Older Chicken with Rattle When Breathing

Thanks, I’ll continue to check her crop. I’ve been giving her yogurt. The gurgle/rattle was worse tonight. I just feel sad. She was my first chicken and represents our decision to live a different kind of life. Despite coming from horrible conditions, she has always been a sweet, lovable girl. I want to do whatever I can to keep her from suffering.
 
Thanks, I’ll continue to check her crop. I’ve been giving her yogurt. The gurgle/rattle was worse tonight. I just feel sad. She was my first chicken and represents our decision to live a different kind of life. Despite coming from horrible conditions, she has always been a sweet, lovable girl. I want to do whatever I can to keep her from suffering.
Keep us posted.
I would re-check her over really well in the morning - crop, abdomen, looks for external parasites, etc.

If possible getting a fecal float to see if worms are a problem would be good too.
 
Matilda’s gurgle seems to be lessening (maybe the antibiotics still kicking in?). I am noticing that her crop is largely empty until late in the evening. But then she fills it up before bedtime. I don’t know what to make of it.
Still checking her abdomen for fluid each day. Hers feels the same as my other girls.
I put out feelers for someone to do a fecal float. Maybe I’ll get some answers from it, even though I just wormed her.
Is there any way to estimate her age? My gut says she’s pretty old.
She spends most of her day just sitting, but comes to me for treats when she sees me. I feel like her quality of life pretty much stinks. How do I know when it’s time to say goodbye? It breaks my heart just to type this. 😔
 
Matilda’s gurgle seems to be lessening (maybe the antibiotics still kicking in?). I am noticing that her crop is largely empty until late in the evening. But then she fills it up before bedtime. I don’t know what to make of it.
Still checking her abdomen for fluid each day. Hers feels the same as my other girls.
I put out feelers for someone to do a fecal float. Maybe I’ll get some answers from it, even though I just wormed her.
Is there any way to estimate her age? My gut says she’s pretty old.
She spends most of her day just sitting, but comes to me for treats when she sees me. I feel like her quality of life pretty much stinks. How do I know when it’s time to say goodbye? It breaks my heart just to type this. 😔
:hugs
I glad she is improving a little.

The crop should have food in it by the time she goes to roost/sleep, that would be normal.
If it's empty in the morning that's good too.

What did you use for a de-wormer?

I have no idea how to gauge the age of a hen.

No one can tell you it's time. Evaluate her quality of life daily is about the best I can tell you.
She's eating/drinking, coming to you for treats, then personally I would just enjoy her. Check her over regularly for lice/mites and see that her crop is emptying overnight. All the hens I have let go, it was very clear to me what needed to be done (they were in a state of decline) - I think you will know when the time comes.

You may find this article helpful.
https://hencam.com/henblog/2013/11/caring-for-feeble-old-hens/
 
I used Safeguard to deworm. I read that it will kill gape worms and I thought that might be the cause of the gurgling.
 

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