I really need some advice

[unbaked pegga]

I posted here several months ago because a raccoon got into my coop and killed all but 2 of my hens. And of the 2 left I was afraid one of them would not survive. I posted pictures here and most everyone agreed that she didn’t look like she would survive. But I nursed her and fed her and tried to take care of her as best I could, and she actually responded and became her old self. That was until last night. When I went to let the two that I had left into the chicken coop, she was walking really slow, spread legged like she did when the raccoon attacked her- real close to the ground. She could only get up to the 2nd rung on the roost. Her comb is blue tinged. She has a good appetite, but since that raccoon attacked those chickens, she has not laid one single egg, and she is a sex link and she normally laid every day but since that incident happened, she hasn’t laid an egg at all, except a soft shell egg about 2 weeks after the attack and I thought maybe it was from either the shock of that raccoon attacking her or it injured her in someway. But now I don’t know what’s wrong I thought about her being egg bound bound.. My problem is that I don’t have anyone to help me check her and I’m no spring chicken I’m 77 but still I tried to give her some calcium this morning ((I crushed up some tums and mashed it into some small pieces bologna) she got a only a little bit, but not much, and she wouldn’t touch any that even had a hint of white on it but then she went directly under the porch, which is where they stay most all of the time and laid right down, and would not come to me, even when tried to I entice her with baloney , so I’m even afraid to go out there now and check her. It’s been several hours but I don’t know quite what to do. I have spent thousands of dollars at the vet with my chickens and I just don’t have the $ anymore and they don’t seem to know anymore than I do . I don’t know what’s going on I really don’t. I don’t know how she could go that long without laying an egg and then suddenly start laying eggs. Does anybody possibly have a clue of what could be going on with her without actually seeing her? She’s my favorite little chick and she’s been through so much , I appreciate any help. Plus that would leave the other chicken by herself. And I don’t think they can live by theirselves can they?

 

[Eggcessive]

With her posture sitting upright with her tail down, that is common to see in pictures of hens with serious reporductive problems. You could insert a clean finger into her vent to feel for a stuck egg. I would guess that her insides or oviduct were injured which caused her to stop laying. Did she molt right after the attack? My hen who was injured by a dog, molted right away. She had laid every day prior, but didn’t lay for 4 months. Then when she resumed laying, she laid only shell-less or thin shelled eggs. She died by the age of 3 of egg yolk peritonitis and had water belly.

I would try some antibiotics such as amoxicillin to try and extend her life. But if she is not eating or drinking later, or suffering, I would put her down. I don’t think she will get better, but I’m not a vet. I recently lost the last of my original flock. She lived a year by herself after a daytime bobcat attack killed 3, and did okay without the other chickens. She was a bit of a loner anyway. I tried to visit the coop more often to make sure that she had some company.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

For a reproductive issues, Amoxicillin or Baytril would be better. But if Penicillin G is all that's available, you could try it.
Penicillin G is not to be given orally.
Penicillin G dose is 1/4cc daily, injected into the breast muscle 1/4" deep, alternating sides daily for 4 days.

 

[unbaked pegga]

With her posture sitting upright with her tail down, that is common to see in pictures of hens with serious reporductive problems. You could insert a clean finger into her vent to feel for a stuck egg. I would guess that her insides or oviduct were injured which caused her to stop laying. Did she molt right after the attack? My hen who was injured by a dog, molted right away. She had laid every day prior, but didn’t lay for 4 months. Then when she resumed laying, she laid only shell-less or thin shelled eggs. She died by the age of 3 of egg yolk peritonitis and had water belly.

I would try some antibiotics such as amoxicillin to try and extend her life. But if she is not eating or drinking later, or suffering, I would put her down. I don’t think she will get better, but I’m not a vet. I recently lost the last of my original flock. She lived a year by herself after a daytime bobcat attack killed 3, and did okay without the other chickens. She was a bit of a loner anyway. I tried to visit the coop more often to make sure that she had some company.

