Poorly hen-could it be laying problems?

[jools2014]

Hi all,

I have a poorly Buff Orpington hen-when I went down this morning early she was not roosting and was just standing in a corner puffed up like a football. When my other hen came down she did move and go to eat but didn't really eat much. She has been out and about but obviously something is wrong-she's also slightly unsteady on her feet.

If it wasn't Autumn and cold in the UK I'd be saying she had egg yolk peritonitis or egg bound but she has not laid in months because she was broody, then moulting and now it's Autumn (my other hen is not laying either but is still ok-she was also broody around the same time then moulting), so would it be possible she is egg bound/EYP? I wouldn't have thought that was possible unless there was a brief period where she tried to go back to laying and couldn't in between finishing brooding and moulting. She's nearly 7 years old so I'm leaning more towards cancer but I have no idea-I've never had any health problems with her until now. Just seeing how she is overnight and then I'm taking her to the vet tomorrow or Thurs. I have had a lot of hens with EYP but being a Buff Orp she's been much healthier up until now than my other hybrid hens. I'm not familiar with sour crop symptoms but we do have quite long grass in the garden atm. Any ideas appreciated thanks!

 

[azygous]

Since the vet isn't scheduled until tomorrow, it would be a good idea to rule out drops disorders. Check her crop now, then again in the morning before she eats. An empty crop would mean you can rule out crop issues.

Feel her keel bone. She could be underweight and weak from being broody and then from molt. Recently we had a hen with similar symptoms that we determined was simply starving from molt. After just one day of special feeding, she had new life in her.

If the vet can X-ray her, any cancer ought to show up.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, it's possible she has a reproductive disorder like EYP, cancer, etc., I have found reproductive symptoms to be similar, so sadly, a lot of times it's hard to put a "name" to the condition until you lose them and take a look inside.

I would feel her abdomen, see if she's bloated or has fluid in there. If it's fluid, sometimes that can be drained to give some relief - it's not a cure, it's for comfort. Draining is a risk, hens can go into shock if too much fluid is drained at a time and the needle stick(s) can introduce bacteria into the abdomen.

I would also check the crop first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks to make sure it's empty. Consider getting a fecal float for worms.
Encourage her to eat her normal food, poultry vitamins a couple of times a week for a boost and maybe some extra protein a few times a week too.

Sadly, it's not uncommon for older hens to decline and have troubles. Once mine stop eating and aren't active, then I know there time has come and kindly put them out of their misery.

 

[jools2014]

Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes I think sadly we will be having her PTS tomorrow or Thurs. I have always wormed although it's been a few months since I last did it.

Trouble is I only have 2 chickens left and decided once I lost one of them I would try and rehome the other as I do not want to keep chickens any more and can't leave one on their own she will be too lonely. Of course I wouldn't leave one hanging on in pain just to keep the other company I have just been dreading this day, plus it'll be especially hard to rehome the other as she is the same age. I don't want to get any more chickens and be in an endless cycle, have kept chickens for 8 years and don't plan to have any more now. I do love them but it's things like this which is why I don't want to get any more

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes I think sadly we will be having her PTS tomorrow or Thurs. I have always wormed although it's been a few months since I last did it.

Trouble is I only have 2 chickens left and decided once I lost one of them I would try and rehome the other as I do not want to keep chickens any more and can't leave one on their own she will be too lonely. Of course I wouldn't leave one hanging on in pain just to keep the other company I have just been dreading this day, plus it'll be especially hard to rehome the other as she is the same age. I don't want to get any more chickens and be in an endless cycle, have kept chickens for 8 years and don't plan to have any more now. I do love them but it's things like this which is why I don't want to get any more

I'm sorry
You have done well keeping them for 8 years, it can be heartbreaking at times to lose them, especially the favorites.

 

[azygous]

I completely understand. When you're down to one sick hen and one elderly hen, it's the time to reassess chicken keeping.

The problem with rehoming the remaining hen is that if she is carrying an avian virus that is responsible for tumors in the sick hen, you need to know so you aren't exporting the virus to another flock. A necropsy can determine this quite possibly.

 

[jools2014]

Up early can't sleep. Going to check on her in a couple of hours-if still not roosting will try and get a vets appointment. I hadn't thought of the other chicken carrying anything-didn't realise that could be the case. I've had a necropsy done before on another hen and it wasn't too expensive-will see what the vet thinks and keep you updated. Would love to get some more chickens but just don't think I have it in me to go through it all again with a new bunch.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Up early can't sleep. Going to check on her in a couple of hours-if still not roosting will try and get a vets appointment. I hadn't thought of the other chicken carrying anything-didn't realise that could be the case. I've had a necropsy done before on another hen and it wasn't too expensive-will see what the vet thinks and keep you updated. Would love to get some more chickens but just don't think I have it in me to go through it all again with a new bunch.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[jools2014]

Update-we had to have her PTS-the vet is pretty sure she had ovarian cancer. For some reason I missed your post earlier Azygous, not sure how but those were some good tips I missed. I didn't check her weight. When the vet showed me her breast bone I was shocked she was so bony. She was all puffed up because she was trying to keep warm. I feel terrible-they are tame but don't like to be picked up so I don't tend to handle them much-when I picked her up to take her to the vet I could feel she was lighter than she should be but I had not checked her keel bone.

I bet she was already underweight from being broody a couple of months ago. It sounds a very similar case Azygous, she was very weak but the vet seemed sure it was most likely cancer (he didn't do any tests though), plus my other hen seems fine and she went through being broody and moulting too at pretty much the same time with no apparent ill effects-will be keeping a close eye on her though. I feel awful-I had no idea she was so skinny as she is so fluffy you couldn't tell her weight so to find out she's just skin and bone makes me feel incredibly guilty.

In the day you would hardly know anything was wrong with her she still came out and even ran about a bit (I know birds try their best to hide illness) just at night she looked worse.

The vet said it's not ideal to keep one lone chicken but it's ok so for now I think I'll be keeping just one unless I can find someone to take her in. Lost so many people and animals to cancer, life really is the cruellest thing.

 

[azygous]

Amen. Life isn't so much cruel as it is indifferent to our feelings.