What could be wrong with my chicken?

[DuckieLover2014]

Good afternoon,
I'm so glad to here your Baby is making slow progress today. Each and every day that small improvements are made is a day closer to being her self again.

Im so happy to here shes a step closer.
I hope she has a fasy recovery. Send lots of get well wishes your way. Please keep us updated Friend!

 

[DuckieLover2014]

Thank you so much for the heart touching condolences in reguards to my very first hatched baby duckling that passed last night. Pumpkin was indoors and by me since hatching peroid. Last night was a rough and sleepless night. It was a emotional mess. My Daughter as well. Pumpkin passed in my Little Girls arms. Shes still a basketcase. Our animals as pets reguardless of type, sure have a major impact in our lives. Who would of ever thought a Ducking could ever possibly been so quick and so easy to become so attached to? And departing would hurt so bad. Letting go and swallowing the hope and couragment is the hardest thing to do upon departing from our Sweet loved pets. I dont wish this hurt on anyone.

Again, this site and friendly caring peopke have been a blessing to me. I have learned so much, and yet more each and every day. Its a true blessing to ve able to share with others what I have learned also. Its like were one big family who tries our best to share and support one another through animal blessing to animal departing ( death of our loved pets)

I hope all is well and hope to here in your next post that Momma is better. Shes so Beautiful and looks very proud her Baby Peep as there standing so close and on the look out. Baby Peeps is adorable.
They grow up so fast.

 

[krista74]

What a beautiful mahogany color she has. Is that a heritage Red? Since no one else has mentioned this, and she obviously has an impacted crop, I would try inserting a tube and putting some olive oil (I dunno 10cc's or so) into her crop, and massaging it. Maybe the tube isn't necessary, you could probably just use a syringe or straw and put the drops in her mouth, I just worry about it going town the airway. I haven't done anything like this before, but I *think* this would be the best course of action from what I've been reading. Thoughts?

Hi Toddrick

Thank you for the compliment - I think she is lovely too. She is one of four identical birds I bought which were sold to me as Rhode Island Reds - and judging by her mahogany colour I tend to believe it. For that reason, I was super-shocked when she went broody on me. And even more shocked when her sister did a week later! So much for 'breeding out the broody gene' lol.

I'm sorry to report that he has gone downhill in the last couple of hours. I tried to tilt her and extract some more fluid but none came out. She is back to shivering like she was yesterday. I rang my local vet (who generally does not deal with chickens) but he said he had a specialist vet visiting today only, in a town about an hour away. I have booked her in to see him at 1.30pm - in about 2 hours time. I am hoping she hangs on until then.

My plan is to put Momma and Peepers into a cat cage and take them both to the vet, to make it less stressful by tearing them apart. That way I can confirm Peepers sex too (although I am already 99.99% sure he is a boy!) and get her some proper treatment. If the estimate comes in under a couple of hundred dollars she will get treated - if not I will put her to sleep, depending on what the vet says about her prognosis. She only cost me $30 so I don't want to go crazy with the cost. However, I can't watch her suffer any longer either, and if there is a chance of recovery we will take it. I have lined up a new home for Peepers should the worst occur.

I think you are probably onto the right treatment suggestion. The sour crop only happens from the chicken drinking too much water tyring to pass the impaction in her crop. It may well be that she needs surgery to clear it as she has been unwell for some time. (Hindsight is always 20/20, isn't it? Especially for a beginner like me.....)

Hubby is going to FLIP OUT if I spend too much money, but I would really like to give her a chance if at all possible.

Wish us luck! I will report back in about 4 hours time and let you know what the vet said/did.

Krista

 

[krista74]

Thank you so much for the heart touching condolences in reguards to my very first hatched baby duckling that passed last night. Pumpkin was indoors and by me since hatching peroid. Last night was a rough and sleepless night. It was a emotional mess. My Daughter as well. Pumpkin passed in my Little Girls arms. Shes still a basketcase. Our animals as pets reguardless of type, sure have a major impact in our lives. Who would of ever thought a Ducking could ever possibly been so quick and so easy to become so attached to? And departing would hurt so bad. Letting go and swallowing the hope and couragment is the hardest thing to do upon departing from our Sweet loved pets. I dont wish this hurt on anyone.

Again, this site and friendly caring peopke have been a blessing to me. I have learned so much, and yet more each and every day. Its a true blessing to ve able to share with others what I have learned also. Its like were one big family who tries our best to share and support one another through animal blessing to animal departing ( death of our loved pets)

I hope all is well and hope to here in your next post that Momma is better. Shes so Beautiful and looks very proud her Baby Peep as there standing so close and on the look out. Baby Peeps is adorable.
They grow up so fast.

Thank you DuckieLover2014, Peepers is indeed a sweetie-pie. He must drive his Momma bonkers as he never stops peeping - hence his name! He is constantly trying to get her attention and at the moment it is very sad that she can't give him any - she is just too unwell. Peepers is half RIR (obviously) and his Daddy is a Buff Orpington - hence his buff colouring. He is in what I believe they refer to as 'the ugly phase' where he is only half feathered and looks like he just rolled out of bed, lol.