I was a nurse for 51 years. Was never squeamish about any procedure any injections nothing like that. But I sat and watched my little chicken and there was no question whether or not she felt bad you could tell she did so I read online about draining that ascites from her belly so I went up to tractor supply and got a 60 cc syringe and a 15 gauge needle and came home and girded my loins and grabbed her and my hands were shaking so bad I didn’t think I was going to be able to hold her, but I got 80 cc off of her abdomen, and I didn’t want to take any more than that because I was afraid she would go into shock. She still has fluid there but I thought I could wait to three days in and pull some more off and she’s dripping from where I stuck her. An online vet said that they would drain for two or three days. I’m just concerned about her getting an infection because she won’t let me catch her now to put her somewhere private I guess I’ll just have to trust God to take care of her because I’ve done everything I know to do

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Try calcium citrate instead of tums if you have it. Its possible she was internally injured and managed to rally for a while and is no longer able to. The blue comb suggests she's not getting enough oxygen in her blood. I know you want to save her but sometimes there's nothing else we can do. Hopefully someone else has better advice.

 

[Eggcessive]

Baytril 10% liquid is fine to use. Dosage is 0.05 ml per pound or 0.25 ml (1/4 ml ) for a 5 pound hen. Give it twice a day for 5 days. Don’t mix it in water, but give undiluted, and it is quickly swallowed. I would use it even if it is outdated.

 

[Eggcessive]

I tend to leave my hens alone if they are feeling poorly, and don’t handle them much. Most don’t like being handled. I let them do what they want, and sleep where they like. When they are not eating much, I notice they will usually eat moistened chicken feed and especially scrambled egg. If one is dying or sickly, they can have a whole scrambled egg if they want it. It is hard to put one down, so if you cannot find someone to do it for you, I would try to make her as confortable as possible. If she has ascites or water belly, it eventually will kill them. Draining can help remove some of the fluid to help ease the pressure or make breathing more easy, but it eventually comes back. It is hard to know how long she will last once she has ascites.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I am so sorry you're going through this! I know what's like when a beloved pet is suffering and you are helpless to do anything about it. I find it IS tempting to stay indoors and just let nature take its course sometimes. As bad as that sounds, I'll bet I'm not the only one who feels this way.

If you can get ahold of her again, try putting a tums directly into her mouth. Sit with her on your lap, with her body wedged between your body and your arm. Or wrap her in a towel so you can control her. Pull down on her wattles to force her mouth open and pop it right in there. She will swallow. Remember, chickens can eat a mouse, whole. If you can't get to her today, get her off the roost after dark. They can't see in the dark and won't run away.

I don't know what to suggest is wrong with her, could be a number of things. But tums won't hurt one bit and might help.

If she passes, the other chicken can live by herself, but she will of course be lonely. She'll also be doubly vulnerable to predator attack. Can you look into getting a few more chickens?

 

[unbaked pegga]

I am so sorry you're going through this! I know what's like when a beloved pet is suffering and you are helpless to do anything about it. I find it IS tempting to stay indoors and just let nature take its course sometimes. As bad as that sounds, I'll bet I'm not the only one who feels this way.

If you can get ahold of her again, try putting a tums directly into her mouth. Sit with her on your lap, with her body wedged between your body and your arm. Or wrap her in a towel so you can control her. Pull down on her wattles to force her mouth open and pop it right in there. She will swallow. Remember, chickens can eat a mouse, whole. If you can't get to her today, get her off the roost after dark. They can't see in the dark and won't run away.

I don't know what to suggest is wrong with her, could be a number of things. But tums won't hurt one bit and might help.

If she passes, the other chicken can live by herself, but she will of course be lonely. She'll also be doubly vulnerable to predator attack. Can you look into getting a few more chickens?

I was able to catch her last night, and I gave her a whole tums. She couldn’t get up on the roost and I put her on the top roost myself. This morning she was in the floor of the coop, and when she went to come out. She just flopped on the floor. So she finally come down as far as the run, and now she’s just laying here in the sand not laying on her side just laying there like she normally does. I got her to eat a little bit of lettuce, but then she just went back and laid down. The swelling seems to be a little bit further back than her legs because it looks like her fur is hitting the ground. I’m going to send a picture I just took of her and if anybody could give me any advice, I just don’t know these little animals are all I have and it just devastated me when I lose one plus the other one will be by herself.

 

[Cookies-Chickens2004]

I'm so sorry this is happening to her and you. I'm sure she's lived a wonderful life with you and if you lose her just know you've done everything you could to give her the best life. Best of luck in her recovery, and if she passes you have my condolences. Just know you're in my prayers.