Looking for any ideas for a nine-year-Old sick/dying hen and a single hen… please!!

[Marcellaandholly]

Hi! I started out with four chickens, adopted from a friend who couldn’t keep them. I’ve since lost two, and I’m down to two girls who are about nine years old. I’ve had them since they were one year old And I adore them! Over the last few days one of them has increasingly gotten more weak, I am trying to spoon feed her water, but she’s not interested, she does eat a bit of cucumber here and there, but absolutely nothing else. She’s very droopy, and very pale, has very watery green looking diarrhea when she does go though it’s not very much at this point at all and does not move around much at all at this point, besides standing or laying. When Maggie started to look a bit sick, my other chicken was very interested in everything she was doing, all around her and up under her, etc.. I have noticed the one other chicken I have pecking a lot at her and I just generally picking on her at this point. I have moved Maggie inside, where she is very comfortable, as I live in New Mexico and it is 104° outside so she is cool and able to rest. My problem is twofold, I’m not sure what else to do for her. I’ve tried electrolytes, scrambled eggs, every treat that she likes, spoon, feeding her water, sugar water and she’s not interested in anything. Also, as a sidenote, I had another chicken who died about Nine months ago, I called all-around, even to different cities, and found one vet about four hours away that would see a chicken, there doesn’t seem to be any vets that I can take her to. She doesn’t seem to be in pain, but pretty much just sleeps all day. And hasn’t really taken in anything for about three days now. The second issue is I now have one chicken who is on her own. I do put them together once or twice during the day, but as soon as I notice the pecking, etc., I’m separating them again. I do bring the healthy chicken inside at night to be with her as I don’t think Maggie has something contagious. I know chickens don’t do well on their own, so I’m not sure what to do in general at this point. Does anyone have any ideas?? Thank you so much.

 

[Stravager]

Nine years old can be pretty old for a laying hen depending on the breed. If they're both that old and the same breed the next hen may soon also run into issues. You could attempt to get some other chickens at this point but that might also cause some stress....
@Eggcessive ?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I’m sorry to say, but it sounds like it’s just her time. Nine years old is very old for a chicken you have two 100 year old lady equivalents. Keep her comfortable and if she will eat/drink let her, but I wouldn’t force her at this point. The other one may very well start to fade shortly after if the first one dies since they have been raised together and you don’t have any others.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your situation. Other chickens will peck at a chicken, even their best friend sometimes, if they since something is wrong or they are dying. It sounds like it won’t be long for the sick hen. The other hen may last awhile longer if she seems to eat and drink, and is somewhat active. She might be lonely though. I lost 3 out of 4 8-11 year old hens to a bobcat while out in the chicken yard free ranging, leaving my antisocial hen who was in the coop by herself. She was always a loner, hated me, and she lived almost another year. I just would go see her often throughout the day to offer some company.

 

[FrostRanger]

I agree with everyone else, keep her comfortable, thank her for being a good girl and enjoy whatever time you have left with her. 9 years is indeed very old for a chicken, you did very well taking care of them!

 

[Marcellaandholly]

Hi! I started out with four chickens, adopted from a friend who couldn’t keep them. I’ve since lost two, and I’m down to two girls who are about nine years old. I’ve had them since they were one year old And I adore them! Over the last few days one of them has increasingly gotten more weak, I am trying to spoon feed her water, but she’s not interested, she does eat a bit of cucumber here and there, but absolutely nothing else. She’s very droopy, and very pale, has very watery green looking diarrhea when she does go though it’s not very much at this point at all and does not move around much at all at this point, besides standing or laying. When Maggie started to look a bit sick, my other chicken was very interested in everything she was doing, all around her and up under her, etc.. I have noticed the one other chicken I have pecking a lot at her and I just generally picking on her at this point. I have moved Maggie inside, where she is very comfortable, as I live in New Mexico and it is 104° outside so she is cool and able to rest. My problem is twofold, I’m not sure what else to do for her. I’ve tried electrolytes, scrambled eggs, every treat that she likes, spoon, feeding her water, sugar water and she’s not interested in anything. Also, as a sidenote, I had another chicken who died about Nine months ago, I called all-around, even to different cities, and found one vet about four hours away that would see a chicken, there doesn’t seem to be any vets that I can take her to. She doesn’t seem to be in pain, but pretty much just sleeps all day. And hasn’t really taken in anything for about three days now. The second issue is I now have one chicken who is on her own. I do put them together once or twice during the day, but as soon as I notice the pecking, etc., I’m separating them again. I do bring the healthy chicken inside at night to be with her as I don’t think Maggie has something contagious. I know chickens don’t do well on their own, so I’m not sure what to do in general at this point. Does anyone have any ideas?? Thank you so much.

I agree with everyone else, keep her comfortable, thank her for being a good girl and enjoy whatever time you have left with her. 9 years is indeed very old for a chicken, you did very well taking care of them!

 

[Marcellaandholly]

Thank you, I appreciate everyone’s answers. I think I knew that, but just wanted to make sure that I was doing the right thing for them. Does it help if I bring the healthy chicken inside with the sick one at night so they are not alone? Thanks again!

 

[FrostRanger]

If the other hen is picking on her, no, it would only stress her out