- Oct 26, 2007
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- 11
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I had a black australorp hen for almost 11 years. For several years, she had an increased respiratory rate.....but all else normal. Then this past year she developed a very hard area under her vent. At times she would be slow.....but all else normal. I would occasionally give her a round of Baytril (10 days), and she would perk up again. Since she was so old, I didn't aggressively go after the problem. I also considered that the "swollen" area was just old tissue that was sagging.
Then, about a month ago, I realized that that hard area was now soft. Still a bit large, but very soft. I was thinking whatever it was, had resolved.
She also has pooped very small stuff for awhile.
In the past 10 days, she really started slowing down and her comb and wattles started to get very pale. I was tempted to poke that slightly swollen/sagged area with a needle, but decided that she was so old, and I didn't want to puncture anything important.....so I didn't.
Well, I found her dead yesterday morning. I'm glad I sat with her the night before and we talked and I said my goodbyes to her.
After she was dead, I took a syringe with an 18 gauge needed and poked the soft/slightly swollen area, and I aspirated alot of thick yellow liquid.
My guess is that she was an internal layer, developed peritonitis from it, then got septic. Do you think that's a good guess?
I'm always trying to learn. Each time I would give her a round of Baytril, she would perk up for quite awhile. I'm thinking it would help a little.......but her infection was never totally cleared up. I wonder if I had drained her sooner, and put her on several consecutive doses of antibiotic, if we could have beat this this. Then again........she would have probably continued to lay internally, right?
It has been crazy cold this winter, and I had to have the heat lamps on alot. Even though she hadn't laid an egg in several years, do you think those constant lights may have forced her to make eggs?
I appreciate your input.
Then, about a month ago, I realized that that hard area was now soft. Still a bit large, but very soft. I was thinking whatever it was, had resolved.
She also has pooped very small stuff for awhile.
In the past 10 days, she really started slowing down and her comb and wattles started to get very pale. I was tempted to poke that slightly swollen/sagged area with a needle, but decided that she was so old, and I didn't want to puncture anything important.....so I didn't.
Well, I found her dead yesterday morning. I'm glad I sat with her the night before and we talked and I said my goodbyes to her.
After she was dead, I took a syringe with an 18 gauge needed and poked the soft/slightly swollen area, and I aspirated alot of thick yellow liquid.
My guess is that she was an internal layer, developed peritonitis from it, then got septic. Do you think that's a good guess?
I'm always trying to learn. Each time I would give her a round of Baytril, she would perk up for quite awhile. I'm thinking it would help a little.......but her infection was never totally cleared up. I wonder if I had drained her sooner, and put her on several consecutive doses of antibiotic, if we could have beat this this. Then again........she would have probably continued to lay internally, right?
It has been crazy cold this winter, and I had to have the heat lamps on alot. Even though she hadn't laid an egg in several years, do you think those constant lights may have forced her to make eggs?
I appreciate your input.
