Ruby’s Toe is Broken & Possible Ascites

[micstrachan]

Lucky joined them. Millie is the Speckled Sussex and Lucky is the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte. Ruby is the heap of red (Buckeye.) Should I try to dose the aloe detox? Actually, her friends just left her.

 

[micstrachan]

A cat fight perked everyone up, including Ruby, so I took that opportunity to dose her with the detox. Got 2.5mL in and then she had had enough. It’s not good, friends. Today could be her last day. I gave her the last of the millet treat. She perked up and excitedly pecked a few grains, then seemed exhausted and sat back down with her eyes closed. I have her confined to the red pen since she was isolating anyway. May relocate her to a sunny spot in a bit here, as she seems to like that best.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about Ruby Michelle. I think if you try to drain one, and the fluid is clear and colorless, that is the giveaway for cystic right oviduct. If it is yellow, it is ascites. Hopefully, she will perk up again after resting. Maybe she was worn out by all of the activity yesterday.

 

[micstrachan]

She’s resting in my lap in the sunshine. It’s not good.

Edited to add: Today is a DRASTIC decline from the past two days.

 

[micstrachan]

Sorry about Ruby Michelle. I think if you try to drain one, and the fluid is clear and colorless, that is the giveaway for cystic right oviduct. If it is yellow, it is ascites. Hopefully, she will perk up again after resting. Maybe she was worn out by all of the activity yesterday.

@Eggcessive, the vet was unable to reach the fluid. If fluid leaked out later, we don’t know what color it was. There was some blood when she tried to drain.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry she is not doing well at all.
I would leave her with the others. Ime, they will move to where they are most comfortable whether a sunny spot or sheltered area - seems like mine have a favorite spot they would go to. Their flockmates will come/go and check on them. I'm all for letting them be "out and about" and do what they are able to do unless they are getting hurt by the others.

I don't know of anything you could have done differently. I have not had exactly what Ruby is suffering from, but everything I have done with reproductive problems, read/researched, etc., the outcome is the same. It is heartbreaking for sure.

 

[micstrachan]

Ok, enough of the play by play already, but it’s interesting that Millie is sort of sitting guard between Ruby and Roxy. Ruby is afraid of Roxy, who knows it and picks on her. Bless little Millie for watching over her friend. She will be sad when Ruby goes.

@Shadrach, this is the same behavior I saw from Margo when Rusty was sick. Even though Margo is the alpha, she watched over Rusty toward the end. Millie is low in the pecking order, but a real sweetheart and ranked above Roxy.

 

[micstrachan]

I'm sorry she is not doing well at all.
I would leave her with the others. Ime, they will move to where they are most comfortable whether a sunny spot or sheltered area - seems like mine have a favorite spot they would go to. Their flockmates will come/go and check on them. I'm all for letting them be "out and about" and do what they are able to do unless they are getting hurt by the others.

I don't know of anything you could have done differently. I have not had exactly what Ruby is suffering from, but everything I have done with reproductive problems, read/researched, etc., the outcome is the same. It is heartbreaking for sure.

Thanks, Melody. I hear you. However, Ruby is pretty immobile at this point. She’s in the “sun room,” and is choosing sun. Though she went out just a little first thing this morning, she’s shown no interest in moving around since the . She did take a couple voluntary sips of detox water, but is showing no interest in eating anything.

Just opened her little gate. She came out for a brief moment, drank a little water, which is inside, but near the edge, and went back in.

 

[micstrachan]

I was going to have Ruby stay inside in a carrier with a heating pad, but she was getting stressed about not being able to go to her usual roost, so I let her go. She was able to get up there, and it’s three jumps... the first is ~3 feet, then the other two are about 18 inches or so. I did close the human access door up there to keep the heat in better tonight. If she’s still with us in the morning, she’ll stay in the red coop. Roxy keeps picking on her and it’s escalating. She doesn’t need that stress. Another option would have been the little sun room, but rain is expected tomorrow, so that’s out. Trying to figure out how to get her a heating pad in there... may put in the little carrier with heating pad and extension cord in case she wants it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I was going to have Ruby stay inside in a carrier with a heating pad, but she was getting stressed about not being able to go to her usual roost, so I let her go. She was able to get up there, and it’s three jumps... the first is ~3 feet, then the other two are about 18 inches or so. I did close the human access door up there to keep the heat in better tonight. If she’s still with us in the morning, she’ll stay in the red coop. Roxy keeps picking on her and it’s escalating. She doesn’t need that stress. Another option would have been the little sun room, but rain is expected tomorrow, so that’s out. Trying to figure out how to get her a heating pad in there... may put in the little carrier with heating pad and extension cord in case she wants it.

Yes, it does stress them to be away from the others, it's good that she was able to get on the roost.
What are your nighttime temps and what temp is expected tomorrow?

Hopefully the others will chime in. If it's going to be fairly warm tomorrow and you feel she does need to be separated, I would probably put the carrier in there for her to get into if she wishes - add an extra layer of bedding to make it comfy. I'm just not that sure about providing extra heat. If there is infection, I don't know if adding heat is a good idea? A lot I suppose depends on the temps, but if she is protected from wind/rain and has the carrier to huddle in, she likely will be just fine.