Hen Losing Weight

BayBay Peepers said:

Oh gosh that was even more important than the new tube. She doesn't have pneumonia or any other infection that they can tell. They think it's just from being dehydrated and they want me to try to space out another 120 cc's for tomorrow to try to set her straight.

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The blood work on mine came back with an elevated CBC. So the vet gave me an antibiotic. About a week into the antibiotics she started to not feel well again. She was doing well then boom, on came the problems again. So I did a little test and I didn't give her meds in the am and by the afternoon she perked up, then I gave it to her at night and again in the morning and she felt terrible again. So I completely stopped them and she is back to her old self. I did start to treat for cocci again just incase, but if you do get meds, just watch out. I think my pullet is finicky, but you never know.

The more I said cc's the more I realized I mean ml but anyhow yes she wanted me to give 60 in the am and 60 in the pm to get her up to par. She seems much perkier after the fluids. And go figure she was a perfect angel there (which made it easier) but I had to chuckle since she was so wild the night before. I'm really glad I got the bigger syringe now I can get more in at a cracked instead of fighting her twice in a row. She even went as far as to clean herself today

BayBay Peepers said:

The more I said cc's the more I realized I mean ml but anyhow yes she wanted me to give 60 in the am and 60 in the pm to get her up to par. She seems much perkier after the fluids. And go figure she was a perfect angel there (which made it easier) but I had to chuckle since she was so wild the night before. I'm really glad I got the bigger syringe now I can get more in at a cracked instead of fighting her twice in a row. She even went as far as to clean herself today

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Yay. Preening is good! mL/cc basic ally the same thing. good I'm glad it's easier for you now.

The more time that goes on the more things that get added to my first aid kit. No reading prepared me for half the stuff I came across this past year and a half. Even the people I know with chickens don't put as much time into this as me and everyone it seems like they're on easy street. But it is what it is and I'm so glad you two have been able to help me this far. The vet did mention euthanasia but I told her we're not there yet. I need to know or at least get close to knowing what is the cause of this.

And I really hope things start heading in the right direction for your hen!

I hope both of you can get your hens back to leading happy lives.

-Kathy

BayBay Peepers said:

The more time that goes on the more things that get added to my first aid kit. No reading prepared me for half the stuff I came across this past year and a half. Even the people I know with chickens don't put as much time into this as me and everyone it seems like they're on easy street. But it is what it is and I'm so glad you two have been able to help me this far. The vet did mention euthanasia but I told her we're not there yet. I need to know or at least get close to knowing what is the cause of this.

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Only you know when it's time, that's for sure. My husband talked me into keeping her going the second time around. I'm glad I did, I just couldn't give up on her. It seems like we have more problems because we care about them more. I agree with you, it does seem like some people get to take a walk on easy street. This site has a ton of people that love their chickens, that's what I love about it. Yes they are just chickens, but for me it's about giving them the best life possible and the value of life itself. I think a lot of people would have let their chicken just die, probably from starving/dehydration. You have got her to improve a lot, so just keep at her and don't hive up. Hopefully the blood work comes back good. Even if it doesn't, just give her a good life. That's my motto. :yiipchick

That's a good motto. I was just surprised the vet brought euthanasia up before testing. I told her I wouldn't have bothered bringing her in if I was just going to get rid of her.
She took a full 60 ml this morning and then ate some eggs with worms. She's still preening and making a lot more happier noises. The tube they gave me was much easier to get down and she struggled less.

Isn't it amazing what fluids can do? Glad she is showing interest in food.

-Kathy

BayBay Peepers said:

That's a good motto.  I was just surprised the vet brought euthanasia up before testing.  I told her I wouldn't have bothered bringing her in if I was just going to get rid of her. 
She took a full 60 ml this morning and then ate some eggs with worms.  She's still preening and making a lot more happier noises.  The tube they gave me was much easier to get down and she struggled less.  e

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Good, that makes me happy she feels better! Sometimes I think vets don't know what to do with chickens. They simply don't know. I think they get a lot of their information from chicken owners. The vet I went to did not know what Valbazen was or even rooster booster wormer. She said Ohhhh I will have to look those up. I think a lot of is is that their hands are tied with chickens because chickens are a food animal. The antibiotics that I got for my chicken, she said they are reported to the state (CA) and there was a 6 week egg withdrawal period. I asked about droncit for tapeworms and she said yes we would give that BUT there is a legal/ethical issue since it's not approved for chickens.