Hello,
I have a 10.5 year old chicken who is dying. I can’t decide if I should take her to an emergency vet to euthanize (can’t get a regular appointment) or let her pass naturally. I have no experience with chickens slowly dying of old age… my other chickens were either euthanized after an urgent/sudden illness or suddenly dropped dead on the roost (old age heart attack). I read the article on this website about old age dying and it was very helpful but I’m finding this tough and keep doubting myself. Every day I think she is going to die her in her sleep and she keeps going. I don’t want her to suffer but I don’t want to take her to a vet either (the emerg vet botched a previous euthanasia so I avoid going there unless it’s a true emergency. My awesome regular chicken vet isn’t working anymore). If anyone has suggestions or personal experience to share, please do. 10.5 years seems old for a chicken, right? Thanks
Some additional info:
She started slowing down and slowly losing weight over the last year but “suddenly” become emaciated in the last few weeks. (I was away and hadn’t picked her up in two weeks, the change was substantial in that time). I thought she was being broody hiding in the nest box (as she’s done before) but realized this time was different. It was before the long weekend and I could not get a vet appointment. I dewormed her and started treating with meloxicam and antibiotics in attempt to broadly treat pain/disease but she is getting slower and slower. I thought she would die naturally by now. It’s been a week… she has still been eating drinking and even did some walking/scratching but is getting less. Today is a the sleepiest she has been, she may have stopped eating. She seems quite peaceful and sleeping lots.
I have a 10.5 year old chicken who is dying. I can’t decide if I should take her to an emergency vet to euthanize (can’t get a regular appointment) or let her pass naturally. I have no experience with chickens slowly dying of old age… my other chickens were either euthanized after an urgent/sudden illness or suddenly dropped dead on the roost (old age heart attack). I read the article on this website about old age dying and it was very helpful but I’m finding this tough and keep doubting myself. Every day I think she is going to die her in her sleep and she keeps going. I don’t want her to suffer but I don’t want to take her to a vet either (the emerg vet botched a previous euthanasia so I avoid going there unless it’s a true emergency. My awesome regular chicken vet isn’t working anymore). If anyone has suggestions or personal experience to share, please do. 10.5 years seems old for a chicken, right? Thanks
Some additional info:
She started slowing down and slowly losing weight over the last year but “suddenly” become emaciated in the last few weeks. (I was away and hadn’t picked her up in two weeks, the change was substantial in that time). I thought she was being broody hiding in the nest box (as she’s done before) but realized this time was different. It was before the long weekend and I could not get a vet appointment. I dewormed her and started treating with meloxicam and antibiotics in attempt to broadly treat pain/disease but she is getting slower and slower. I thought she would die naturally by now. It’s been a week… she has still been eating drinking and even did some walking/scratching but is getting less. Today is a the sleepiest she has been, she may have stopped eating. She seems quite peaceful and sleeping lots.