Sick Chicken - lingering on.......

[Peep-Chicken]

Thank you Peep Chicken!  I know it's so hard to figure out sometimes.  I've done so much research, but nothing totally fits her symptoms.  I just know she's getting worse.  Now I have to go pick up my Son and he's going to be so upset.

Definatly keep us posted.

 

[cbdiann]

Just checked again.....her head is quivering. Tried holding water up to her beak, but nothing. She's in bad shape. It kills me that she's probably suffering.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Just checked again.....her head is quivering.  Tried holding water up to her beak, but nothing.  She's in bad shape.  It kills me that she's probably suffering.

Is there a vet you can call? They might have some good information.

 

[dmmccu1993]

I'm sorry about your Claire. My Sis is in the same kind of condition...sort of. We're in our 3rd bout of illness with her since November. She's been sick a week this time. She stops laying before showing symptoms. Then there aren't many symptoms like you've said. Lethargy and green runny poo. I'm at my wits end right now not knowing what to do either. I've given her electrolytes in her water and medicated chick crumbles but she's not interested in either anymore. Her body condition is terrible as she's lost so much weight. I know she needs fluids but I'm scared to tube her. My Sis hasn't done the thing with her legs. I wonder if that's because Claire is so weak. 3 weeks is a long time to be sick. I might try giving my girl some vegetable oil in case she's not passing food/water through her crop or gizzard. Have you felt Claire's crop?

 

[cbdiann]

I don't know any chicken vets and we don't have other pets. My gut tells me that she's beyond fixing. I'm fairly new to chickens so I have felt around her crop area and around her body feeling for any masses or "stuck eggs" - but frankly I don't know what I'm feeling for or lack thereof. So I don't know how to feel her crop or what it should or should not feel like.

 

[cbdiann]

I'm sorry your going through the same thing with Sis. It's devastating when you can't help. I feel like we need to put her down, but that's horribly devastating and we can't let my 11 year old know - he won't be able to handle it. She's going to need to "just pass in the night". I can't do it - my husband can, but it's still horrible for me to even think about.

 

[torilovessmiles]

I'm sorry your going through the same thing with Sis. It's devastating when you can't help. I feel like we need to put her down, but that's horribly devastating and we can't let my 11 year old know - he won't be able to handle it. She's going to need to "just pass in the night". I can't do it - my husband can, but it's still horrible for me to even think about.

I'm so sorry

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I'm sorry your going through the same thing with Sis.  It's devastating when you can't help.  I feel like we need to put her down, but that's horribly devastating and we can't let my 11 year old know - he won't be able to handle it.  She's going to need to "just pass in the night".  I can't do it - my husband can, but it's still horrible for me to even think about.

I'm very sorry. You made her comfortable while she was sick, and you loved her as a pet.

 

[dmmccu1993]

I know exactly what you're up against. I've been subtly letting my kids know Sis might not make it through this time. It is heartbreaking. As far as Claire's crop goes...if it was big and hard like with an impaction you would know it when you felt it. I'm a newbie to chickens too but the first time Sis got sick was with an impacted crop. It was the size of a tennis ball and hard and took days for it to empty. I'm sorry about your girl. I know your frustration with not knowing what's wrong or how to fix it. Take care.

 

[cbdiann]

We put Claire down this morning. I was hoping my husband would do it last night, but for whatever reason he waited - I'm sure wanting to be sure that's what I wanted him to do. She made it through the night, but she couldn't even lift her little head this morning. It was time. I told her how much we loved her and said a little prayer. We chose to tell our youngest that she passed in the night - don't think he could handle us choosing to end her life. He hung onto the hope that she would recover. It's never easy saying goodbye to a pet - even a chicken.

I hope Sis pulls through and if she doesn't I hope your family comes together in your love and grief.