Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Henergy]

Got home from work just now & have a hunched chicken. Not walking very well & abdomen looks very puffed out. Feathers all wet looking on tail. How do I know if egg bound ? I don't think she's one of my laying hens anyway as she is quite old (3 years plus) - advice needed

Edited September 1, 2014 by Guest

[mollyripkim]

Sorry didn't want to just read and run, sounds like peritonitis. I lost an older girl to this, she sort of waddled, the vet said she could drain it but it can come back. Hopefully some one with more experience will be along soon.

[Henergy]

thank you - I'm just looking online & thinking same thing. It'll be dark in an hour so wondering what to do with her. I've just hand fed her some tomato & water. But all vets closed & I can't afford an emergency surgery for her. So I want to make her comfortable.

[mollyripkim]

I think they drain it out with a needle but depends whether it's infected or not. I have a very good chicken vet who has chickens herself and she recommended not to drain as it comes back and it didn't want to put her through that. I guess she is quite poorly if she is not taking food very well. If she is happy tonight with her friends then I would be inclined to leave her. Do you have any nutridrops, they won't help her condition but might make her feel better.

[Henergy]

I've put her into a spare nesting box I had - but wondering now if I should just leave her in the cube with her friends ?

[mollyripkim]

How is she this morning?

[Henergy]

She still hanging in there - we have vet booked this afternoon but I'm not hopeful x

[mullethunter]

Let us know how she gets on. Fingers are crossed

[Henergy]

Just got back - vet said she was very thin & had probably been ill a while. Either egg peritonitis or oviduct tumor common in older layers who have stopped laying. Anyway we both agreed it would be kinder to put to sleep. Sad but relieved that she is not in pain

[mullethunter]

Sad to hear but you've definitely got the right attitude. Who was it?

[mollyripkim]

Oh I am really sorry to hear that but think you did the right thing by her. xx

[LunaKiw1]

Big hugs. You did the right thing and sounds as if she was not well for a while before it showed as chooks are sneaky in keeping illness hidden (which of course can make you feel guilty but you shouldn't!)

[Bramble]

That's very sad to hear, but you did absolutely the best you could for her, peritonitis is pretty horrible thing for them to get, and from what I gather it rarely has a happy outcome.

Sleep tight little chuck x

[Egluntyne]

You have done the sensible thing. Never easy though.

[Luvachicken]

You did your very best for her.

Sending you a hug xxx

[Purplemaniacs]

Sorry to hear that. You did the best you could for her.

 

Chrissie