It’s a bummer to start my first real post with something sad, but I think it’s valuable to document the steps that I go through, as an amateur, with ill ex-battery hens in the hopes that we can all learn something. If anyone reading has any better ideas & tips I would love to hear from you.

About a month ago I received two chooks – Almond & Banana from a friend. Both are ex-battery hens however due to the tendency that chickens have of attracting rodents, my friend was unable to keep them anymore.

A blurry picture of Almond (L) & Banana snuggling.

My initial observation of Almond when I first picked her up was that she was heavy- very heavy. Upon closer inspection it appeared that her abdomen was large. Her original mum said that Almond had stopped laying months ago. My initial thoughts were (and still are) that she has a giant tumour or an enlarged liver, neither of which can be treated.

Almonds large abdomen. The feathers have been cut back as it is so distended that when she defecates the poop gets stuck to her feathers.

Anyway, Almond was happy enough the first couple weeks I had her. Quiet, but she was a quiet chicken with her previous owners too. She would do the occasional green poo but then she’d do a few normal ones so I wasn’t too concerned.

Last week I noticed that every time I came home after work Almond was hiding in the bushes. I became concerned that perhaps the other chooks were picking on her, or that she was having “a sook” because her mate Banana was settling in well with the other girls. To be on the safe side, I started her on an Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) regime in the hopes that it would clear out anything that was making her slightly down.

Friday came and there was no improvement, so I sat outside for hours watching her. I noticed she was just standing on the one leg (right) and not moving much at all. Since she came to me I noticed that she walked a bit odd compared to the rest of the girls but on Friday I noticed that she actually had a slight limp. She also wasn’t eating as much as I’d like.

Almond favouring her right leg

Close up

I syringed her some ACV (3 mL ACV to 7 mL water) twice on Friday & boiled her an egg and rice to get her to eat some more. I of course thoroughly checked her legs for any signs of trauma and checked feet for scaly mite and the pads for bumble foot (any foot lesions under the feet.) All came out clear.

Slowly syringing ACV & water

Yesterday (Saturday) and Almond started spending more time sitting down than standing. Again with the ACV, rice and egg and a vet booking for Monday.

Almond enjoying the sunshine despite being unwell

Today, again, no improvement. I went “all out” and decided to worm her directly (syringed orally 4mL Avitrol Plus per KG weight mixed in with 3mL of water- I find chickens ‘drool’ if given the worming solution straight.) I then gave her 10mL of water and ACV and let her rest. During this time I noticed her eating some seeds but I still gave her some rice & egg.

After a rest I then decided to give her a warm bath and massage her “tummy” in case by chance she was egg bound (highly unlikely but I’m trying to eliminate all possibilities.) When I was drying her inside she did a “starvation” poo, despite eating and having food in her crop – not a good sign.

Almond getting a warm bath while I massage her tummy

Starvation poo

She has spent the entire day sitting down, walking perhaps only a total of 2m. I’ve syringed her water and ACV twice today and given her two meals of rice & egg. She is still bright eyed and alert and she is not fluffed up at all. In fact, she seems quite content just sitting there, although clearly she’s not well.

So tomorrow, it’s off to the vet. If they do diagnose her with a tumour/liver problem then unfortunately we will have to say goodbye to our beautiful Almond.

-Paula.

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