Thin, diarrhea, tired, out of ideas...please help

[pineapple416]

I’m so sorry about your lovely rooster. I admire those of you who have the love and strength to do this yourselves.

Me too, especially because I do not have the strength to do it myself.

 

[pineapple416]

I too am sorry for the loss of your rooster. It is hard to loose chickens you have grown so close to. My hen Sugar was one of the first chickens I got, as I got her in our second year of having chickens. She is one of my favorite chickens and it is hard to see her in a situation like this.

 

[micstrachan]

Hugs.

 

[lazy gardener]

Jack was a great boy. He lived a good life, and went out while he still had a zest for life. It was simply time for him to go b/c he was no longer successful at carrying out his flock duties. He needed to make room for his successor.

 

[pineapple416]

Thank you so much for all your replies it brightens my day how everyone does everything they can to try to help my hen.
I will keep the thread updated on how she is doing and if I have euthanized her. She is still alive right now.
I think I will continue feeding her and giving her water for a few more days and if she doesn't improve and stays alive I will think about having her euthanized.
She isn't looking great right now. I am holding her in a blanket in my lap and she is falling asleep.
I should continue feeding her right? How often should I feed her, twice a day?

 

[rebrascora]

I understand you wanting to hang onto hope.... we have all been there... and I know that doing it yourself is a big thing to get your head around and starting with a much loved bird is not a good time to start because you will probably waver in your resolve and lose focus, so if you have someone who can come and do it for you, that would be best.
I've done quite a few over the past few years (I have a potentially fatal virus in my flock whick rears it's ugly head every now and then) and I really find it emotionally challenging but it is about what is best for the bird and I know that I will do it with love and care and it is my responsibility to see that through. Like @lazy gardener I use the "broomstick method"

I hope you reach a point where you are at peace with the decision. Generally I call time once they lose interest in food and have no quality of life. I have nursed birds for months and had some miraculous recoveries, so I don't euthanize until I am confident that there is no hope, but when they stop eating and have that "tired of living" look in their eye, it is time. Only you can make that judgement.

I'm so sorry

 

[pineapple416]

I thought I would post some pictures of her in her prime to lighten the mood a little and help myself feel better.

 

[pineapple416]

I understand you wanting to hang onto hope.... we have all been there... and I know that doing it yourself is a big thing to get your head around and starting with a much loved bird is not a good time to start because you will probably waver in your resolve and lose focus, so if you have someone who can come and do it for you, that would be best.
I've done quite a few over the past few years (I have a potentially fatal virus in my flock whick rears it's ugly head every now and then) and I really find it emotionally challenging but it is about what is best for the bird and I know that I will do it with love and care and it is my responsibility to see that through. Like @lazy gardener I use the "broomstick method"

I hope you reach a point where you are at peace with the decision. Generally I call time once they lose interest in food and have no quality of life. I have nursed birds for months and had some miraculous recoveries, so I don't euthanize until I am confident that there is no hope, but when they stop eating and have that "tired of living" look in their eye, it is time. Only you can make that judgement.

I'm so sorry

Thanks. I would do it myself if I thought it was best for the bird but I don't think it is. Sugar made one of the most miraculous recoveries that I have ever seen when she was younger, so maybe that is why I am still hanging on to hope. When she was younger she became almost completely paralyzed for a reason I haven't really figured out to this day. She recovered in a month or so after that and has lived a full life since then.
I prepared myself to find her dead this morning but when she was still alive I think it gave me false hope.
I don't really know what I should do but I guess I should figure it out soon. Do you think I should continue feeding her?

 

[lazy gardener]

At this point, unless she willingly takes it when placed in front of her, I'd take that as an indication that she's ready to check out.

 

[pineapple416]

At this point, unless she willingly takes it when placed in front of her, I'd take that as an indication that she's ready to check out.

Okay thanks. Maybe I should stop feeding her then.