Ex Battery hen poorly - raising and lowering head and off balance

[poly2005]

Please could knowledgeable forum members offer some healthcare advice for my poorly ex battery hen.

We got Betty in April 2021 and she has been healthy up until the 30th May this year when she got egg peritonitis.

We took her to the vet and she had an abdomen drain (250ml drained) and Suprelorin implant fitted (she weighed 2.2kg before the drain and 1.9kg after). She went onto anti biotics (penicillin tablets) for 5 days.

On 6th June she went back to the vet and had a further abdomen drain (125ml drained - she sighed 1.7kg after the drain) and another 5 day course of anti biotic (penicillin tablets).

Since 5th June she has been drinking a lot (which some forums suggested might be signs of an overact infection) - as at yesterday she was eating (cat food), pruning and walking - although her walking was slow and a bit wobbly.

This morning when we got her out of her coop her head was rising and falling constantly and she had little interest in water or food. I felt her crop and there is some food in it (which surprised me as the last time she ate was 5.30pm yesterday evening).

At 9am today and out of desperation we gave her Baytril 10% oral suspension via beak (0.24ml based on her weight of 1.6kg and 15mg/kg) and this seems to have perked her up and she has had a little bit of food (cat food) and some water.

Are we doing the right thing (baytril to be administered twice daily for next 5 days) and is there anything more we can do. Wondering if there might be an issue with her crop.

Keen to avoid the next trip to the vets as that visit will be PTS. Thank You

 

[swamphiker]

Hi there, I'm sorry about your hen. As an ex-battery hen, I imagine she is a red sex-link or another high production breed? Unfortunately those breeds don't have long lifespans and are susceptible to reproductive issues such as cancer, especially given her age, which I imagine to be at least 4, maybe 5. More info here: https://poultrydvm.com/condition/ovarian-cancer I've lost a couple of birds to suspected reproductive cancer, though I can't be sure because I didn't send them for necropsy.

It sounds like you're doing everything you can right now. Antibiotics are a good idea just in case it is something bacterial. If she's laying, have you checked her for egg binding?

 

[poly2005]

Many thanks for your response. The vet did an ultra sound scan and couldn't see nay lumps or tumours - he also had a good feel and couldn't find anything. Betty is now stood like a penguine (she wasn't yesterday so this has come on suddenly) - she doesn't feel like she has ascites.