Hen won't walk, already treated for scaly leg mites

[shineandrise]

EggSighted4Life... Hey, just wanted to say how much I agree with that! Such a meaningful message. MegUrk... I'm hoping you will have peace when you make your decision for your chicken. -(Virtually Hugging You.)-

 

[MegUrk]

Oh dear.. She's lovely! Her age COMPLETELY changes my thoughts and suggestions.. Marek's is NOT her issue, IMO.. and it may very well be age related... having nothing to do with disease at all.

To me those large scales on her legs and toenails don't even look like what I would expect from scaly leg mite.. none of the yellow crusty stuff coming out from under the scales, I have not yet seen it in person. To me.. it looks more like a possibility of excess keratin growth (*maybe* genetic condition more than nutritional??).. the only links I could find with information on the subject or possibilities..
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03079458908418580

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/biotin-deficiency

At some point.. I hope you can consider that.. She had a fantastic life with you and euthanasia is sometimes kinder than dying slowly. Is euthanasia something that the vet can help you with if you need to consider it? As painful as it can be to make that decision..

When she has to make effort to get every breath.. due to organ failure.. ie heart not pumping as well and liver or kidneys not filtering toxins.. which often leads to fluid build up in the lungs and other tissues.

The every breath struggle is one of my factors.. the next one would be appetite.. when they stop showing interest in food.. their body is not likely able to utilize it anymore. So instead of loosing your mind trying to fix her and stay within your financial means.. better choice would be lose you mind, enjoying the time you have left with your feathered friend.. none of us are immortal and no amount of $ can change that. It seem as though you have provided for and supported her through a good life.

At her age and with all the information I have right now.. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian or a professional.. these are just MY opinions, according to my experience and understanding..

I would be seriously shocked if she did ever walk again. I also wouldn't expect her to recover or for leg scales to change the way they look as that's a very slow process.

But if she's actively eating, able to hold her head up and interact, maybe dirt bathing still.. not sitting in feces, and YOU are able and/or willing to upkeep.. then by all means.. try to enjoy it for what it is.. knowing all of us our time is short and we will likely have to say goodbye before we are ready.

I'm a jerk for being frank and I'm sorry for that! Your gals lived a long life and that's in part due to your care. If you are going to consider still keeping chickens.. maybe you want to bring in a couple chicks before to long to winter the older lady(s). Use your best judgement and go with YOUR heart what in the interest of your ladies and your family, including yourSELF! Humane means doing what's right for YOU also. New life *helps* us a lot at my place. Get chicks, when you're ready!

I appreciate your reply very much, and you're DEFINITELY not a jerk. These are the exact thoughts we've been juggling. That's the main problem we're having, though... none of the symptoms points us directly to anything, and she doesn't seem entirely miserable, so we're really just trying to make sure she's happy and comfortable, whatever she's got going on. I was hoping maybe something like turmeric could reduce inflammation or something magical like that, just to make sure she isn't feeling terribly uncomfortable (she doesn't seem to be). We know she's elderly, but she doesn't seem to be miserable. She's alert, bright-eyed, eating well, etc.

I get the impression NONE of the local vets are willing to help us with her care.

I'll continue to feed her fruit with high moisture content (I've been giving her cantaloupe with tart cherry on it, just in case) along with their crumbles, since it's hard for me to watch her all day to make sure she's drinking enough water, but she sure has an appetite! She seems to be able to locomote well enough to get herself into/out of the sun, she just won't actually get up and walk. I haven't seen her take a dust bath, but we've been checking her over to make she she isn't sitting in filth or looking like she's suffering from being in one place for too long. Perhaps I'll take her over to her coop mate's favorite dust bath location later today.

Honestly, I didn't expect her to live this long, but since she doesn't seem to be generally suffering, my main concern is her comfort (it's getting chilly at night and she likes to hang out where one side is exposed to the open chicken wire side of the coop...)

Anyway, if she takes a turn and seems to be struggling with more than the walking, we'll definitely try again to find someone to help us let her pass more peacefully. I called the 3 local vets I was told might help, and was told by all that they wouldn't treat chickens.

Again, thanks for your reply. I'll look into the pages you sent, and see if we can do anything else for her. All of our other chickens who've developed ailments have barely begun to show symptoms (if at all) and then died before we could really try to do anything to help. She's really hanging in there, and she seems *not miserable* so I guess we'll just see how we do.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I get the impression NONE of the local vets are willing to help us with her care.

They very likely know they cannot. As prey animals chickens will hide everything they can for as long as possible. Then you add in their high metabolism and things just move so fast. And making it even harder so many conditions can throw similar symptoms. Those vets are doing you a favor by NOT taking advantage of you when they know they're very limited in any answers they could give.

I agree it doesn't sound like she's in a lot of pain. If you want to try some relievers out keeping in mind that her kidneys and such might be running sluggish.. or what impact the medication might have beyond relief.. for example aspirin is perfectly safe SHORT term. Here is a link on avian pain relief..

Aspirin dosage is in table 2..
https://www.vetfolio.com/learn/article/controlling-avian-pain

This one includes some pain assessment techniques..
http://avianmedicine.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/08_pain_management.pdf

 

[MegUrk]

They very likely know they cannot. As prey animals chickens will hide everything they can for as long as possible. Then you add in their high metabolism and things just move so fast. And making it even harder so many conditions can throw similar symptoms. Those vets are doing you a favor by NOT taking advantage of you when they know they're very limited in any answers they could give.

I agree it doesn't sound like she's in a lot of pain. If you want to try some relievers out keeping in mind that her kidneys and such might be running sluggish.. or what impact the medication might have beyond relief.. for example aspirin is perfectly safe SHORT term. Here is a link on avian pain relief..

Aspirin dosage is in table 2..
https://www.vetfolio.com/learn/article/controlling-avian-pain

This one includes some pain assessment techniques..
http://avianmedicine.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/08_pain_management.pdf

Thank you so much!