Hen suddenly acting lame! Seeking explanation, advice, guidance for self-treatment if possible!

[henshomestead]

I'm sorry that your pullet is not doing well and might not make it.

Your Uncle sounds like a wise and experienced keeper. Sometimes, though unfortunate, you need to consider the quality of life of the bird and end suffering.

If you lose her, sending the body for necropsy would give you a lot of information about why this bird declined. With this information, you can move forward and make any changes in flock management, treatment etc., if necessary.

You can find your Lab in this link.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

Thanks a lot for this feedback. Because of her discomfort and decline it definitely seems like the best call. We will definitely try to set up a necropsy, and we will even have the vet look over her really quick (if they are willing to) before the euthanasia to make sure they don't notice anything indicative of another problem-- doesn't hurt to see! Again, thank you! This community has been so helpful for getting feedback rather than endless google searching.

 

[henshomestead]

Final update. Hen was close to dying and in suffering so we used the co2 method to euthanize her. She was supposed to go to the vet tomorrow at the earliest but didn't want her to spend another night alone in pain and confusion. She went very peacefully. I owe it to my dad who actually did it. I went outside and the minute I stepped out, another one of the dominiques came up and started quietly bocking at me like we were having a conversation and wouldn't leave me alone! My dad and I sat on the porch to talk and she sat next to us as if also in mourning. Extremely sad to lose this hen after all the nursing and fighting and researching but I feel a million times better than I have the last few days, knowing she isn't in pain anymore. Again thank you all for the advice, hope and help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Final update. Hen was close to dying and in suffering so we used the co2 method to euthanize her. She was supposed to go to the vet tomorrow at the earliest but didn't want her to spend another night alone in pain and confusion. She went very peacefully. I owe it to my dad who actually did it. I went outside and the minute I stepped out, another one of the dominiques came up and started quietly bocking at me like we were having a conversation and wouldn't leave me alone! My dad and I sat on the porch to talk and she sat next to us as if also in mourning. Extremely sad to lose this hen after all the nursing and fighting and researching but I feel a million times better than I have the last few days, knowing she isn't in pain anymore. Again thank you all for the advice, hope and help.