Frankincense/essential oil expertise?

[cate1124]

1% would be absolutely safe topically on paper. Sorry, I'm not familiar with US weight and volume units, so I didn't realise exactly how much this made.
I would still say..use your nose, frankincense EO smells extremely strong. If you feel the mix still smells very strong, you might want to dilute it even more. The comb is your best option, wattles are too near her beak and nostril.

You could certainly apply some of that dilution on your wrist, but it's a love it or hate it smell .

In all honesty, while I think it may possibly soothe her, I can't really believe it will miraculously cure her. It seems more likely the hen who recovered did so by herself.

 

[cate1124]

That's what I think, too, re. her and the other hen, who may also have been much younger; I don't know the details there.

I ended up making a 1-2 percent solution (1-2 drops ECO in a teaspoon of olive oil) and rubbing some on her comb. Mostly, she again seemed upset at being handled, and disoriented when placed back in shavings. Then, preening-type gestures that didn't really connect; otherwise, pretty much stationary. Sure seems neurological, and causing her now to forget eating and drinking. I hope she goes quickly, maybe has a little stroke or something that finishes it. Today, at least, I do not see pain so much as just not being herself and knowing how to behave normally. It's hard to watch old creatures we love -- animal no less than human -- disappear.

Thanks for caring enough to write from France to offer your experience. I very much appreciate it -- and maybe I'll take your advice and daub a little of that solution on my wrist until this is over.

My very best to you and your flock.

 

[ManueB]

It's hard to watch old creatures we love -- animal no less than human -- disappear.

But it's also a blessing that she got to share such a long life with you, as hard as it may be to see her like this. All my chickens that passed have been under five (ex-battery hens with reproductive issues or predators) and I felt so bad they could not have just a few years more. It's hard to part with a pet you've known for such a long time, but death of old age is the natural end of a long path, and so many chickens do not have that privilege. I hope you can let her go without too much grief !

 

[cate1124]

But it's also a blessing that she got to share such a long life with you, as hard as it may be to see her like this. All my chickens that passed have been under five (ex-battery hens with reproductive issues or predators) and I felt so bad they could not have just a few years more. It's hard to part with a pet you've known for such a long time, but death of old age is the natural end of a long path, and so many chickens do not have that privilege. I hope you can let her go without too much grief !

You are so kind; thank you. I am trying to get my poultry vet to make a house call, as I am considering euthanasia. I've let hens die naturally and also euthanized, in recent years always at home. With Tess, I was hoping for a sudden, fatal stroke -- I've had three hens just keel over and die quickly of what I assume were cerebrovascular events -- but so far, no dice. She doesn't seem to know me anymore, and perhaps not the rest of the flock, and she had been very personable and social -- would peck on my pants leg to be picked up and held.

It's always a difficult question whether to euthanize or let die naturally; I try to determine if the hen is in pain, scared or in other distress. It's not perfect, and I admittedly lack the necessary detachment. Also the courage and confidence to do it myself.

It's wonderful you've taken in ex-batt hens and given them good quality of life for as long as they had. Old age isn't always a blessing, for humans, hens or other species; one just hopes the final decline isn't too long or too painful. Thanks again for your counsel and kindness.

 

[cate1124]

You are so kind; thank you. I am trying to get my poultry vet to make a house call, as I am considering euthanasia. I've let hens die naturally and also euthanized, in recent years always at home. With Tess, I was hoping for a sudden, fatal stroke -- I've had three hens just keel over and die quickly of what I assume were cerebrovascular events -- but so far, no dice. She doesn't seem to know me anymore, and perhaps not the rest of the flock, and she had been very personable and social -- would peck on my pants leg to be picked up and held.

It's always a difficult question whether to euthanize or let die naturally; I try to determine if the hen is in pain, scared or in other distress. It's not perfect, and I admittedly lack the necessary detachment. Also the courage and confidence to do it myself.

It's wonderful you've taken in ex-batt hens and given them good quality of life for as long as they had. Old age isn't always a blessing, for humans, hens or other species; one just hopes the final decline isn't too long or too painful. Thanks again for your counsel and kindness.

ManueB and others kind enough to respond to my query here, also the one about the hen with cognitive deficits (also Tess). My poultry vet made a house call today, examined Tess and palpated a mass on her oviduct. Neurological symptoms I was seeing could have been due to metastases that affected her brain. She died quickly and peacefully and is spending one last night in the coop with her flock before burial tomorrow.

My vet -- she treats livestock and chickens, both of which she has had and loves -- asks a couple of questions pertinent to deciding whether to euthanize: Can the animal still do the things that make its kind happy, i.e. with chickens, scratching, pecking, sunbathing, running about, eating enthusiastically, interacting with flockmates, etc. The second question: Does s/he look happy to be here?

They are good questions. The answer was "no" to both for Tess. I'll miss her terribly and never forget her, but the disorientation had to have felt stressful to her, and she has been spared the pain of advancing cancer.

 

[ManueB]

ManueB and others kind enough to respond to my query here, also the one about the hen with cognitive deficits (also Tess). My poultry vet made a house call today, examined Tess and palpated a mass on her oviduct. Neurological symptoms I was seeing could have been due to metastases that affected her brain. She died quickly and peacefully and is spending one last night in the coop with her flock before burial tomorrow.

My vet -- she treats livestock and chickens, both of which she has had and loves -- asks a couple of questions pertinent to deciding whether to euthanize: Can the animal still do the things that make its kind happy, i.e. with chickens, scratching, pecking, sunbathing, running about, eating enthusiastically, interacting with flockmates, etc. The second question: Does s/he look happy to be here?

They are good questions. The answer was "no" to both for Tess. I'll miss her terribly and never forget her, but the disorientation had to have felt stressful to her, and she has been spared the pain of advancing cancer.

She was very lucky to have a caring human like you. Dying at home, painlessly, among your people, is what anybody would wish for, and Tess had both a good long life and a smooth transition.
You'll miss her and think about her often but I hope her leaving feels right to you.

It's very helpful to have a vet that makes house calls. Our clinic is a stressful 2 hours drive away and it's always a difficult decision whether or not to bring a sick chicken, and euthanasia there would be so stressful that I would never consider it.
If I could offer to all my chickens such a passing as Tess, it would mean a lot to me. I'll remember her story and your vet's words the next time I have to take that kind of decision.