Is it time to euthanize?

[Chickenwithnobrim]

Hi all, I've got a chicken and I need opinions if it's time.
For background, she is a 4+ year old hen, I found her on the street and took her in, I have no idea how old she is before our time together. She has no upper beak and needs to be hand fed 2x per day, and about 1 year ago she formed an egg shaped mass in her abdomen. She was very out of it and I assumed it was a stuck egg, so the salt baths and massages commenced. The mass did not come out but it perked up my girl and she went back outside.
I figured it might be a tumor of some sort because over the next few months it began growing. The plan was to let her be a normal chicken until she started showing signs of pain.
Now it is about grapefruit size, and she suddenly stopped eating 3 days ago. Still drinking water, lots of it cause of the heat, but won't touch any food, even her favourite treats. I spent the day with her yesterday and she spent it laying down under a bush in the shade. Stood up a couple times, then back down. I moved her inside yesterday evening to hopefully cool her off and maybe get her hungry. This morning I found 1 poop and as I was refilling her water she pooped once more but it was just urea mixed with water.
I think she's telling me it's time, but here's my one issue:
There's been probably 5 times I've thought she was dying but it turned out okay and with either a little first Aid or time she's come around just fine. She usually has issues eating when she moults which is every fall, and she won't touch pellet but will eat scrambled eggs. So it's usually a few weeks of scrambled egg and other high protien treats until she is receptive to pellets again. This time she won't eat ANYTHING and there's no feathers dropping so I don't think that's it but I'm wondering if she is just struggling to start the process. Today is day 4 and she still won't eat and I don't want the poor girl to starve to death.
Tldr: I think it's time, but im scared she's faking me out. I don't want to lose her too early, she's dear to me and I want her to experience the grass and sun and dirt and bugs for as long as possible. Thank you for any advice.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like you have given her a good life. Had she lost her upper beak before you adopted her? A tumor may be possible, but hens do have reproductive disorders such as salpingitis where egg masses can firm inside the abdominal cavity and form hard caseous masses. Since she has no desire to eat, it may be time to euthanize her, but you would be the one to know for sure. Tube feeding to keep her alive is possible if her crop is emptying overnight. But I tend to let nature take it’s course. If they appear to be suffering, I will put them down.

 

[MandS]

Have you checked for ascites? Forgive me if you already have, but that would be the first thing that went through my mind as it sounds quite similar to the behaviour that you get. In which case it can be drained and with some antibiotics hopefully can give her a bit longer.

I have to say I admire you for taking care of a chicken that others wouldn't have and whatever the outcome. She was lucky to have you and you gave her a real chance to survive despite her disability. Good on you, the world needs more people like you.

I wish you luck and I hope that there may be some way you can have some more time with her but clearly you don't want her to suffer however, that's always a very difficult call to make and one I certainly wouldn't want to.

 

[Chickenwithnobrim]

Have you checked for ascites? Forgive me if you already have, but that would be the first thing that went through my mind as it sounds quite similar to the behaviour that you get. In which case it can be drained and with some antibiotics hopefully can give her a bit longer.

I have to say I admire you for taking care of a chicken that others wouldn't have and whatever the outcome. She was lucky to have you and you gave her a real chance to survive despite her disability. Good on you, the world needs more people like you.

I wish you luck and I hope that there may be some way you can have some more time with her but clearly you don't want her to suffer however, that's always a very difficult call to make and one I certainly wouldn't want to.

It's a rock hard lump in her abdomen, no free fluid. I made the appointment for euthanasia on Thursday morning. I feel like if she doesn't perk up by then it's definitely time, and I don't want her to have to be uncomfortable from both the lack of eating as well as this massive growth. Thank you for responding

 

[Chickenwithnobrim]

It sounds like you have given her a good life. Had she lost her upper beak before you adopted her? A tumor may be possible, but hens do have reproductive disorders such as salpingitis where egg masses can firm inside the abdominal cavity and form hard caseous masses. Since she has no desire to eat, it may be time to euthanize her, but you would be the one to know for sure. Tube feeding to keep her alive is possible if her crop is emptying overnight. But I tend to let nature take it’s course. If they appear to be suffering, I will put them down.

Thank you, yes she lost her upper beak before I found her. It was obviously making her have a rough time eating cause she was skinny and covered in bugs. We had a wonderful 4 and a half years together, she fattened up and after 6 months with me she had a huge molt and started laying eggs once or twice. every couple weeks (even going broody a couple times). I have considered salpingitis as well, but theres no vet willing to do surgery on a chicken where I live (although they do exams and euthanasia) and I feel it's not fair to put her through that at her age. I also don't know if it would come back after, or if she would survive recovery. She did manage a couple tiny poos overnight, but still won't eat only drinking. Her crop is emptying as normal and is mostly passing water and urea at this point. I've thought about force feeding her but if shes trying to tell me it's time it's not fair. I called the vet and made an appointment for euthanasia this Thursday. Ive really thought about it and a grapefruit size mass isn't fun to live with at the best of times, let alone when she's feeling under the weather. My partner helped me realize that even if she is struggling with something separate right now the mass is making it so much harder, and will make it harder again if she were to get sick again down the line. Thank you so much for responding

 

[BigBlueHen53]