Our dearest chicken (literally like a child to us - we have no real kids) - Flomp - has been getting very slow and lethargic looking over the last week, took her to the vet when it started but they dont know alot about birds at that particular vet and they thought best to keep watch and see if she improves over the next few days.
The last 2 days she does nothing but sit or hover, she is very obviously struggling to breathe normally and she is taking large breaths with her beak wide open. It's also quite loud a...how to describe... a heart beat or "ker clunk" sort of noise inside her (not at the mouth, more coming from the chest area) I was thinking perhaps she's just getting old? She does eat/drink when she wants (not ALOT though)
She is a mix breed (and last/longest survivor by about a year) from that particular batch of eggs. She is 4yrs 2months. ALL the other girls I had in that batch went within 2 years most cases from egg peritonitis. Flomp hasnt layed an egg in over 2 years so I didnt think it was anything to do with that area. But one of them did get quite sick and was diagoned with heart failure =(
Is this age long for a chicken? Do random mix unknown breed layers normally not last very long? I have a friend at work who has Pekin's and they're apparently 8 years old and still laying (they even hatch some chicks recently!) So that got me thinking maybe pure breeds last longer?
Anywho, will be taking flomp to the vet shortly..as the only thing I can do/think of is to end her suffering. But my other half really wants to find out what was wrong or why it happened.. He even thought I should probably take her to the vet an hour away who know more about poultry to at least diagnose her. Any suggestions? COULD she be saved based of my description??
Thanks!
The last 2 days she does nothing but sit or hover, she is very obviously struggling to breathe normally and she is taking large breaths with her beak wide open. It's also quite loud a...how to describe... a heart beat or "ker clunk" sort of noise inside her (not at the mouth, more coming from the chest area) I was thinking perhaps she's just getting old? She does eat/drink when she wants (not ALOT though)
She is a mix breed (and last/longest survivor by about a year) from that particular batch of eggs. She is 4yrs 2months. ALL the other girls I had in that batch went within 2 years most cases from egg peritonitis. Flomp hasnt layed an egg in over 2 years so I didnt think it was anything to do with that area. But one of them did get quite sick and was diagoned with heart failure =(
Is this age long for a chicken? Do random mix unknown breed layers normally not last very long? I have a friend at work who has Pekin's and they're apparently 8 years old and still laying (they even hatch some chicks recently!) So that got me thinking maybe pure breeds last longer?
Anywho, will be taking flomp to the vet shortly..as the only thing I can do/think of is to end her suffering. But my other half really wants to find out what was wrong or why it happened.. He even thought I should probably take her to the vet an hour away who know more about poultry to at least diagnose her. Any suggestions? COULD she be saved based of my description??
Thanks!