Pattie's X-ray

[Oola]

As you know I've been having non-stop chicken illnesses with 3 of my original 4 (now down to 3, RIP Cynthia) ex-battery hens.

Yoko has been on a course of antibiotics and diuretics for a respiratory infection, she seems to be better now which is encouraging.

Pattie has been very poorly though and despite bloods and fecal tests, they're still not sure what's up. She could have a lump inside her, but not in her cloaca bursa (just inside her bottom/vent), which is where the tumours for Lymphoid Leukosis (an immuo-suppressant viral disease from birth) usually appear.

She is drinking ridiculous amounts of water, so much so that she's peeing water and not a lot else. Her appetite is almost non-existant and she's really been just surviving on something called Avipro (pre and probiotics, enzymes etc) and Critical Care Formula (CCF, energy and protein powder).

We and the vet can't work out why she's drinking so much - she had a tiny amount of blood in her urine too. It could be a kidney disease, but about three or four weeks ago she had bloods done and her kidneys were normal then, despite having the same symptoms. It could also be psychological, something called polydipsia brought about by hormone changes, stress and other factors. Or it could be something in her intestines...tumour, blockage...they're not sure.

So tomorrow she goes in for an x-ray and endoscope to see if they can find out what's going on. Going under anaesthetic is a little risky with chickens, as their respiratory systems are complete different to mammals. Of course, as you know by now I'm going to be fretting about her. She's so sleepy at the moment, she doesn't like perching at night and just stands. It's not surprising when you consider how little energy she must be getting from her lack of food intake. I try to entice her, today at least she ate some pasta and had a little peck at her layer's mash.

I'm not expecting good news really, I think with all that happened with Cynthia I've learnt that battery hens really do endure so much stress and strain in their battery-caged lives and in the end, they get worn out and it's people like me that pick up the pieces (and the vet bills). I try to stay positive but I don't think it's realistic.

[franbee]

Oh you poor thing Oola, what a worry for you. At least your hens have had a period of pampered life, to make up for their stressful start. Fran.

[Healing Hands]

Oh dear Oola, I do hope Pattie gets better soon, tell me Oola is it because you have ex-battery hens that this is why they are so poorly?

Also do you have them insured like you would a dog or a cat, just so that I know that when I do get my chooks i think I would like to have them insured?

[jazzactivist]

Hi Oola, I am really sorry to hear that Pattie isn't so well now either. I think that you are right that battery hens suffer so much that it can lead to illnesses. Perhaps too, they are bred not to live very long lives anyway? With regard to drinking lots of water, my dog Oscar started drinking continuously (also just peeing water) for the last couple of months of his life and the Vet said that the most likely reason was late onset diabetes. I am not sure if hens can be diabetic, but it might be worth considering as perhaps a dietary supplement could help. I know that it is upsetting, but try not to feel too badly about Cynthia and now Pattie, as 4 hens have had a new chance at a high quality life thanks to you and must have enjoyed every minute of their freedom.

[Oola]

I'm not sure about the diabetes, as the symptoms she had seemed to clear up completely the first time around. I just hope that we have some sort of conclusion after the x-ray tomorrow, it's been a guessing game for so long.

HH I think that battery hens can be more prone to liver and kidney problems because they're so intensive for 12 months of their life. But then they're vaccinated against a lot of things that other hybrids or pure breeds might not at first. I've seen loads of people with 'normal' hybrids, bantams, pure breeds etc that have just as many problems. I've also read about people that have had battery hens for 5 or 6 years with no problems at all, it's just luck of the draw I guess. Up until about 6 weeks ago Pattie was really a star hen, she had a few problems with soft shelled eggs, but other than that she was as bright as a button, chatty and lovely all the time. That's partly why it's so hard, she's such a fantastic little girl that I would *Really* miss her if she didn't make it.

I imagine insurance for ex-batts would be really difficult as they're so badly treated at first, the insurance companies can probably see them coming a mile off.

[keepersdaughter]

Oola, sorry to hear of the problems you've been having with your hens health. Do hope
she's doing better.

[Pippa]

Pattie must have a hardy constitution if she has survived with all her recent problem, so perhaps she is a tough enough chook to survive the x-ray.

[Healing Hands]

Hope Pattie is feeling better this morning Oola. thanks for the advice about the insurance.

[Crocus]

Hi Oola, hope your girls feel better today. These battery hens don't ever see the outside and I wonder once they do, like your hens Oola, arn't they prone to all kinds of infections and other illnesses, being outside for the first time? I don't know much about chickens, hence my question. xxx

[Oola]

Hi Crocus

Well it's a good point, and the answer really depends on the hen. Some have weaker immune systems but for the most part I think they become quite hardy. They do run the risk of picking up things like worms, and botulism from stale drinking water (i.e. if it collects in an old plant dish and stagnates) can be problems, but good hygiene can prevent these illnesses becoming commonplace.

So...

Pattie's diagnosis...

WELLLL

Pattie is home, she made it through the endoscopy and all she has to show for it are a couple of small stitches. She's very tired and is tucked up under the hedge dozing in the shade with the others.

The prognosis has come back and it's not fantastic news - she too has sterile egg peritonitis. Apparently there was quite a lot of fluid in there that they drained off, very watery in comparison to Yoko's thick egg yolks that sit in her abdomen. They think that because of the diluted nature of the ascites, Pattie is drinking copious amounts to try and keep up with it. When she came back from the vets her crop was almost fit to burst with water.

I'm not quite sure how we're going to manage it - I mean, it's not like we're not used to it with Yoko, but Pattie is a different hen, different needs and different symptoms. I just don't know how to encourage her to eat because she seems so bothered about getting enough water, and neglects to eat properly. My vet said something about crop feeding once a day, but there's no way I'm doing that to Pattie.

I just don't know if we'll ever get the Pattie of old back - she was super-fast, extremely chatty (she is still quite chatty now, but nowhere near as much) and very bubbly. Now she seems quite lethargic and fixated on drinking. She does scratch about sometimes, so I wonder whether it's a case of her getting used to it. She's not bad enough to be put to sleep, I know that much. But I just want to make sure she's at least content. I know from experience that Yoko went down in the dumps back in September when she first got her EYP, and then has gradually picked herself up and is quite bright now.

Pattie's comb is a bit floppy, I don't know if she got hot, or it's the stress, or just a sign that she's going downhill. Cynthia's comb went floppy and then that was it :(

We have to go back in 5 days to see how she's getting on, so we'll talk to our vet about getting the nutrition into her without resorting to crop feeding.

So not great news, but depending on how Pattie goes in the next few days, she may be able to adapt and manage with it as Yoko has done. Yoko is thriving at the moment, although she's not too impressed with the hot weather and prefers to sit down under the hedges most of the day. I just hope Pattie starts to be a bite more spirited like she used to be, but I have to just give her time. She's had a lot of poking, prodding, etc. and may just need to recouperate before we properly assess her.

[Crocus]

Goodness me Oola, you do have your hands full with poor Pattie. I hope she gets better in the next few days. Perhaps the sudden hot weather bothers her a bit. As I've said, I don't know a whole lot about chickens, but thanks to you, I'm learning quite a lot. My gran and uncles always had chickens scratching and running about on the farm. Quite happy they were if I think back now. xx

[sunflower]

Hi Oola, so sorry to hear about Pattie's problems. Poor little thing. Makes me even more angry...fuming in fact about intensive farming.
I expect you have already tried this.......in her water tray mix up a very slopping layers mash with a hint of poultry spice. Also add lifeguard into her water. Will be thinking of you and your hens, love xxxxxxx