First-time Broody is Sick

[BigMoma3]

I have a first time broody rhode island red hen that started sitting on the nest 2 days ago. She was pre-broody for 2 months before she decided to stay on the eggs. The problem is she is wheezing terribly and has been for a couple weeks. I've lost 4 hens since May and had all 4 necropsied. The results showed my rhode island reds are suffering from internal laying and two had egg yolk peritonitis. No respiratory illnesses. I read in some other forums that fluid build up from internal laying can leak into the lungs and cause wheezing, and I believe that is what she is suffering from, as well as 1 other rhode island red.

They are 2 and a half years old and I was getting ready to put her and my other wheezing hen down this coming weekend until she decided to sit. Now I'm thinking I want her to be able to hatch them and give her some pleasure before she dies. I can live with it if she passes before they hatch, but my fear is her hatching them and then not making it much longer to caee for the chicks. My 5 RIR don't always get along with my 4 1 year old black australorps. And the rooster only likes the blacks and is not fond of the reds. I'm afraid of what would happen to chicks. I know they quit laying while broody so I'm hoping that will give her time to absorb some of the fluid. Any thoughts? Should I let her try to hatch them or should I go ahead and break her broodiness?

 

[CCUK]

I would forget about letting her sit on eggs. Can you take her to a vet for a proper examination? It may be she has something you can treat but if you leave her sitting chances are her condition will deteriorate and you will definately lose her. @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive may have better advice.

 

[BigMoma3]

I would forget about letting her sit on eggs. Can you take her to a vet for a proper examination? It may be she has something you can treat but if you leave her sitting chances are her condition will deteriorate and you will definately lose her. @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive may have better advice.

Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately I have probably spent 2 mortgage payments on vet visits, fecal tests, and shipping costs/disposal fees for all the necropsies when I was trying to figure out what was happening to my chickens. So vet visits are not an option for now. I know they are still having laying problems though because I'm still getting 1-2 soft shelled, yolk only, or just deformed eggs a day

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The problem is she is wheezing terribly and has been for a couple weeks. I've lost 4 hens since May and had all 4 necropsied. The results showed my rhode island reds are suffering from internal laying and two had egg yolk peritonitis. No respiratory illnesses. I read in some other forums that fluid build up from internal laying can leak into the lungs and cause wheezing, and I believe that is what she is suffering from, as well as 1 other rhode island red.

They are 2 and a half years old and I was getting ready to put her and my other wheezing hen down this coming weekend until she decided to sit. Now I'm thinking I want her to be able to hatch them and give her some pleasure before she dies. I can live with it if she passes before they hatch, but my fear is her hatching them and then not making it much longer to caee for the chicks.

If you were planning on culling her and the other one then that's what I would do.
It sounds like she's in bad shape to begin with. She will be sitting for 21 days wheezing terribly and suffering, not having pleasure. Don't mean to sound harsh there.
I would still send her off for necropsy as well, hopefully the lab will be able to give you some answers.

 

[casportpony]

If you were planning on culling her and the other one then that's what I would do.
It sounds like she's in bad shape to begin with. She will be sitting for 21 days wheezing terribly and suffering, not having pleasure. Don't mean to sound harsh there.
I would still send her off for necropsy as well, hopefully the lab will be able to give you some answers.

I agree.

 

[BigMoma3]

it's so sad. I was looking foward to trying. I suppose it is for the best though. I love my chickens SO much but had no idea three years ago when we decided to start raising them how much heartache they could bring.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

it's so sad. I was looking foward to trying. I suppose it is for the best though. I love my chickens SO much but had no idea three years ago when we decided to start raising them how much heartache they could bring.

I'm so sorry!

 

[Eggcessive]

If you were planning on culling her and the other one then that's what I would do.
It sounds like she's in bad shape to begin with. She will be sitting for 21 days wheezing terribly and suffering, not having pleasure. Don't mean to sound harsh there.
I would still send her off for necropsy as well, hopefully the lab will be able to give you some answers.

I agree.

Me too. Broodies get very weak and starve themselves. If she needs to be put out of her misery, then I would do it soon.

 

[CCUK]

it's so sad. I was looking foward to trying. I suppose it is for the best though. I love my chickens SO much but had no idea three years ago when we decided to start raising them how much heartache they could bring.

Sorry your going through this. I know how much vet bills can add up to. Have you got an incubator that you could incubate the eggs? Or you could get some hardier breeds as chicks. Marans are great layers and can be very friendly.

 

[BigMoma3]

Sorry your going through this. I know how much vet bills can add up to. Have you got an incubator that you could incubate the eggs? Or you could get some hardier breeds as chicks. Marans are great layers and can be very friendly.

I don't have an incubator and not sure I am willing to attempt that right now. I belive I will simply go with another breed when we get more chicks. I love my Rhode Island Reds and they are super sociable and loving, but it's so hard watching them suffer through this and they are proned to laying issues. I don't know anything about marans but they seem like they might be a good fit. Thank you for the suggestion.