When to know to discontinue treatment?

[Amy Weaver]

I think most of us have been there. We have a chicken that's sick and you've tried everything, so how do you know when to stop treatment and just leave them be?

I have a Welsummer hen that's close to 5 years old who started mouth breathing and sneezing about a month ago, plus not eating or drinking. I immediately separated her from the others and began giving her Tylan, which helped with the mouth breathing and sneezing, but she still hasn't started eating or drinking, so I give her water with vitamins by dropper. She'll peck at cucumber and watermelon, so I have those on hand at all times, but I know she's not getting the nutrients she needs. I've tried eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, mash, etc... to entice her, but she has zero interest in those protein-heavy foods. I've also tried herbal tonics from Moonlight Mile Herbs, which usually helps my hens pretty quickly, but not so much with her.

She lost so much weight and she stays puffed up and her comb looks so sad. Her poop is green, which I assume is from her not eating and could be bile. She doesn't have mites, lice, worms, or coccidia.

She's one of my most social birds, so now that she not sneezing or showing any respiratory issues, I put her in a small coop/run I have separate from my main coop/run, just so she can see and hear her friends from a distance during the day, then I bring her into my basement at night b/c she's not perching and I feel she's safer inside.

I absolutely hate giving up on any of my hens, but should I just leave her be and not force anymore treatments, including giving her water via a dropper (it seems I've tried everything)? Maybe she's just going through end of life and I should just let her go on her own terms in the basement. I started my flock with her, so I'm just now experiencing older hens and their end of life phases. My first one was just a few months ago and she went peacefully in her sleep and it might be time for this sweet girl to do the same.

We've had to put down a few hens before end of life/natural causes because they were clearly suffering from an ailment, which was hard, but it had to be done.

Just thought I'd reach out here to see what others do with your hens who are dealing with an illness that just won't go away.

Thank you for your thoughts and ideas.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I generally give mine a week or two to see if they improve. If they don't than generally they won't. We cull when necessary to ease their suffering, or to prevent the spread of diseases. So sorry.

 

[Skylark47]

Thank you for posting this. I'm in a similar situation. My girl has been in a chicken hospital in our spare room for nearly three weeks (after an eye infection and then pecking attack). She's slowly declining despite all my intense efforts with medicine and food. Slowly she's gone from hard food to soft mash food - melon, layer crumbles moistened and mashed, raspberries, sometimes greens and egg. But she's eating less and less each day. Her slow decline is heartbreaking. I keep thinking if I can just get her to eat more, her wounds are healing and she can survive blind with some help. But her energy and will seem so low. Her comb unbelievably pale. I know it's probably time to let her go, but it's a hard decision to make. This flock is my first and I got so attached so quickly.

So, I don't have any advice, since it's my first time with this, but just wanted to co-commiserate. Hope you can find the right choice for you.

 

[dawg53]

Thank you for posting this. I'm in a similar situation. My girl has been in a chicken hospital in our spare room for nearly three weeks (after an eye infection and then pecking attack). She's slowly declining despite all my intense efforts with medicine and food. Slowly she's gone from hard food to soft mash food - melon, layer crumbles moistened and mashed, raspberries, sometimes greens and egg. But she's eating less and less each day. Her slow decline is heartbreaking. I keep thinking if I can just get her to eat more, her wounds are healing and she can survive blind with some help. But her energy and will seem so low. Her comb unbelievably pale. I know it's probably time to let her go, but it's a hard decision to make. This flock is my first and I got so attached so quickly.

So, I don't have any advice, since it's my first time with this, but just wanted to co-commiserate. Hope you can find the right choice for you.

You didnt mention her age. However, perhaps you can put another hen in a cage next to your sick hen. Maybe then she will perk up, you'll never know until you try it.
Try to bring in a flock mate that was close to her in the pecking order. Good luck.