How do you know when "its time"?

[Amphitecna]

Hello everyone,

Mods- I'm not sure where this thread fits best- maybe diseases and cures, but although it's a disease (EYP), there is only one "cure". Ethel, my Sussex, is 3 and came down with EYP this winter/spring. I was late in recognizing it. But she responded very well to antibiotics, so I had hope. A few days after she was off them, she made signs of wanting to lay, and to cut through the details we're back where we started.

She's lethargic, spends most of her day sitting near the others. She breathes heavily, and her crest and wattle are dark red, veering to purple with any stress. Her abdomen is filling with fluid. She'll move around though and has active moments, feeds, dust bathes, will search for worms, loves her snacks and wants to be with the others. From my perspective her QoL is decent. One of our new hens has taken quite a liking to her and spends much of her time preening Ethel. They are a cute pair. The other 2 older chickens (two French Blues, I think they're called in English), like Ethel, but are mean to the two new hens. Ethel is my sweetheart.

So, what are your lines for when to make the call? With our dogs, we always knew, but there was generally a vet involved. The vet here can't do anything other than more antibiotics, and that's not a long-term solution. We discussed implants, but they finally, aren't an option. She's always been so stoic, I didn't even realize she was sick until she was pretty bad (but she's also one of my first chickens, so I'm learning with her.) Will I see it when her QoL declines so much that she's in pain? I live with daily pain and just get on with it. She's deffo doing that now, but I don't want her to suffer needlessly either.

I suppose I'm also looking for some support. I'm pretty sure most of you have been here.... She will also be the first chicken I have to cull, so that's emotionally agonizing as well. None of the methods seem great, and I wish I weren't learning on her.

Thanks for reading this far, and thanks for "listening". Your thoughts and suggestions are most welcome.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

@Wyorp Rock

 

[Bsmac]

Hello everyone,

Mods- I'm not sure where this thread fits best- maybe diseases and cures, but although it's a disease (EYP), there is only one "cure". Ethel, my Sussex, is 3 and came down with EYP this winter/spring. I was late in recognizing it. But she responded very well to antibiotics, so I had hope. A few days after she was off them, she made signs of wanting to lay, and to cut through the details we're back where we started.

She's lethargic, spends most of her day sitting near the others. She breathes heavily, and her crest and wattle are dark red, veering to purple with any stress. Her abdomen is filling with fluid. She'll move around though and has active moments, feeds, dust bathes, will search for worms, loves her snacks and wants to be with the others. From my perspective her QoL is decent. One of our new hens has taken quite a liking to her and spends much of her time preening Ethel. They are a cute pair. The other 2 older chickens (two French Blues, I think they're called in English), like Ethel, but are mean to the two new hens. Ethel is my sweetheart.

So, what are your lines for when to make the call? With our dogs, we always knew, but there was generally a vet involved. The vet here can't do anything other than more antibiotics, and that's not a long-term solution. We discussed implants, but they finally, aren't an option. She's always been so stoic, I didn't even realize she was sick until she was pretty bad (but she's also one of my first chickens, so I'm learning with her.) Will I see it when her QoL declines so much that she's in pain? I live with daily pain and just get on with it. She's deffo doing that now, but I don't want her to suffer needlessly either.

I suppose I'm also looking for some support. I'm pretty sure most of you have been here.... She will also be the first chicken I have to cull, so that's emotionally agonizing as well. None of the methods seem great, and I wish I weren't learning on her.

Thanks for reading this far, and thanks for "listening". Your thoughts and suggestions are most welcome.

Hello, Unfortunately only you can know when it is time. I recently had to help one of my favorite birds pass. She had wry neck. I treated her for over two weeks and she did not respond to treatment. I could not bare to see her suffer any longer. I made the call because I just knew she was not going to get better. I lost a couple of orphingtons early this spring to impacted crop. Thinking back I should have helped both of them. When QOL deteriorates, eating or drinking very little with not much hope of improvement. That is when I start contemplating humanely helping them to pass. Still very tough to do! Good luck to you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello everyone,

Mods- I'm not sure where this thread fits best- maybe diseases and cures, but although it's a disease (EYP), there is only one "cure". Ethel, my Sussex, is 3 and came down with EYP this winter/spring. I was late in recognizing it. But she responded very well to antibiotics, so I had hope. A few days after she was off them, she made signs of wanting to lay, and to cut through the details we're back where we started.

She's lethargic, spends most of her day sitting near the others. She breathes heavily, and her crest and wattle are dark red, veering to purple with any stress. Her abdomen is filling with fluid. She'll move around though and has active moments, feeds, dust bathes, will search for worms, loves her snacks and wants to be with the others. From my perspective her QoL is decent. One of our new hens has taken quite a liking to her and spends much of her time preening Ethel. They are a cute pair. The other 2 older chickens (two French Blues, I think they're called in English), like Ethel, but are mean to the two new hens. Ethel is my sweetheart.

So, what are your lines for when to make the call? With our dogs, we always knew, but there was generally a vet involved. The vet here can't do anything other than more antibiotics, and that's not a long-term solution. We discussed implants, but they finally, aren't an option. She's always been so stoic, I didn't even realize she was sick until she was pretty bad (but she's also one of my first chickens, so I'm learning with her.) Will I see it when her QoL declines so much that she's in pain? I live with daily pain and just get on with it. She's deffo doing that now, but I don't want her to suffer needlessly either.

I suppose I'm also looking for some support. I'm pretty sure most of you have been here.... She will also be the first chicken I have to cull, so that's emotionally agonizing as well. None of the methods seem great, and I wish I weren't learning on her.

Thanks for reading this far, and thanks for "listening". Your thoughts and suggestions are most welcome.

I'm sorry to hear about Ethel

Only you can determine when it's time for her if you are considering putting her down.

From your description, she is in a slow decline but still have decent quality of life. She's still eating/drinking and has a friend, so she's not quite done yet it seems.

For mine what I have seen when they are actively dying is they stop eating/drinking, sleep a lot, have a hard time standing and usually do not move from wherever they lay. Usually they die within a few days. I generally do take them aside and give drops of fluid/sugar water, but very often they will not swallow. I leave them with their flock unless they are getting picked on (their friends/flock mates often sit with them during the day) and if the weather/night is cold place them in warmer sheltered area.
I have left them to die with their flock and I have also put them down once they get to this stage, it's really up to you. Both have pros/cons, it's hard to watch the decline but it's also bittersweet to see their friends sit with them or come and check on them during the day too. Putting them down, is quick, but it's also sad too.