Our Polish hen(?)* has had the condition for about a year now. We managed to bring her back from the brink and I had hope she would recover, but that hope has long since faded.
*I should say we're actually sure the chicken's gender. I was pretty sure it was a hen to start with, and I think it has the appearance of a Polish hen, however it began crowing after it had been sick for about 3 months.
I just wonder what to do with her. we have to keep her inside most of the time due to the crowing, so she lives most her life in a cage (although we take her outside for a few hours when we can). It doesn't seem like much of a life, but perhaps she's used to it or doesn't mind, because from watching her she seems happy enough. She manages to eat and drink on her own (although she often struggles and I'm not sure she's eating sufficiently).
However the other day she managed to break her beak - it had grown too long and cracked it, and a large part of it came off. It looked pretty bad but she didn't behave any differently. That reminded me that chickens apparently like to hide any pain and suffering, and I worry that although she doesn't seem to show it, I may be torturing the poor thing by keeping her alive.
I do also wonder if I just gave her the right treatment shouldn't couldn't yet make a proper recovery. We tried the selenium and vitamin E thing at the start, but gave up with that. I'm not sure if anything else is likely to help.
*I should say we're actually sure the chicken's gender. I was pretty sure it was a hen to start with, and I think it has the appearance of a Polish hen, however it began crowing after it had been sick for about 3 months.
I just wonder what to do with her. we have to keep her inside most of the time due to the crowing, so she lives most her life in a cage (although we take her outside for a few hours when we can). It doesn't seem like much of a life, but perhaps she's used to it or doesn't mind, because from watching her she seems happy enough. She manages to eat and drink on her own (although she often struggles and I'm not sure she's eating sufficiently).
However the other day she managed to break her beak - it had grown too long and cracked it, and a large part of it came off. It looked pretty bad but she didn't behave any differently. That reminded me that chickens apparently like to hide any pain and suffering, and I worry that although she doesn't seem to show it, I may be torturing the poor thing by keeping her alive.
I do also wonder if I just gave her the right treatment shouldn't couldn't yet make a proper recovery. We tried the selenium and vitamin E thing at the start, but gave up with that. I'm not sure if anything else is likely to help.
