Old Hen

[roxanne]

Good morning ladies,
I have an old lady hen that should be close to 6 years old now (one of the last of my pandemic chickens) that is really not doing well. It breaks my heart to see her like this, all balled up with her eyes closed, distanced from the rest of the flock. Just wanted to know how you all handle this with your flocks? I don’t treat my ladies like pets … they aren’t pets. They are treated very well, but they are livestock. It’s pulling at my heartstrings whether I should go and remove her from the flock and give her the space and comfort to pass or should I cull her instead. Just wanted some group encouragement

 

[MysteryChicken]

6 years old is not an old hen!

It's actually old for a chicken. Average lifespan for a chicken is between 5 - 10yrs.

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

I'd say give her the space and comfort, maybe stroke her for her last few minutes.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I should go and remove her from the flock and give her the space and comfort to pass or should I cull her instead.

I won't let birds dies slowly (or alone) in my presence if that's already their fate.. I will help them make the transition.

The choice is never easy.

Getting into my 50's.. aging also isn't always kind.. and immunity is often compromised.. compared to what youth was. I hope my family doesn't drag it out if I don't "go" quickly. They already know this.

Her quality of life is gone already.. as indicated by the behavior described. that's not "living". If there is any chance to recover or I could identify an issue that would restore quality of life.. then of course that would be the first choice.

Sorry you both are facing this.

 

[Iworkforangels]

6 years old is not an old hen! She has Infectious Bronchitis a viral disease.

 

[roxanne]

6 years old is not an old hen! She has Infectious Bronchitis a viral disease.

She had none of the symptoms of this. No sneezing or coughing, no discharge from the nose. She just is balled up, sequestered from the flock gurgling as she breaths. Her comb is still bright red, her eyes are clear. Her stance is wider and her walk reminds me of a penguin. I believe she may have “water belly”.
The rest of the flock is good. No gurgling, all are eating and drinking. I am inclined to put them all in a probiotic and a dewormer since the weather is changing and we get fluctuations in weather temperatures.

 

[MysteryChicken]

She had none of the symptoms of this. No sneezing or coughing, no discharge from the nose. She just is balled up, sequestered from the flock gurgling as she breaths. Her comb is still bright red, her eyes are clear. Her stance is wider and her walk reminds me of a penguin. I believe she may have “water belly”.
The rest of the flock is good. No gurgling, all are eating and drinking. I am inclined to put them all in a probiotic and a dewormer since the weather is changing and we get fluctuations in weather temperatures.

I'd just put her down if she's got water Belly(Ascites). It's chronic, can't be fixed, & has many causes.

 

[nuthatched]

6 years old is not an old hen! She has Infectious Bronchitis a viral disease.

Based on what symptoms?

 

[roxanne]

Doesn't sound anything like Infectious Bronchitis or a respiratory disease.

6 is getting on in years for a Sexlink.
Do you feel any bloat or feeling of fluid in her abdomen?
Has she laid eggs recently?

A laying hen that is standing about, balled up with her eyes closed, gurgling is, ime, is having a hard time expelling an egg, is suffering from a reproductive disorder like Cancer, EYP, Internal Laying, etc., may have Ascites which is a symptom of fluid in the abdomen and/or is having some crop dysfunction as well.

I'd check her abdomen for bloat or fluid below the vent between her legs, make sure her crop is emptying. Do look her over for lice/mites while you are examining her.
If she's got bloat/fluid and/or swelling of the abdomen, sometimes fluid can be drained to offer supportive care and comfort - this is not a cure and sometimes this does not relieve symptoms and make a hen feel any better.
If she's been laying eggs and hasn't laid one, then I'd get some Calcium into her asap. This may help her push out any egg or material that's making her feel bad. 1 Calcium Citrate with D3 tablet daily for 1 week.

Gurgling and water coming form the beak is very likely the crop. (Sometimes gurgling is heard when a hen has fluid in the abdomen (Ascites) too).
If the crop is not emptying, then address that symptom, but very often a crop problem is going to accompany a reproductive disorder - inflammation, swelling, etc. in the body just slows the body's processes.
This is the methods I use to address the crop. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

An antibiotic might help short term, but sometimes medication doesn't help at all. You can try something like Amoxicillin if you have it.

The antibiotic is part of supportive care and comfort for the hen, it's not going to be a cure either.
Unfortunately, these symptoms and problems seem to be very common in laying hen, I've had my share as have others.
It's up to you to determine how well she is, if she can bounce back for a while longer or if it's time to put her out of her misery.

Thank you so much for this information! I will definitely retain it for future use. Nothing was working to help this poor chicken and so my son helped me to cull her on Monday. It is sad, but it was much worse watching her suffer. I thanked her for all of the eggs she shared with me and my family and then laid her to rest.

This group is so helpful

 

[nuthatched]

I know there are fishbiotics that will work in that instance. Have you ever treated one with it? I haven't so I can't advise. I tried to get it for one of my chickens who was sick and was unable to so I did garlic.

Garlic is toxic to chickens to cats in any amounts its recommended for antibiotic use. Please be careful.