My old hen is doing a loud squawk and bleeding from the beak

[Nottyhorse]

Hi. I hope you can help My favourite old hen (she's about 7) has become unwell and I think I need to make a decision but wonder if her symptoms are normal end-of-life symptoms. She is standing separately from the other hens, is making the occasional loud squawk, her beak is mostly open and there is blood around her beak. She also seems to have shed her tail feathers. I am in the UK and we are heading into winter here. I am not squeamish about euthanasia (we have a very humane method we use) but just thought I would ask if anybody has seen these symptoms? I would be very sad to see her go but don't want her to suffer. This has just happened today. Thanks

 

[peeper89]

did she get attcked or cut by somethin where blood comin from

 

[sbhkma]

Have you checked her for wounds? Is she eating well, drinking well? Is she molting-would explain the tail feather loss, but that could also be from an attack. Do you have a rooster? What is her environment like-in a coop/run, free range, how big a coop and how many chickens? What do her comb and wattles look like? Can you post a closeup pic of her face and a full body shot?

 

[Nottyhorse]

She's in exactly the same environment as she has always been with the same chickens and bantam rooster. But we do have a Lakenvelder cockerel I bred about 4 months old who appears to be at the bottom of the pecking order. I think I will isolate her and see if she recovers

 

[sbhkma]

Some specifics of dimensions, number of birds etc. is what I was aiming for. It helps build a picture. If anyone is going to be able to offer some suggestions/help, a lot more information is required, thus my questions.

 

[tuesdaze]

It doesn't sound like just normal end-of-life symptoms to me. Do you know for sure if she shed her tail feathers or could they have been pulled out or lost during a struggle? Older hens who are winding down do sometimes get picked on by the younger hens, but older hens usually show other signs of their age before they leave us. The bleeding I haven't seen in normal end-of-life symptoms due to old age, only when there was an underlying cause other than just old age. The occasional loud squawk sounds more like "I'm alarmed or scared" or "I'm mad" or maybe even "I can't breathe" if she is mostly open-mouthed. Would you be willing to share with me the very humane method of euthanasia that you use? I am squeamish about some of the more common methods of euthanasia and would really appreciate another option. Feel free to message me if you don't want to risk a lot of feedback on your method.

 

[Nottyhorse]

Sorry about the tardy reply but our time difference is a few hours and while I'm up and about I suspect you guys in the USA are in bed! Ok so here are 3 pics of our girl. I checked last night and she went to bed with the others. This morning she had hidden under the nesting boxes and didn’t come out of the shed with the others. So I picked her up and put her on the lawn - she won’t eat or drink, won’t move and looks so miserable. I will leave her separate from the others but she can see them through the fence. I am minded to euthanase - we do this at point blank with an air rifle and it’s instant. Opinions please but not the vet as they are horrendously expensive in the uk

 

[Nottyhorse]

Some specifics of dimensions, number of birds etc. is what I was aiming for. It helps build a picture. If anyone is going to be able to offer some suggestions/help, a lot more information is required, thus my questions.

Hi. The run is large - 10m x 10m with woodchip base. Hen houses also large.

 

[Nottyhorse]

Hi. The run is large - 10m x 10m with woodchip base. Hen houses also large.

Hi. The run is large - 10m x 10m with woodchip base. Hen houses also large.

Number of birds = 12

 

[Nottyhorse]

She’s not eating or drinking - I shall keep a close eye on her all day and hope as time progresses she may start to recover. She’s got her beak half open and is closing her eyes a fair bit but is standing not lying or squatting