Need advice on a disabled hen....PLEASE!

[crzychickenlady]

Ok, I duno if this goes here or not...

I have a disabled hen that lives in the house. She has been this way for some time now and I am wondering about her quality of life.

She got stuck in the pen between one of their dog houses and the pen one day, I have no clue how long she was there.
I brought her in and she couldn't walk at all. I made a sling in a carrier for her and she got better as far as walking.
She can get around ok, but she is wobble and tips over alot. She also has what I call seizures.... it looks like one.
Something, I dont know what, sets her off and she will tumble over on her back and shake her head, sometimes tucking her head under her wing. In recent weeks these have become more and more common.

She still eats and drinks fine and has been laying eggs up until about a month ago.

Mu question here is.....what kind of quality of life does she have in this state? She cannot go out with the others as they attack her when she goes down. She seems content to live in the house, but I feel so bad for her....

Is it time for me to let go and put her down??

Someone please give me some advice here..I don't know what to do..
Has anyone had a hen that was this way, and is there ANY way to treat her and get her back to normal???


Ohh, I need to add that she has seen the vet multiple times and they have no clue what is wrong with her or how to treat her.

 

[debilorrah]

Poor thing! I hope someone has an answer for you!

 

[crzychickenlady]

Anyone??

 

[nzpouter]

the seizures could be sign of deficiency.... better ask this is diseases section...

 

[sandypaws]

i guess it really depends on YOU.. how much time and effort and money are you willing to put into her??? have you taken her to a VET??? are you willing to take her to a VET???? do you feel sorry for her??
to me it sounds like brain damage,, and she will continue to seizure..
i personally would put her down,, but that is ME,,
ask yourself,, can she do all the things chickens should be doing??? running around, scratching, flapping, pecking ect??? can she do those things??? or does she fall over ans siezure????

 

[FarmerDenise]

I had a pet house chicken. She was quite content to be with us. We did let her out with the other chickens, but she always came running to us. So as far as needing to be with other chickens, I'd say that it depends on the chicken and persons caring for her. If her overall behavior appears contented then I would wait and see.
Witnessing a seizure is traumatic for us, but really I would look at her behavior. Is she running around, clucking and making happy chicken noises most of the time? Do you mind having her in the house putting in the extra time and attention?
A sick hen will try to hide somewhere and sit and wait to die. The tail will be down. The appetite might be off.
It is a personal choice based on what you observe and what you are willing to live with.
You might see if this site has any helpfull information for you. She is a member of this forum http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi