6 Year Old Hen with Ascites and Winter?

[TwinsLoveChicks]

I have a 6 year old RIR hen who has had Ascites for about 2.5-3 years now. I have never drained her. She had finished laying about the same time the Ascites started, which is why I think she has lived so long. She is still the top hen on the pecking order, but recently I've noticed that her ascites has turned hard. I feel like I've read somewhere that that usually means that they don't have a lot of time left, and I would like to make her as comfortable as possible this winter. She has also gotten a little skinnier and winter is always the hardest season for her. What do you think I can do to make her as comfortable as possible? I have one 2 year old rooster who leaves her and the older girls alone, and we get very mild winters (It very, very, very rarely snows here.)
I will not be putting her down.
Feel free to ask any questions!
Thanks!

 

[texsuze]

I had a BA hen who was 5 when ascites was diagnosed. Since it was a first time occurrence, IIRC, vet gave her a Baytril injection, which helped her condition then.

With my older girls (I have a 7 y.o. BA), I fluff some hay on the poop boards (if you have them), in case they prefer to lay down rather than roost on a perch at night. One of my girls did this. Also, perhaps lower a section of the roost or at least re-work your coop accessories so there is less jumping required, and definitely soft landing places everywhere. Ramps with gradual inclines and wide perches/resting spaces can help. Nice thing with these older girls, they don't have to worry about constantly reminding who is Boss Hen.