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[Leicester_H]

Hi

 

I've never had a hen die of old age / natural causes.

 

Dottie is an ex-bat (approx 3.5 YO) - she had a crop problem recently which was cured by giving her less food.

At the time, a vet examined her and found no problem.

 

She is a house hen, in a dog cage in the utility room. Recently, her legs have been problematic and she some times put her wing out to the ground for balance. She has been standing strangely, but we put this down to her balance problem. I know, EYP gives a wide gait, but she doesn't seem tender below - can't feel anything obvious, but not entirely sure what to feel for. Slow, but alert.

 

She's now lying down in her cage and I can see her breathing - I'm watching her via a web cam so I don't affect her behaviour.

Her eyes are open (previous hens have closed their eyes when they were in pain).

 

So is she 'just' getting (very) old - don't want to have her PTS if she's not suffering - vet is good but not specialist avian vet.

Also, don't want to stress her by putting in cat box to take to vet if not necessary.

 

but will do whats best for her - any advice please, H

[Cat tails]

With EP their tummie feels like a balloon filled with water. Squishy, bloated and hot.

[Leicester_H]

Thanks - doesn't feel like that - so useful to know.

[Lewis]

As you say, the signs are pretty non-specific but they do tend to slow down as lots of other animals do.

 

We have a 7 year old Bluebell who is still going strong, she's a bit slow and has a messy bum but other than that she gets treated the same as the rest of our flock. Peritonitis is quite obvious when their abdomen is full, they stand more upright and the abdomen is obviously full of fluid in the later stages.