Older hen not well..thinking Internal Laying/EYP..also not clearing crop

[vantain]

Sadly, one of my three year old ISA Brown hens is not doing well. She has been very lethargic for three days now. Sometimes, she sits, but mostly she just stands hunched up, head down, eyes closed. Her comb is purple at the tips and back end, she won't eat, but she will drink. The problem is her crop is no longer clearing. The last time her crop was clear in the morning was Thursday. Her vent is clear, but the feathers beneath the vent are covered in a very messy poop, and a yellowish stinky mess. It smell horrible. It's only on the feathers, not on the skin. No lice or mites visible. She has not laid an egg since last fall, but I have seen her in the nests as though she is laying. Her abdomen is firm, and her butt end feels like a rock, not at all like the others. I wouldn't say it is terribly swollen though, so I don't think ascites at this point. I'm not expecting much really. I know she is older for a high production hen, and it may just be her time, due to any number of reproductive issues.

Any thoughts of what I might try to help her as much as I can? I realize the answer may just be to consider ending her life, since I know she is likely in pain. It's hard to see them go through this stuff, even if they are "just a chicken".

 

[Cecisflock]

Sadly, one of my three year old ISA Brown hens is not doing well. She has been very lethargic for three days now. Sometimes, she sits, but mostly she just stands hunched up, head down, eyes closed. Her comb is purple at the tips and back end, she won't eat, but she will drink. The problem is her crop is no longer clearing. The last time her crop was clear in the morning was Thursday. Her vent is clear, but the feathers beneath the vent are covered in a very messy poop, and a yellowish stinky mess. It smell horrible. It's only on the feathers, not on the skin. No lice or mites visible. She has not laid an egg since last fall, but I have seen her in the nests as though she is laying. Her abdomen is firm, and her butt end feels like a rock, not at all like the others. I wouldn't say it is terribly swollen though, so I don't think ascites at this point. I'm not expecting much really. I know she is older for a high production hen, and it may just be her time, due to any number of reproductive issues.

Any thoughts of what I might try to help her as much as I can? I realize the answer may just be to consider ending her life, since I know she is likely in pain. It's hard to see them go through this stuff, even if they are "just a chicken".

I know its really hard but I would suggest putting her down, You can mix 500mg of tylenol with 200mg of valerian root if you don't want to do it with the hatchet. Just force it down her throat and she will pass peacefully.

 

[Buffy Brahma Mama]

I would give her a chance

 

[Cecisflock]

I would give her a chance

She is obviously in pain! Its not right to keep her alive without a way to help her.

 

[Buffy Brahma Mama]

Chickens can live to 10-14 years. 3 is young.

Can you give a little more of the background and what her diet is like, cage or free range, etc? Do you have her seperated at the moment? Maybe I can give you some things to try.

Also, a pic would be great.

 

[LaFleche]

Any thoughts of what I might try to help her as much as I can? I realize the answer may just be to consider ending her life, since I know she is likely in pain. It's hard to see them go through this stuff, even if they are "just a chicken".

That's exactly what I would do, as there is no cure for this and they suffer tremendously.

 

[vantain]

You can mix 500mg of tylenol with 200mg of valerian root

I've never heard of euthanizing this way. What exactly happens with this concoction?

 

[vantain]

Chickens can live to 10-14 years. 3 is young.

Can you give a little more of the background and what her diet is like, cage or free range, etc? Do you have her seperated at the moment? Maybe I can give you some things to try.

Also, a pic would be great.

She is in a 225 sq. ft run, with 7 other hens. The coop itself is 48sq ft. They are all fed flock raiser crumbles. She is currently in the coop, in a wire pen with a heater above it. It is 40 outside today, and I wanted her to be a little warmer, and I wanted to more closely see what she is dropping, which really is nothing, since her crop is not clearing.

 

[vantain]

Chickens can live to 10-14 years. 3 is young

Of the four original ISA Brown hens I started with, I have two left, who are both just over three years old. One died at a year old, and I put another one down last year due to similar issues as this latest hen. The other 6 hens are all just over a year old, and mix of other breeds. I have heard that ISA Brown hens don't usually live as long as other breeds, and usually succumb to reproductive issues often, and earlier than others. I'm not saying there isn't something wrong with my setup environmentally, but I don't know what it would be. I do occasionally give them meal worms, and I do sometimes let them free range with supervision. I have a lot of hawks and even bald eagles, so I don't let them free range. Water is changed out daily. They have plenty of oyster shell (free choice) and grit available.

 

[Buffy Brahma Mama]

She is obviously in pain! Its not right to keep her alive without a way to help her.

Hello. Many conditions can be resolved (some quickly and some with time) with appropriate care. Though she may be in pain, (we cannot know exactly what an animal is feeling), it may be temporary and with appropriate treatment she may recover to be happy and healthy again.

There is simply not enough info to know that.

With no disrespect to you or your comment, her caregiver and god/universe/creator ( whatever is a fit), will need to decide what's best for him/her to do, and no one else.