, but now she's getting piggy, and sticking her beak in the bowl. We tried her with lots of things, and she likes hen food in a mush of water, and spaghetti. She's even started to stand up, but can't walk far as poor abdomen.

She's starting to purr again, to let us know she's happy.

Thanks for your thoughts. I'll keep you posted.

 

StaceyTheHen

[The Dogmother]

Just watch for when she starts to pant and/or her combe goes blue.

[staceychristie]

Well chatting to a few avian vets, it may be 'Water Belly' (ascites). Taking her to the vet again tomorrow. She's standing upright like a penguin. Starting to be more alert, and wants to flap everywhere. Poo still sloppy, but at least it's white and clear with no blood or yolk. Breathing is strong, and heart thumping.comb is nice and pink (getting warm now too-but still leaning over) Demolished spaghetti in a bowl, so there's still hope. She's a strong girl, and has been fighting for over a week.

 

Keep you posted.

 

StaceyTheHen

[Beantree]

We had a Cream Legbar with what I think was the condition the vets refer to. Swollen abdomen but not hot. She lost the feathers from it over time but was always happy. Didn't lay for ages. At that time I had never personally encountered peritonitis and still haven't. One morning I got to clean out the coop and under her perch was loads of soaked bedding. Took two dustpans full out. The next morning less but still another dustpan. The swollen abdomen had disappeared and she laid a week later.

[staceychristie]

Well she's been and seen the vet. He seemed to think it was Ascities ('Water Belly') and took a sample from her swollen tummy. I was amazed to see it was very clear indeed.

She's soaking wet now, and all her discharges are clear. Got to feed her 1/2 a tablet a day.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

StaceyTheHen

[Claireabella]

How is Violet doing now?

[staceychristie]

GREAT NEWS, Violet is back to her usual self. It took a few weeks, but with hard work, and loads of cuddles, she recovered and is back from the brink of death.

While she recovered and on the pills the vet gave her, she had almost liquid water poo, and walked like 'Pingu', dragging her tail feathers through it (looked like one of the supermarket floor cleaners had been around our kitchen).

Ascities (water Belly) may be something worth considering if they look like peritonitis.

 

Thanks for everyones help.

 

Stacey X