Hen won't open eyes

[redhens]

Update: Took her into a local vet and he says it looks like something upper respiratory. He's going to hang onto her for a few days, rehydrate her, and give her antibiotics and eye drops. Consultation: $35, Medications & Hospital Stay: estimated $50-60. So, our $5 chicken just became a $90 chicken, but hopefully the other two will be less likely to catch it if she's not here, plus now that everybody else is back at school or work after the holiday, I won't have to figure out how to deal with a 7 week old baby and a sick chicken simultaneously.

 

[jjthink]

Glad she's being seen by a doctor given the gravity of her symptoms. Is he an avian vet? Prices are much lower than I've ever been charged - so glad such a fair-minded vet is working to help her. I hope he's able to help her. When I've seen them recover and feel joy again after being really sick, the feeling is priceless. I hope you and she have the chance to experience that feeling.
JJ

 

[redhens]

Update:

She's been diagnosed with a mycoplasma infection and is still at the vet. I just talked to the nurse and she says her eyes are still open only to slits and she's still not eating either, so they're trying to stimulate her appetite.

Anyone have any experience with this and any guess at what her chances of recovery really are?

 

[redhens]

Final update:

After consultation with the vet, we have decided to have her put down. She's been sick for 10 days and though the doctor is keeping her alive, she's not actually getting better, nor is he optimistic that she will.

 

[jjthink]

I'm so sorry to hear this. You are such a good person to have tried to help her so she could get well and enjoy life again.

JJ

 

[Suzie]

I am so sorry to hear that despite your great efforts that she cannot be saved - my heart goes out to you!

Suzie

 

[Wofford85]

You made the comment "I don't want to take a $5 chicken to the vet." Disgusting. If you don't have money to take care of your animals then you shouldn't have animals. They are life and shouldn't be treated as throw away commodities just because something is wrong with them.

 

[Nonnie195]

She never said that she did not want to. She said that she could not afford it right then. You may have plenty of money, but sometimes other things in life take precedence. Maybe her children were sick and she had to take them to the doctor, or the car broke down and she had to spend money on it. It is not fair for you to judge her. I am sure she is doing all she can to try to have healthy birds.

 

[BubblesFlockMama85]

My chicken is in a similar boat. Not so much puffed up now that she's inside. But she won't eat or drink much. One doesn't open and the other she seems to prefer to have it closed. There isn't any goop or sneezing. She seems in good spirits considering. I'm more worried about the not eating or drinking on her own. She will eat lettuce but nothing else.