Nutridrench and a recovering hen

[MandS]

We can sometimes get too caught up in our wish/need to help trying almost every medication and additive under the sun, when the merciful thing might be to end the suffering.

Yes, you are right. I'm trying my best to help her survive in any way I can. I think I've gone this far because she's so determined to live herself. Her colour is so good - no cyanosis and she's weak but seemingly pain free. She's drinking when she wants to, just not eating.

Thank you for your advice and kind words.

 

[MandS]

Sorry that I had not seen the latest posts. B complex 1/2 tablet crushed and vitamin E 400 IU is what I would recommend daily. Open the softgel into the food. B complex has all B vitamins plus C and some others. Since she is more weak, I would not drain her. As said, draining causes electrolyte and fluid depletion. Since ascites (water belly) is a fatal condition in end stage reproductive disease, cancer, and heart disease, it might give some time, but I prefer to let things happen naturally. I would continue to tube feed if you can manage it. Having a helper twice a day may make it easier.

That's very helpful indeed, thank you.

Things have moved on since this morning. Yesterday I noticed she'd eaten a whole grape rather than pecking it into pieces. I felt this in her crop and managed to squeeze it so it burst the grape's skin. However this morning her crop still has fluid in it. I drained it (by tube) and it contained the Emeraid (although much diluted) and a bit of grape skin. However after giving her food later, it's not going down. I can feel a large (small plum sized) lump on her lower right abdomen. I now wonder if her bowels are blocked too...

I'm planning on not giving her any more liquid food today, unless you think I should, but just get her drinking and maybe give her some coconut oil to help move any blockage along. I've spent time massaging the abdomen gently to help move anything in that lump. She's not crying but her breathing sounds like the breathing they do when they lay an egg. I'm not going to hurt her but if it's possible to make it shift, then I'll try.

She's had grit in the cage but she's not really eaten any, so I guess it could also be a lack of grit in her gizzard that might mean that food that is non-liquid is not being "chewed".

Again, thank you for your advice. I will work on the vitamin stuff as soon as I can make sense of where her digestive system is going.

As for now, she's lying down, weak, drinking still, calm and seemingly content and alert. But boy oh boy, she is so thin and lacking any muscle mass. Her joints actually click. Amazing little fighter though.

 

[LaFleche]

she is so thin and lacking any muscle mass.

I can feel a large (small plum sized) lump on her lower right abdomen

Could it just be the gizzard you are feeling? It happens when the bird is very thin.

 

[MandS]

Thanks again LaFleche

I looked at this diagram earlier too! I thought I was feeling where the shark intestine and pancreas are but maybe it is the gizzard or even the liver. Whatever it is, it's very solid.

She not done any poop since yesterday that I can see either.

 

[MandS]

I'm very sad to report that Lottie has died. She was still here in the morning and her crop was empty so I tube fed her with some Emeraid. She settled down quietly although she couldn't stand up and was quite peaceful.

At lunch time I went to check if I needed to feed her again but her crop was not fully empty. So I gently massaged her crop and also her stomach area where I was concerned there might have been a blockage.

While I had her on me she started to twitch which looked like it was from some pain. But what I believe happened was that there must have been some gas in her stomach and me massaging it meant it came out, just as she was sitting on me. I wasn't actually massaging her at the time but it pushed a little bit of the Emeraid from the morning into her mouth.

Not long after that I could see that there was something that was definitely uncomfortable for her, which I'm guessing is this big trapped wind. She was sitting calmly on me despite the odd flinch from the pain. She was looking strong but then turned, intently looked me directly in the face, then did a big shudder and died on my chest. It was actually quite gentle in the end.

What was noticeable was the moment that she died huge amounts of fluid came out of her beak. I don't mean as she convulsed I mean after she had died and far more than was possibly in her crop. So I'm guessing whatever was going on in her stomach, be it a blockage, be it a cancer - whatever the case may be, that was our culprit because her heart and lungs were still very very strong.

I have to admit I've looked after a lot of chickens in my life and some of them I've looked after with quite intense care, but none of them have had as much intensive care as Lottie has and although this has been now a month of very intense care, I feel it gave me a chance to have some special time with her that will be unrepeatable.

Just like most of us, I hate it when I lose a chicken because for me it feels like I've lost one of the members of my family, even though that might sound ridiculous to someone who doesn't keep animals or indeed doesn't even have a close relationship with their hens. But that's how I feel. And I know it will now take me a few days to get past that. I think I did what I could and I certainly didn't skimp on anything and gave her as much love and care as I could, which oddly I think she recognised it acknowledged when she turned to me and stared at me in the face just as she went. It was very deliberate and ill never forget it.

So thank you to all of you for your care, kindness and advice. I do sincerely appreciate it and wish you all the very best.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am so sorry you lost your hen, but you did all you could, and she is not suffering now. Take care.

 

[LaFleche]

Think of the good times you shared. I am sorry for your loss.