When a chicken seems beyond recovery, do you "end her suffering" or let her die naturally?

rod5591

Songster
6 Years
Oct 15, 2017
349
423
216
Cookeville TN
Over 3 years of keeping hens, I've had several hens become "egg bound" (I believe) and they wind up dying slowly over the course of a week, the poor things seem so miserable, that I've considered "ending their suffering" and giving them a quick death. But my wife says we should allow them to die naturally.

This is the part of keeping chickens that I don't like--when they get ill, I feel that since they give their all for us, that we owe them medical care when they become ill--but we are retired, we have no extra money to consult vets, etc., so all we can do is give them a dry place to sleep, and enough food and clean water, and if they become ill, they have to either fight through it or expire. How about you? What do you do? Do you attempt medical interventions on your sick hens?
 
I always attempt intervention with any sick animal, even if it's euthanasia.

I only put down animals when all other options are exhausted, or when their quality life becomes so horrible that death would be a mercy compared to survival.

Every owner is different, and some prefer a more "natural" method of keeping, but in my opinion the ancestors of our birds weren't created with the intent of being domesticated. We're already going against nature by keeping these animals as pets/livestock, and we should always choose what's best for the welfare of the animal over what nature intended, especially when you take into consideration how cruel nature can really be.

When you remove an animal from their natural environment, their welfare, happiness, and health is no longer in nature's hands, it's in yours.

Even if you can't afford medical care -- which can definitely be expensive because you'll likely need an avian specialist -- you're still able to care for the hen by preventing further suffering. It breaks my heart every time, but I'd rather my animals have a guaranteed quick death over suffering until death takes them.
 
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... we should always choose what's best for the welfare of the animal over what nature intended, especially when you take into consideration how cruel nature can really be.

When you remove an animal from their natural environment, their welfare, happiness, and health is no longer in nature's hands, it's in yours.

... you're still able to care for the hen by preventing further suffering. It breaks my heart every time, but I'd rather my animals have a guaranteed quick death over suffering until death takes them.
THIS

Nature is cold hearted and cruel. And that's not Nature's animal anymore, it's yours. Her pain is your responsibility. If you can't end it one way, end it another.
But end it.
Remember too, Nature isn't big on long, lingering deaths. Something would come along and put that animal out of it's misery. Remember always, the Earth provides, but the same Earth that provides grass for the sheep, provides lamb for the wolf.
 
It's important to figure out what they are dying from. You can easily insert a lubricated finger to see if there really is a stuck egg (egg bound). If egg bound, there are plenty of things to try - but unfortunately usually this isn't the real problem that results in death. Don't get me wrong- egg bound chickens will certainly die if not relieved.

Oftentimes what really kills a majority our feathered friends is some stage of egg yolk peritonitis. Over years of laying eventually there will be mistakes. The space between where the yolk is released and where it should go down the egg manufacturing line isn't completely connected, so the yolk can leak into the abdomen. Enough of these later (also known as "internal laying") unfortunately yolk is an excellent medium for growing all sorts of nasty stuff - and nothing can touch it in terms of antibiotics.

The next most common thing is either heart or liver failure. Often the comb will be darker or purple and breathing will be labored, especially when picked up.

Either condition can lead to "water belly" or "ascities". Personally I will ALWAYS try to relieve ascities as the relief it brings them is immediate. This isn't a cure, but it can give extra quality time. At the very least, draining fluid gives their organs relief and makes breathing easier. If you've ever had a joint drained, you'll know how fast things go from unbearable to "much better".

It's a simple thing that isn't expensive to have on hand - either 1" long 14 or 16 gauge hypodermic needles. I buy them by the box of 100 -- they don't go bad. Here's a very easy to follow video that gave me the courage to try it the first time. I don't bother with the syringe any more, I just poke once in the right spot with just the needle and gravity does the rest (which is how she does it towards the end of the video). Sometimes the hens perk up and walk away and they're fine for months ... and sometimes it just makes them a lot more comfortable in their final hours.


As for the original question - I always try to help. If it's obvious that there's active acute suffering that I can't relieve, I do the hard thing. If she's clearly on her way down but "out of it", a warm dry comfortable place is provided to slip away. Everyone finds their own way.
 
I have always tried to learn how to help myself. I used herbs, oils, and other common items to treat my horses when I had them. Now I do the same with my chickens. I learn from experienced friend, then the knowledge is mine. I always try as much as possible to save, or at least make comfortable. God forbid I’d have to end suffering. But I know that one day I’ll have to
 
I have always tried to learn how to help myself. I used herbs, oils, and other common items to treat my horses when I had them. Now I do the same with my chickens. I learn from experienced friend, then the knowledge is mine. I always try as much as possible to save, or at least make comfortable. God forbid I’d have to end suffering. But I know that one day I’ll have to
Agreed.

Medications are arguably always better because they're specifically designed to fix a certain problem and to do it quickly. Many medications are derived from herbs (for example, aspirin is a synthetic compound of salicylic acid, which is derived from salicin, a chemical found in the bark of willow trees.)

However, for a lot of people, taking a bird to an avian vet is very costly, not to mention the cost of the prescription medications. We often have to resort to relying on the natural source of many medicines.

I've personally use yarrow poultices topically to treat minor wounds in my animals because it promotes clotting and has antimicrobial properties. (Be sure to wrap the wound if you ever use it though, as yarrow is toxic to many non-human animals if ingested.)

When a vet isn't an option, there's no harm in trying straight-source medicines, especially if the animal already seems to be on its way out. Just research as far as toxicity -- a mercy kill is still better than being poisoned.
 
Agreed.

Medications are arguably always better because they're specifically designed to fix a certain problem and to do it quickly. Many medications are derived from herbs (for example, aspirin is a synthetic compound of salicylic acid, which is derived from salicin, a chemical found in the bark of willow trees.)

However, for a lot of people, taking a bird to an avian vet is very costly, not to mention the cost of the prescription medications. We often have to resort to relying on the natural source of many medicines.

I've personally use yarrow poultices topically to treat minor wounds in my animals because it promotes clotting and has antimicrobial properties. (Be sure to wrap the wound if you ever use it though, as yarrow is toxic to many non-human animals if ingested.)

When a vet isn't an option, there's no harm in trying straight-source medicines, especially if the animal already seems to be on its way out. Just research as far as toxicity -- a mercy kill is still better than being poisoned.
Hi,
I am currently trying to save one of my 10 week old Ameraucauna chicks. He began wheezing. So far I have isolated him fed him, fresh water and bedding. I put oil of oregano in his water plus poultry vitamins. Heg is still eating and drinking.
 

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