What Can Go Wrong When a Hen Is Drained?

[ClareScifi]

My hen is about 3 or 4, and last May she was acting sluggish. I took her to the doctor and he gave her a hormone implant and she immediately perked up. I took her for a second one in late September, at which time she seemed just fine. Recently I noticed she was looking fatter than usual, and I picked her up and felt her hard belly. I took her back to the doctor, and he thought she was ready for another hormone implant. This time, though, he thought he should drain her, too, because he said some fluid came out when he implanted the chip... We are 4 days out from the procedures, and she's acting mopey and eating less and less. I am taking her back to the vet tomorrow morning. I noticed her crop seemed squishy and big this morning, and just now, when trying to encourage her to eat some meal worms, I placed her in the tub with them and liquid squirted out of her crop all over me-- clear without a smell. She didn't want any mealworms. I took her back to the run and she tried to poop, but is seemed a strain, and only a small amount came out, runny. I think her digestive system isn't working well. It might be EYP? The vet said he may need to put her on antibiotics tomorrow. He mentioned that sometimes something goes wrong with the draining. Does anyone know exactly what can go wrong? She doesn't feel hot, so I don't think she has an obvious infection. I wonder whether she is at her end, that this third hormone implant won't help?? All opinions appreciated.

 

[ClareScifi]

The vet said she has ascites, secondary to ectopic laying issues, when he drained her.

 

[SusanMarieYork]

Sounds like what happened to my girl. Give her an antibiotic and hope for the best. Hopefully she will absorb the eggs. The doctor can also perform surgery and take the mess/eggs out. A sonogram will tell you what is going on most likely.

 

[SusanMarieYork]

What does an implant cost you?

 

[ClareScifi]

$305.00, with a draining, about $250.00, without a draining.

 

[ClareScifi]

Thanks, SusanMarie. I've isolated her in a cage, and I got her to eat 4-5 mealworms by dropping them in there. Hopefully that will keep her alive until in the morning, although she did upchuck the last worm out with some fluid.

 

[SusanMarieYork]

ClareScifi...I am sending Dorian to the vet tonight. She quit laying last year on her own for 3 weeks. I was taking Clementine to the vet because her eggs were wavy, so we just took Dorian and gave her an implant too. Just in case. Can't believe it, Dorian is all swelled and looks like egg yolk is on her vent feathers. She quit laying before I gave her the implant so I never thought she would start again. Clementine has been laying close to a year, her implant only worked 2 months and 20 days. Wish Dorian luck tonight. Going to a vet we have never been to before but the other one is 10 hours away in Houston. I am thinking your lady has sour crop. You can drain it yourself. My vet gave me a tube to do so, it's easy. You sure are giving a lot of implants. I might slow that down. You can also buy some Medistatin online for birds/pigeon or finches for sour crop. You might see if you can give her some plan yogurt NO sugar added. I do not know what he means when something goes wrong with draining? When that happens they die because they polk a hole in the intestines. This is rare because the intestines float away from the needle. He should not put the needle in far, just the tip.

 

[ClareScifi]

Henny's first implant was still going strong at 4 months. So I thought the second one would last that long, but I was wrong. Vet had said to bring her back in the Spring, so I was thinking March. I also thought she'd be less likely to ovulate in cold, wintery January. Or maybe she has cancer. I think the fluid I saw drawn off was clear... I recall asking the vet if it were from internally laid eggs, which he had said was her reason for needing the implants, to stop her from laying. I now recall he said, no, it was from her liver or heart, so I fear she is shutting down, if the intestine wasn't punctured. He's experienced, so I can't imagine it was punctured, but sometimes things can go wrong, according to the colleague. The liquid coming out of her crop does not smell sour. Prayers for your sweet Dorian, SusanMarieYork.

 

[ClareScifi]

I almost wish I hadn't done anything, just let nature take her course. Especially if it is an intestinal puncture. But I thought I should try, since we had such good luck with the first 2 implants. The draining was the vet's idea. He thought it would make her more comfortable, and I think he found it alarming that some liquid came out of her when he put in the implant. He's a good vet.

 

[rebrascora]

Where does he insert the implant Clare? Do you know how much fluid he drained out of her abdomen and what colour it was?