[Mel]

Hi all,I am gradually coming back to the site-it has been a bit of a time recently.Anyway.

My Bluebelle appears to have a tumor,or I believe it to be so.Over the last week I noticed she did not look very happy,I checked her over and noticed not only does it feel like she is egg bound-but whatever it is,is really huge.just under her vent all the way down to her hips,this is I would say is probably some 5" in diameter,she has now also a runny vent.

I done the olive oil thing,checked just inside the vent and it does not feel like an egg either,almost like part of her.The lump is as hard as stone so to speak,this clearly cannot be an egg.I put a little olive oil just inside her vent and it was almost relief for her when lots of black droppings came out,I kept doing this and she seemed really happy that I was assisting her being very chatty.

However,it is not good,she is still eating very little,drinking fine but today is huddled up.I have had her 3 years now,and I know it is not easy but I cannot stand the thought of her being in pain.I believe I should do the deed,though I suppose I am reluctant due to there has been too much death around this year already!-in the family,and have had three hens and a pheasant pop it's clogs..and I have a really good history with my flock,just seems like a few of them are starting to drop like flies.(the ex batts I rescued last year).One was sitting on the fence clucking away and then just dropped off the top and she had already laid that day..very odd.

What do you all think,time to say goodbye to Bluebelle as an act of good faith.Where is that old farmer here when you need him?

[deepinthewoods]

definitely time to finish her imo, shes not gonna get better. my 2 last exbatts dropped dead for no reason too.

[YorkshireLass]

Ah, poor thing, and you too

Would it help to think that if your ex batts were rescued all together, then they're likely the same age, and simply don't have the lifespan we'd hope for after such an early life?

[Mel]

Ah, poor thing, and you too

Would it help to think that if your ex batts were rescued all together, then they're likely the same age, and simply don't have the lifespan we'd hope for after such an early life?

The thing is,I have a dozen or so Old hens,Marans and Warrens much older than these,Gemima is probably some 5-6 yrs of age now and she is as fit as a fiddle,ok she has always laid wonky eggs,but she has a most amazing feathering,so healthy. perhaps a few of those which came in last year were just doomed,they were rough I have to say. Bluebelle I have had since she was 2 weeks of age,and she thinks she is a Cockerel,she was laying up until a week ago,but always mounts the other hens!Even her tail feathers have been going cockerel like recently.Bless her,she is so beautiful and placid,I have to go out in the morning and help her to hen heaven.

[xemonsus]

So sorry to read this, no advice I'm afraid only that you have to remember you have give her the best life and this last act is the last thing you can do for her. Life  can seem terribly cruel at times I hope your delt a kinder hand for the rest of the year. 

[chrismahon]

We had something similar with our Lucy Legbar. Her back end swelled up really hard and no response from antibiotics or anti -inflammatory. Vet said it was a tumour and she hadn't got long to live. But she seemed happy and could still squit poo. Few days later and I swept two dustpans full of wet bedding from under the perch. Next day I took out one dustpan full. Lucy's swelling had gone completely. 6 days later she laid an egg and has carried on since. 2 and a half years ago this was. Vet then said it was an internal cyst which had burst. Have never used the bloke again.

On the other side we've had 4 Blackrocks with chronic abdominal infections, but their poos were green.

So don't give up on her yet Leghorn.

[Mammyshaz]

It's really down to your outlook on the girls.Our 4 are pets and are treated accordingly by vet rather than dispatch.  One of our girls had not layed for a couple of days then  was depressed picking at food and started producing green d. Thinking the worst I took her. She feels a bit doughy behind vent and vet suspects infection. This was 3 days ago and is much improved today, eating better etc. Still early days of course and on antibiotic and NSAIDs. Sheis only 1 year so we wanted to try.
 Whatever your decision it will be the right one for you