I have a Black Astrolorp (from my original flock three years ago) who suddenly started dragging her tail a couple of months ago. I took her to the emergency vet fearing she was egg bound but she laid an egg while there. $1000 later they sent us home with pain meds and no diagnosis despite xrays and observation overnight. I isolated her in our chicken recovery hospital coop and she seemed to perk up a bit but when the pain meds ran out, she relapsed.
So we took her to a regular chicken vet who looked at xrays and had same issue...no DX except that "it might be her heart" but if we find anything she can never go back to the flock again (because of meds needed). My husband opted to not check her heart because she is SO lonely in the isolation ward.
Here we are 60 days later and she seems worse (tail dragging all the time) but she is eating like a champ (fights her way clear to get her share of kale), is not being picked on much by other chickens and roosts w everyone at night.
I am completely baffled. I do not want her to suffer but she seems to be enjoying life. However I know chickens hide pain well, so she may not be as chipper as I believe.
Next step would be either taking her to the NC State vet school (they could not see her previously) or put her down. The vet school pathology dept told me to NOT have a regular vet do it because it destroys organs for the necropsy which I learned with a previous ill chicken. I welcome ANY suggestions. Hate to see her this way yet she is perking along pretty darned well.
will try to get a pix to upload
So we took her to a regular chicken vet who looked at xrays and had same issue...no DX except that "it might be her heart" but if we find anything she can never go back to the flock again (because of meds needed). My husband opted to not check her heart because she is SO lonely in the isolation ward.
Here we are 60 days later and she seems worse (tail dragging all the time) but she is eating like a champ (fights her way clear to get her share of kale), is not being picked on much by other chickens and roosts w everyone at night.
I am completely baffled. I do not want her to suffer but she seems to be enjoying life. However I know chickens hide pain well, so she may not be as chipper as I believe.
Next step would be either taking her to the NC State vet school (they could not see her previously) or put her down. The vet school pathology dept told me to NOT have a regular vet do it because it destroys organs for the necropsy which I learned with a previous ill chicken. I welcome ANY suggestions. Hate to see her this way yet she is perking along pretty darned well.
will try to get a pix to upload