Running out of ideas on a rhode island red that's not thriving

[otoro]

We thought we were out of the woods with Lara, but unfortunately as fall and winter approached her condition deteriorated again, and quicker than last time. The first sign was really her balance seemed off, then she started the penguin walk.

Eventually I isolated her and made sure to give her plenty of pedialyte/water, also tried some chick saver, and made sure she was getting plenty of food and water and digesting it. Her condition became a bit more apparent this year - ascites.

She had been growing large hard masses in her abdomen. We tried to show her to the hens she was raised with but they immediately sensed her weakness and started pecking her on top of her head aggressively. Lara could barely walk at this point, and we knew that it was time.

Sad to say that we had to cull Lara the day of Thanksgiving. She stopped making any good improvements over time - while her temperament got better with isolation and she seemed vocally happier - her condition just continued to degrade where she was having real difficulty walking and the hard masses in her abdomen I believe were tumors kept growing.

It broke our hearts to do this. I'm getting watery eyes just typing this.

RIP Lara. You were a special girl.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry to hear that you lost your hen Lara. I am glad that you had another year with her, and that she seemed to be fairly healthy for a time. Did you happen to do a necropsy to look at her organs? It can be very educational to do that, and post pictures here. There can be salpingitis with a very enlarge oviduct, tumors or other things. Holidays are not the time that most of us want to do a necropsy, but glad to hear that you didn’t let her suffer. Thanks for the update to your thread.

 

[otoro]

I was strongly considering necropsy. I was very curious what those rock hard lumps were. I didn't do it though, I had a really hard time even doing the culling. Maybe next time.

 

[Waves]

Oh my god, i read it all now.
i'm so sorry for lara. so, so sorry.
i just want to say you a thing that maybe can feel you better.
Lara's story it's identical to the sad story of one of my chickens, Panta.
she always used to peck my trousers, she was so smart and she loved to play with me.
she was the smaller and the less power in the flock.
she loved to put her head on my shoulder when we played together.
so, she get sick. she was an internal layer. she seemed do be well, at a certain time.
she degenerated again. i put her in home with me, i cared her for 3 weeks.
she had all symptomps you described.
She died, despite all my cares and all my effort.
this to say you i really, really, really, understand you sadness, cause i was crying when i announced her death in this forum, some months ago, too.
I'm so close to you in this difficult moment, i', sure you did the impossible for your hen, a big hug

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We thought we were out of the woods with Lara, but unfortunately as fall and winter approached her condition deteriorated again, and quicker than last time. The first sign was really her balance seemed off, then she started the penguin walk.

Eventually I isolated her and made sure to give her plenty of pedialyte/water, also tried some chick saver, and made sure she was getting plenty of food and water and digesting it. Her condition became a bit more apparent this year - ascites.

She had been growing large hard masses in her abdomen. We tried to show her to the hens she was raised with but they immediately sensed her weakness and started pecking her on top of her head aggressively. Lara could barely walk at this point, and we knew that it was time.

Sad to say that we had to cull Lara the day of Thanksgiving. She stopped making any good improvements over time - while her temperament got better with isolation and she seemed vocally happier - her condition just continued to degrade where she was having real difficulty walking and the hard masses in her abdomen I believe were tumors kept growing.

It broke our hearts to do this. I'm getting watery eyes just typing this.

RIP Lara. You were a special girl.

I'm sorry to hear about Lara
Thank you for updating the thread.

 

[coach723]

I'm so sorry for your loss, and that it happened on a holiday. Thank you for the update. Reproductive problems are unfortunately not uncommon, and it can be hard to pinpoint the definite issue until necropsy. As difficult as it was, I think you made the kindest decision for her.