I understand what you mean about becoming attached to animals, no matter what type they are. I am extremely upset about Momma's state of health and do shed a tear every now and then, for Peepers especially. More than anything though I want her either well again, or to pass quickly. I cannot watch her suffer.

Peepers is an only chick so life for him will be quite sad for a while if his Momma passes. He is going to live on my brothers farm, where he will be well looked after, but will be the only chick in a cage on his own. Once he is bigger, he will be integrated as the only rooster to my brother's 22 hens, so eventually he will be ok. The next couple of months may be lonely for him though, and that makes me sad too.

Please wish us luck for today, and I'll pop back later to let you all know the outcome. Once again, so sorry about your dear Pumpkin. Amazing how one so small can leave such a big footprint on your heart.....

Krista

 

[DuckieLover2014]

Thank you so much for the heart touching condolences in reguards to my very first hatched baby duckling that passed last night. Pumpkin was indoors and by me since hatching peroid. Last night was a rough and sleepless night. It was a emotional mess. My Daughter as well. Pumpkin passed in my Little Girls arms. Shes still a basketcase. Our animals as pets reguardless of type, sure have a major impact in our lives. Who would of ever thought a Ducking could ever possibly been so quick and so easy to become so attached to? And departing would hurt so bad. Letting go and swallowing the hope and couragment is the hardest thing to do upon departing from our Sweet loved pets. I dont wish this hurt on anyone.

Again, this site and friendly caring peopke have been a blessing to me. I have learned so much, and yet more each and every day. Its a true blessing to ve able to share with others what I have learned also. Its like were one big family who tries our best to share and support one another through animal blessing to animal departing ( death of our loved pets)

 

[DuckieLover2014]

You are very right. The smallest animals can leave the biggest inprint on our hearts so easy that lasts for so long..
It makes it twice as hard when there in a ill or suffering state and really rely on us to help them through it.. Minutes become hours that can turn in to days and many sleepless nights tossing and turning with little to no sleep as we are stumped, feeling hopeless and useless not knowing what to do for our loved ones whom can't fix their own illness when it approaches .. Then to be so young and see such high hope and such great potential then just hours later it turns for the worst, leaves such a hurt and emptyness of what did i do wrong, i waited to long to help, could I have done anymore to of helped their pain, Did he or she suffer. All the above that we fumble on when them moments come. Leave us feeling empty and uptight brian storming all the above.. Then it turns tonthe worst with a sad ending... I'm so glad to see and feel i'm not the only one who is called ' nuts' or 'crazy' for balling my eyes out last night over the loss of my Sweet Baby Duckling who touched my heart so deep the 3 days we shared together.
My husband says im nuts to be so attached. So off the wall he says for vet bills on a Duck. Says there just a bird. WHAT??
I'm soft hearted. A big marshmellow in side. How can we jot attach a person or animal/pet who is just as attached to us? If wr rely on then they do the same for and to us. Is it possibly to do that and not get attached?

I will keep my fingers crossed for your Little Momma and peepers also.. I have a good feeling they can fix her up to good again with requited rest. However is all else fails, cherish your memories with her. Its easier said than done to not be sad for the loss and the lonelyness of the baby. It breaks my heart just thinking of it and how it must feel to be in your shoes. We want to do whats right but hurt and super sensitive and emotional to face it if things turn for the worst.

Thank positive its a specialist and its today only one time vet visit. It happend to be when you needed the care most. I hope they can drain and meds and request much needed rest to recover. I pray and will keep my fingers crossed for the best for your Family and littles too

Please keep us updated. Drive safe!

 

[DuckieLover2014]

Krista just to share with you my Sweet Memories, this was my Sweet Pumpkin at hatching, he/she was a weak baby who was on the edge from the point of hatching. But with high hopes he came along for what seemed like a week but ended on 3 short days..

 

[DuckieLover2014]

And much hope and wishes and prayers My Sweet Pumpkin blew away our fears with his strength he gained so very fast.. melted my heart from the second I seen him. This is my Sweet Baby hours before his very unexpected passing..

 

[DuckieLover2014]

Under the heat lamps we laid together just to snuggle and show him such great love. He was the best and sweetest snuggler and soft 'peeper' so full of life.

 

[krista74]

Update.....

I took Momma and her baby Peepers to the vet this afternoon. It was easier to take both than to separate them.

It turns out Momma was very sick indeed. The vet said that he suspected either egg peritonitis, in which case there was no recovery possible, or severe liver/kidney disease which had caused her entire digestive tract (from crop to intestines) to cease working. He said she all of her condition."

He said that he was able to provide treatment (being a drip for several days, antibiotics, nutrients delivered directly into the crop) but he felt that in his honest opinion it would be "unlikely help her". He said she had such severe symptoms that (whilst he was happy to try) he did not think he could save her.

I let Peepers spend few minutes cuddled up to his Momma and then chose to have her put to sleep. She is no longer suffering.

Poor Peepers is alone in his cage, making a terrible sound I have not heard before. Tomorrow he will be taken to my brothers farm where (hopefully) he grows up big and strong, and has a good life.

I believe I have done the right thing to end her pain, but mine is great.

- Krista