Urgent.

[ScottLee]

A monthe back i came across 3 bad treated hens, i took them off the guy and started looking after them, 2 have come on a treat and are now loving there new yard. howwever, 1 is still not well, some feathers have grown back, but she is struggling to walk, and walks very wierd, as if she has a overgrown tummy. She still has a go at other hens if they get too close gives thema good peck so theres some life in her., she also sits strange, almsot looks liek a vulture shape.

I fear she is a old hen and just not upto coming round no matter how well im looking after her and im undecided on if to simply end her suffering tonight.

Can someone please give me some advice. Thank you.

 

[Matt A NC]

If her abdomen is full of fluid then I am afraid she is suffering from ascites. This is just an outward sign of a very bad heart problem. Specifically, Right ventricle failure.

To be sure you can drain off some of the fluid. It will also releive her for a little while. The fluid should be a light straw color and could be a little blood colored.

Matt

 

[asher]

I would start by worming her, if you haven't already.

Then I'd check her feet for deformities or bumble foot.

I'm no expert by any means, but those are the two things that automatically came to mind from what you said.

 

[ScottLee]

i have to say im very new to chickens, when i got these 3 i built them a nice big hen house etc. So any advice on what to do, i really need telling step by step how to do it, sorry but i hope you can be patient with me.

Ok the bad chickens feet and legs sometimes are very red/ pinkish in color and some times normal .

I dont udnerstand about draining the fluid? do you mean from chest under her chest area? there is what appears to be a bone sticking out under the skin thin but long and lightish in color.

 

[asher]

Quote:
Listen to Matt over me! I know nothing abut that kind of stuff, he's wayyyy more knowledgeable! hehe

 

[ScottLee]

Ive just checked her again, her breast is VERY thin, all i can see is the middle bone and itss very disturbing, her legs and feat are pink in color.

 

[d.k]

* Scott, that is the breast bone. Is it exposed in some way?? Is there a wound there? She may need antibiotics.

 

[ScottLee]

d.k :

* Scott, that is the breast bone. Is it exposed in some way?? Is there a wound there? She may need antibiotics.

No wound no, its just protrouding out because shes so thin. she can hardly walk, and sits back on ur bum with legs infront.​

 

[ScottLee]

Here are 2 pictures of her. Please understand when i got her off the people who mistreated them she hardly had any feathers at all, i just gave her some bread, she fell over, forward and used her wings to stop herself falling over. I really dont like seeing her like this but i just do not know what to do.

1
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7172/image084il8.jpg

2
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/315/image085rg6.jpg

 

[ScottLee]

I bathed her in warm water and wrapped her in heated towels for the night on her own, she doesnt seem any better.

i noticed her poo is slighty runny, white on the outside with same amount of black in the middle.