I murdered our best sweetest hen

[feliciamckee]

That is very sweet. I appreciate all the kind words. I took graham crackers out today and was still looking for her. I keep waiting for her to waddle up to me to get her snack.

 

[littledog]

Quote:
Thank you. That is EXACTLY what my husband said! I really do think that is what she had. She was sleeping alot and very listless. She had lots of mucus coming from her beak...so much that when she would shake her head, it would get on you and her back would stay wet and sticky. Her eyes were also bubbly and one of them was very swolen. She also had bad diarreah. She has been this way since my husband brought her home but had been getting worse.

I still wish we had a chicken vet! My daughter says when she becomes a vet, she will never turn away a chicken!!!

It sounds like your poor bird might have been ill even before she came to you...but if there is one positive thing that might come from such a sad situation, the motivation for your daughter to become a vet! It is hard to find vets who will take chickens seriously, maybe that will change in the future.

 

[stormylady]

You did what you thought was right! Dont blame yourself, Im sure Babs doesn't! She knew she was loved and you wouldn't do anything to hurt her.

 

[Cetawin]

I am sorry for your loss of Babs...you and your family will heal in time but please do not blame yourself. Sticking a bird is not difficult unless they are so underweight they have no breast muscle such as with internal laying issues....it sounds like Babs was already near the end and just the combined stessors did it, not you.

For future reference...my 12 lb Orp only got 1/2 cc per vet instructions...so if there is a next time, lower the dosage to just to be safe.

 

[fmizula]

but the best advice they could give someone is to seek professional help


that soulds like great advise however it is difficult to get professional help when noone is a 100 mile radious will even look at a chicken.
i have had the hardest time getting anyone to help. the only people i have is this forum. recently i have fould someone who will look at fecal samples for me one and a half hours away, but not see the bird because (this is a doctor) he thinks all chickens have lice and may have bird flue and his fancy exotic birds could get something.


felicia

 

[kidcody]

I just want to comfirm that what happened to this chicken is enough of the penicillin went driectly into the blood stream (it doesn't take much) and she died instantly, pain free. This can happen to some of the best of us. Even in a perfect situation. That is why you should always draw back on a syringe and check for blood. But in chickens even if a very tiny amount gets in the blood stream they died. Because of the type of medication (penicillin) if it was a different type of antibiotic there was a good chance this chicken might of lived. But it sounds like this was actually a blessing.

 

[pawsplus]

Quote:
Um . . . you can. Of course you can. ??? Yes, it takes some additional effort to find a good avian vet but they ARE out there. I have a wonderful one.

Here's some info on how to find one: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=528866

I'm frequently appalled by the things folks do their chickens here--I used to WORK for a vet and I wouldn't do 99% of these procedures w/ out a qualified avian vet's blessing.

I'm really sorry this happened to you--and to your hen.

Please find a good avian vet NOW, though, before you need one again.

Best wishes--