Hi, from what I've read on the forums I think I have a hen with water belly. Her abdomen feels like a water balloon. Now she's losing all her feathers on her abdomen. She stumps around like a penguin - probably because of the weight of her abdomen - and her wings are droopy but otherwise she tries to act like a normal chicken. I feel so bad for her, but if water belly is caused by a failing liver there's no cure, right?
I thought she was going to die in the night she had so much trouble walking last night. I had to lift her into the coop. This morning she seems fairly perky though moving slow and has greenish poop around her butt...I guess my question is, if there is no cure should I just let nature take its course or should I put her down and if I should put her down is there a humane way? I've only ever seen chickens butchered and what I've "heard" is that if you put them upside down in a funnel they are calmer (because the blood rushes to their heads?) I'm a vegetarian so even humanely butchering chickens would be hard for me but I'll do what I have to do I guess. Any thoughts? Thanks,
Céleste
I thought she was going to die in the night she had so much trouble walking last night. I had to lift her into the coop. This morning she seems fairly perky though moving slow and has greenish poop around her butt...I guess my question is, if there is no cure should I just let nature take its course or should I put her down and if I should put her down is there a humane way? I've only ever seen chickens butchered and what I've "heard" is that if you put them upside down in a funnel they are calmer (because the blood rushes to their heads?) I'm a vegetarian so even humanely butchering chickens would be hard for me but I'll do what I have to do I guess. Any thoughts? Thanks,
Céleste