Sick chook - anything that can be done?

[goodfishwife]

So I have an ancient rescue chook (4y+, never had one reach 4y before!), Isa Brown.

The past few days she hasn't come out of the coop in the morning with her sisters. Yesterday I grabbed her to check:

She had a messy butt when I checked her yesterday (had poop in it, but today just urea, don't think it's vent gleet because there's not much?).

Her beak had overgrown a bit & needed a trim (happened for the first time a few weeks ago, maybe longer, but recently)

Crop feels pretty good - if it's sour it's very mild. Did feel like something was in there that maybe shouldn't be, but it was mostly empty.

Her crest had collapsed a little (or maybe I noticed that later in the day).

She only pretended to eat when i watched her yesterday. Today she's refused any food or water, & is lying down panting (it's mild weather).

So: any ideas what this is? I'm kind of assuming she's got tumours pressing on her organs, which explains not eating (but not drinking?)

Any suggestions for help? My usual go-to is egg yolk, garlic, ACV & yoghurt/ probiotic... But I don't want to force feed her if this is her reaching the end of the line.

I can afford vets except to put her down... but I'm not sure if she'd prefer to die slowly at home (if it's coming soon), or die quickly at a vets.

I'd love for someone to help me feel comfortable with a choice!

 

[Loving my girls]

Mmm she doesn’t sound good and not comfortable, how long has she been like this ?
Have you checked for mites ?
It may be a worm infestation ? open her mouth and see if there is anything unusual if not we can dismiss gape worm.
Not sure she sounds strong enough to deal with ivermectin, but if you are deciding she is going to die it would be worth a gamble in my opinion.
The alternative would be a course of antibiotics which would probably be gentler than ivermectin.
I would put her in a dog cage and separate her so you can see exactly what’s happening,
Bonne chance
See what others say …

 

[goodfishwife]

Mmm she doesn’t sound good and not comfortable, how long has she been like this ?
Have you checked for mites ?
It may be a worm infestation ? open her mouth and see if there is anything unusual if not we can dismiss gape worm.
Not sure she sounds strong enough to deal with ivermectin, but if you are deciding she is going to die it would be worth a gamble in my opinion.
The alternative would be a course of antibiotics which would probably be gentler than ivermectin.
I would put her in a dog cage and separate her so you can see exactly what’s happening,
Bonne chance
See what others say …

Thank you- it's just been 3 days of her not getting up with the others, yesterday I checked her over, today she's lying down panting.

I did notice a few mites when I cleaned the coop a few days ago, & I treated the coop & the girls, but I haven't followed up. (Assumed I'd knock it one the head, because there were very few) Plus I've been handling her a lot today & yesterday. But I'll check again!

I haven't looked for gape worm, but she's not acting like she has it. I'll check.

Yeah I was thinking of keeping her in the house tonight. & I might get her some antibiotics tomorrow.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[ksbkeys]

Thank you- it's just been 3 days of her not getting up with the others, yesterday I checked her over, today she's lying down panting.

I did notice a few mites when I cleaned the coop a few days ago, & I treated the coop & the girls, but I haven't followed up. (Assumed I'd knock it one the head, because there were very few) Plus I've been handling her a lot today & yesterday. But I'll check again!

I haven't looked for gape worm, but she's not acting like she has it. I'll check.

Yeah I was thinking of keeping her in the house tonight. & I might get her some antibiotics tomorrow.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Trying antibiotics is a good idea. Let us know the outcome.

 

[Eggcessive]

Has she laid eggs recently, or has she been molting? ISA browns are great laying machines, and may develop reproductive disorders, such as salpingitis or egg yolk peritonitis as well as cancer, or water belly. Is her tail position up or down? Are the normally white urates in her dropping white or yellow? She looks to be separating herself and weak. It can be very hard to know what sometimes until we can do a necropsy and look at the abdominal organs after death. So most times when they are very sick, we may offer an antibiotic, tempt with tasty food, and maybe vitamins and electrolytes.