Help vets offices closed

[Eggcessive]

Here is the article about giving fluids with a syringe.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/
Tube feeding is also good to learn. I will check back in the morning.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's extremely weak and feathers are pasted onto her--not due to the heat. She uses every bit of strength to keep beak closed. I keep thinking she's dead as that's how she looks.

I'm sorry she's in decline.

It sounds like she may be on her way out. If she's really clamped down and refuses to open the beak. Let her rest. Sometimes that all you can do.

 

[SnackMeat]

I'm really sorry to say this but I think it's time to humanely cull. When they barely know you're there, especially with all the weight loss and linear progression of getting worse, it's likely time to cull.

Having experienced this with other animals, it's less likely you'll regret culling early (not that I think this is early) but you will regret waiting too long.

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @SnackMeat @FrostRanger You are all so very kind, it warms my heart. Believe it or not, this bird is still alive. She looked a little more alert this morning, turning her head and opening eyes when I entered the room. I somehow was able to get 4 syringes of water/electrolyte into her--that's 12 ml--that's 2 tsp! But then she completely balked and I had to stop.

I guess she's still perched between life and death, still can't or won't drink on her own. The main trouble is getting that beak to open @Eggcessive. I don't know what tube feeding is but will look that up. I actually called that vet again last night and he did not sound happy to hear from me and refused to try to IV fluids as he did not know how. So @Wyorp Rock I decided to just let her go, can't force it into her if she's completely refusing, and thought either she'll rest or die overnight. So I was completely shocked she was still breathing this morning.

@SnackMeat I have been trying to figure out the most humane thing to do. I probably should cull her now, as you suggested. Dying of thirst/starvation seems like a terrible way to go. My two concerns with this are: 1) What if she could somehow rally? and 2) (maybe this is the main concern) I don't think I can do it. I had to cull a rooster when I first got birds a few yrs ago and watched an internet video on how to humanely break their neck, but couldn't do it. A handyman did it for me, but even he was unsuccessful based upon the video and had to finish him off with an axe. I'm really a wimp, feel for these birds too much, and this wrecks my soul.

I will do whatever I must do in order to be humane and help this poor hen. If you have an effective quick way or can provide a video I will try to cull her. I have neighbors who hunt and i think the husband could cull her but they have company so not sure about the timing.

But in the meantime, she actually got a little water down and I still wish I could help her.

Really I'll do whatever the consensus is here, within my abilities. I'm really out of my depth in terms of knowledge, skills and probably emotional toughness. I will cull her if I have to, but will also do tube feeding if I can figure it out and get the supplies on a Sunday. I am also willing to just let her die on her own, but that might be cruel.

Any thoughts or advice are helpful. I know it's my decision in the end. Thanks again for all your help.

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

@Eggcessive I thought this video on tube feeding was good:

, but it's just me here alone and looks very dangerous if done incorrectly. I'm just barely getting the water in the beak technique down and that's only when I can somehow get that beak open. But I will do this if it seems the best route. I don't know where to get the narrow tubing piece or the large syringe, again since it's Sunday that might be tricky. I live in a small town. But that vet office/clinic might be open and might have the supplies.

She last ate I believe early Friday morning. I just now managed to get about a pea sized amt of torpedo food down her and another syringe of water. But when I tried a second piece of food it did not go down and she just spit it out. I tried again and she held it in her mouth but wldn't swallow. I tried water again and was mostly unsuccessful. So this morning she's had around 15 ml water and one little piece of food. It occurs to me I could put some sugar in the water as well (I don't have honey) just to boost her blood glucose a little. Might help her brain to function a little better...She turns her back on me and puts as much of her body as she can in the corner, trying to get away. Poor sweet bird.

I believe her crop is empty. She still makes that undulating motion as if uncomfortable in that region, but I think I'm seeing that less than yesterday. She still mostly lies w/eyes closed. She does stand a bit to get away from me and is still off balance. I think she might be a tad more aware.

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

Poop update: I went in to check on her and she had done this very watery poo, black and white:

 

[Eggcessive]

Sometimes it takes us time to accept that they are not going to get better. Many say here that if they had known what was going on before they did a necropsy to see what was gojng on, they would have culled earlier. Do you have any Poultry NutriDrench or chicken vitamins and electrolytes? Those would be good and have some glucose and salt. Her droppings are runny because she is not eating. I would let her rest plenty. If you want to tube feed or have the set ready for another sick hen in the future, here is some info on that. You can get tube feeding supplies from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Abustle-pig-...words=lamb+feeding+tube&qid=1751807243&sr=8-9

Here is what most feed their birds when tube feeding:
https://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Exact...-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

I've never experienced yet having to cull a chicken, but I wanted share my experience with cats. We've had cats that should have been put down way before they were. The worse was when my husband and I were very young our first kitty went into organ failure. I was convinced in my mind if we just kept doing stuff for her she would get better...the poor thing suffered for over a month. I now know it was wrong to keep her going for my feelings. Then a few months ago our kitty squishy went down hill fast. We decided to let him spend the night in the bathroom and give him water (force fed) and then my husband works nights, and so we decided to wait until he got up before deciding any further...that was a looong day. I cried and cried over the kitty hoping he would pass on his own. When my husband woke up he saw how bad he was..it should have been done ealier Sadly that is how life goes sometimes. God has given us dominion over the animals, and at least for me I feel like we put our own feelings on keeping the animals for us when the quality of life is already gone, and there is no getting better.

Personally I would cull her. You have tried so hard, but sometimes enough is enough. I'd say your friend/neighbor would probably help you out. I'm so sorry


LORD JESUS is KING of kings and LORD of lords!

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

@Eggcessive @WhatsUpDuck I know you are right. If I were reading this post I would be thinking it's time to cull. @Eggcessive I don't have nutridrench but could go out and try to find some at the farm store. I have been giving her water + electrolytes and vitamins--that's the fluid she's been getting. I could add sugar to it, as I mentioned, but I'm skeptical whether anything will help at this point. She's just exhausted and mostly lying with head and beak resting on towel. I checked on her just now and eyes were open. I had been a tiny bit heartened in getting more liquid into her, but perhaps it's time to just stop.

The culling yt video showed a person holding chicken, stretching neck out and I believe rapidly pulling up on neck--quick motion. The video makes it look like he's pulling neck down, but twice he said to do it UP. I guess I'll take her outside in the run and do it there...God help me i don't think I'll ever sleep again after doing this. This is so very troubling. I'm tempted to wait and still try to treat her, but my logic tells me that's probably not right. I honestly don't know that I can do this.

He demonstrates two methods for cervical dislocation--one holding chicken and one putting chicken on ground and using broomstick, pulling up on legs. Not sure which to do or whether I'm capable of doing either. I'm waiting till the other birds go off free ranging and also till it gets a little later so maybe I can call my neighbor and ask his help.

Thanks everyone for all your help and support. I feel sick inside and don't think I'll be getting more chickens after this.

 

[FrostRanger]

If it makes it easier consider what might be causing the issue. Production breeds are more prone to reproductive issues including cancer and those don't tend to be treatable. Not saying that's necessarily what's going on (only a necropsy would be able to tell you what's going on) but given how things have been progressing I do think it's likely something along those lines is the issue

An easier method to consider would be the broomstick method. It's simple and kills quickly and reliably. Of course ask your neighbor first if you would rather not cull yourself or many vets will put down a bird for you even if they don't normally see chickens. Here's a video of the broomstick method if you want to try it

Whatever you decide though, good luck