Charlotte D
Chirping
- Jul 11, 2020
- 42
- 34
- 51
I have two ex commercial rescue hens - I had three up until last Monday when one was put to sleep, she had gone blind the week before and then developed ascites.
Now one of my remaining two hens is also unwell. In some ways she is is still behaving normally as in she will show an interest in food and she will scratch at the ground but she won't really eat anything. She will pick the food up with her beak and then let it fall out like she is not interested in it. She appears listless, like she has lost her lust for life and we have put it down for the last few days to simply being heartbroken. Since Raquel died last week, Nesta (the poorly one) should have been the next in line to take over however it appears that her position has been taken by Nicole.
Today I have noticed that her comb is definitely purplish, I have picked her up and examined her and her crop feels squashy and when I have parted her feathers her chest is also purple. She is drinking water but is eating very little.
I have given her some bread soaked in oil today which she initially showed great interest in in however she put most of the pieces back on the floor and then seemed to be every now and again throwing her head, as if she had something stuck in her throat.
To summarise, symptoms are :
Purplish comb, purple skin on chest, small soft crop, not really eating (however still reasonably interested in food), looks sad and depressed.
She does not have worms (worm count done last week), no evidence of lice or mites, has not laid since 24/09. No sign of anything in her mouth, no liquid coming from mouth.
I'm thinking potentially heart disease, but also perhaps a crop problem?
Thanks for any help
Now one of my remaining two hens is also unwell. In some ways she is is still behaving normally as in she will show an interest in food and she will scratch at the ground but she won't really eat anything. She will pick the food up with her beak and then let it fall out like she is not interested in it. She appears listless, like she has lost her lust for life and we have put it down for the last few days to simply being heartbroken. Since Raquel died last week, Nesta (the poorly one) should have been the next in line to take over however it appears that her position has been taken by Nicole.
Today I have noticed that her comb is definitely purplish, I have picked her up and examined her and her crop feels squashy and when I have parted her feathers her chest is also purple. She is drinking water but is eating very little.
I have given her some bread soaked in oil today which she initially showed great interest in in however she put most of the pieces back on the floor and then seemed to be every now and again throwing her head, as if she had something stuck in her throat.
To summarise, symptoms are :
Purplish comb, purple skin on chest, small soft crop, not really eating (however still reasonably interested in food), looks sad and depressed.
She does not have worms (worm count done last week), no evidence of lice or mites, has not laid since 24/09. No sign of anything in her mouth, no liquid coming from mouth.
I'm thinking potentially heart disease, but also perhaps a crop problem?
Thanks for any help
