X-Ray of my favorite hen... RIP

[Sunset Ranch]

Had to put my sweetest hen down today. ((
She was a rescue and I've known for a long time that something wasn't right with her, because oftentimes there was a clicking sound when she breathed. The heat was really hard on her this summer and she made distressed noises while she was laying her eggs. Last night she wasn't herself, and this morning she didn't come out of the coop. I brought her in and gave her a good going over. A full, undigested crop, a very pale comb, no energy, a bit of runny poo on her bottom and no appetite were her symptoms. The vet took an x-ray and said that besides her full crop, she had a diminished lung capacity and a lot of calcification deposits in her abdomen. She didn't know what to make of it because she's wasn't familiar with chickens, but said my hen was suffering and it would be kindest to put her down. I opted not to send her out for necropsy for two reasons, 1) I wanted to bring her home and bury her on our property, and 2) the cost of all this came to nearly $400.00. Necropsy would have adding another $80.00. Please don't get on to me for not sending her body off... I feel bad enough as it is.

 

[casportpony]

Thanks Kathy. It is SO hard to lose one (I've lost young ones to predators on the last) but especially a favorite because they just don't come along everyday.

I did not know that but will file the link for future reference. Yesterday I wasn't prepared for what happened - I thought they would be able to treat her and she'd get better. She's buried in a nice spot, fitting for her place in my heart, under a big, pretty old oak tree.

It is hard... but glad you found a nice spot to bury her, that's what I usually do.

-Kathy

 

[Toddrick]

I wouldn't second guess anything either. If the bird was suffering enough for you to take it to the vet, then it probably would've died within hours anyways. Birds can die very fast once they lay down and stop moving. The biggest thing I'd take away from this is that if the vets don't treat chickens, then they aren't much use, except for fecal samples. But at least they made the transition smoother.

 

[Sunset Ranch]

Yesterday I felt like throwing in the towel after attempting to worm 39 birds by myself. I had a list of their names, baggies of bread chunks soaked with valbazen for each size, but it didn't go well. I got a few to cooperate then gave up and spent the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself. Before the pity party, while I was trying to dispense worm meds, I noticed a 10 week old pullet that I've raised hand raised was not her usual dramatic self. I brought her in, wormed her, and this morning she is perkier - thank God!

Tomorrow I've got help lined up to give the rest of the flock the wormer, and they will come back to help with the second dose as well. That's a huge relief.

What I've learned is that I definitely need to stick to a routine worming schedule. Prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Now if I can just find homes for all my extra teenage roosters...

 

[WalnutHill]

I am sorry for the loss of your hen.

 

[Sunset Ranch]

Thank you, WalnutHill. I appreciate it.

 

[rides2far]

 

[Sunset Ranch]

Thank you, rides2far.

 

[casportpony]

So sorry for your loss, I know all too well how hard it is to lose one. Did you know that chicken necropsies are free in California?
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/cahfs/lab_tests/index.cfm

-Kathy

 

[Toddrick]

Sorry about your loss .

Interesting to see a chicken X-ray, since most rarely would have one done. Where is the calcification? I only see what looks like rocks in the crop and gizzard.