White mess on hen’s backside

[Rock chook]

My long and drawn out thread where I got all the wonderful advice is titled “Hard Crop Not Clearing.” I’m sorry but I don’t know how to link the thread. I might could if I was on a computer, but I always just use my phone.

It is a bit funny that we are/were both dealing with a Speckled Sussex.

Not a Speckled Sussex, it’s a Light Sussex and the others are Speckled .
She is really poorly now, and can hardly walk, she does manage to get around a bit, but doesn’t look like a hen at all, she stands with her @rse down like a bird of prey sitting on a perch, and she is soooo skinny.That being said, she is still eating and drinking, so all the time she is happy to eat and drink, and still alert, I will keep her going. Once she can no longer move on her own, then it’s time.

 

[Mimi13]

Sorry I got the breed wrong. I’m usually more attentive than it appears.

After reading what you last posted, if she were mine I would go ahead and end her misery. This is one of the remarkable qualities of a chicken, to be able to “act or appear” fine when actually not.

Two things that should let us know when it’s time for euthanasia you have just mentioned. “She is really poorly now, and can hardly walk” and “she is soooo skinny”.

If she was eating she wouldn’t be skinny and not being able to walk well puts her in grave danger. The stance you mention, “she stands with her @rse down like a bird of prey sitting on a perch,” is common in birds with reproductive disorders, namely EYP (egg yolk peritonitis) or salpingitis. I’m sure there are other things that may cause this as well. She might initially benefit from antibiotics and/or anti inflammatories, for a while that is; however, I do believe once a bird develops a reproductive disorder/disease it never goes away. I would also garner to say that she is filled with tumors.

My personal criteria of knowing when it’s time to euthanize is when the chicken can no longer act like a chicken - no scratching for goodies, chasing bugs, dust bathing, sun bathing. Those things are what makes a chicken a chicken, so to speak.

Of course you can keep her hanging in there if you wish and being the stoic chicken she will, but IMHO it is time. I do wish you the best with your little, light Sussex, but may I suggest one last thing. Whenever her life finally ends, please do a necropsy on her. I believe it will open your eyes to the myriad of problems a reproductive hen can go through. I know it did mine. Best of luck and my heart is with you.

Cheryl

 

[azygous]

I soooo agree with what Cheryl (@Mimi's 13) has said. The longer one has chickens, the more they are aware of normal happy chicken behavior. It becomes subconscious and when a chicken becomes sick, it's immediately apparent.

We also learn that chickens experience pain and discomfort and only begin to show it when they are in so much discomfort they can no longer hide it. It's a very sad, wrenching thing to have to decide to end a chicken's life, rather than permit them to suffer to the final end. But when you compare a sick chicken such as yours with the way they were before they got sick, then you know they aren't getting enough out of being alive to make the struggle worth it.

Very recently I ended it for a hen with many of the issues your hen has. I did a DIY necropsy, simply cutting her open to expose her body cavity, and discovered she was a mass of tumors. I saw that and knew I'd waited much too long to end it for her.

 

[Rock chook]

I get what you are saying, but she is still eating, she was first to the food this morning, still goes for treats of bread, crumbs and strawberry tops.

 

[Rock chook]

Well folks unfortunately the time has come. She is letting me know her time has arrived, she can hardy walk now and is just sitting in the run with het head dow., Tonight. I will do what needs to ne done. I feel like sh1t afterwards , like Im such a horrible person, but I can:t let her go on for days like this.

 

[azygous]

The task of euthanizing a chicken, especially one we have bonded with, is a very conflicting emotional ordeal for some of us. We don't want to rush the decision since it's final, but we don't want to see our chicken suffer any longer than she has.

You've already taken the first step, the decision, and set the time for the end. It will be the end of it for her, but for you, it will be the beginning of the loss and grief. It's never, ever any easier, no matter how many times you've had to do it.

It takes a lot of courage to face this and to put yourself through the anguish. Just please realize you are not alone. We understand. Your chicken is depending on you to do this one last thing for her, and you will get through it. We're here to support you.

https://the-chicken-chick.com/how-to-humanely-euthanize-chicken-by-dr/

 

[Mimi13]

I am thankful you are there with her and recognized it is time. As hard as it is on you, it will be that much better for her.

A note of personal experience: I wrap my bird’s body in a towel (just for a snuggle hold) before cervical dislocation. I do this because I continue to hold the bird until all movement has ended. It makes no difference to the chicken at this point, but it does to me.

Our thoughts are with you.

 

[Rock chook]

I have been out for a while come back and she had made her way into the garden and was sitting sunbathing. She wolfed down some layers pellets from my daugjter's hand, scoffed some courgette and 2 cherries from my hand and is now sitting enjoying the sun again. As she is happy I will let her stay until she is no longer so. I can't see het lasting more than a few days

 

[azygous]

This is what happens when someone leaks the news to a chicken they're about to be euthanized - miraculous recovery. But seriously, she'll let you know when she needs for it to end.

 

[Rock chook]

This is what happens when someone leaks the news to a chicken they're about to be euthanized - miraculous recovery. But seriously, she'll let you know when she needs for it to end.

Yes I know she will.