We do the same thing. Hospice for chickens. Anything to soothe them & make their transition less painful and scary. It's been my honor to be with many when they went home, though some prefer to make the journey up to the gateway alone.
Such a beautiful girl!
Awww, I know that she enjoyed being able to float in the water & feel a little lighter. What a kind gift that was. She was beautiful & obviously much loved. Sorry she had to leave.
Ages ago, I had a dress with some of the most beautiful, black, iridescent feather detail on it. I've always wondered what kind of bird had such beautiful feathers. I'd guess this fella's breed. Though I'd never hurt a chicken to get a feather, I have been known to pick up a discard here or...
I think that it's just random because I had a stunningly handsome Barred Rock rooster who was extremely kind to his ladies, gave us a wide berth in daylight but would gently brush against my legs in the dark coop if the light went out before he made it to the perch. I was always able to pick...
He is very handsome! I am a great admirer of his symmetry. I know nothing about the standard for breeds, but my eye is telling me that this fella could be a chicken model!
Please tell him that I said so, too. And tell him to always be nice to the girls because no one likes a handsome...
Spying a tasty cricket, she yells over her shoulder "No, no, nothing's wrong...just stretching my legs." Realizing that some nosey sibling will probably follow her soon, she begins walking faster. (c'mon fluffy egg pants, don't fail me now!)
Assuming that the he cost of a vet is prohibitive even IF you can find one who can treat your little hen, perhaps try to give her some Pedialyte.
When they're not really eating or dy, their electrolytes can get out if whack & then their little systems just go downhill.
I'd also recommend some...
***Disclaimer: No chickens or ducks were harmed in this story.
Your saying that you want to add ducks to your flock made me remember something funny. Waaaaay back when we first got chickens, the plan was to be more self sufficient, have fresh eggs & eventually, when they stopped laying...
Oh my gosh, yes! I had to zoom in to check if I was going crazy or they were pulling a fast one!
Joke's on them x2... I'm already a bit crazy & I STILL caught them!
I don't know what it's called but if you can't find out or find another, I KNOW that I've seen similar things in the plumbing aisle of a Home Depot.
Take the piece with you & see what you can find in copper or PVC. If you know someone who welds, you might even be able to have them make you a...