Update on Aprils rescue hens...

[solarbats]

Well my friends it seems that these poor commercial hens are destined for shorter and shorter lives. OK - so I do pick out the "special" ones but it still makes me so sad

These three hens were rescued at the end of April, they are from a well-run free-range farm.

Flopsy hasn't got long left - I suspect a lodged egg in the abdomen. She also has the softest plumage and I wondered if she had a problem with her preen gland but nothing obvious.

Braveheart has "that look" which suggests possible liver problems or cancer already. She hasn't grown any new feathers yet which is unusual, yet she still lays 6 eggs a week (white ones) and she staggers about like a hen with a drastic moult, despite daily doses of mealworms, spinach etc. On the funny side - she is the first hen I have heard break wind regularly (aptly named then!)

Spartacus looks really great and is super fit (probably too hyperactive) but she produces an egg in about 22 hours . The eggs get progressively weaker until she has a day off and then the shells firm up again - this pattern continues.

Here are some progress pics:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1145010...&feat=email #


And good luck to any of you still rehoming exbats - it's a mugs game really but I can't see myself stopping
Hxxx

[Barley]

Aww solar,
What lovely pictures and the hens look happy . You have done a marvellous job on them even if Braveheart has no feathers it is the quality of life you are giving them that matters.
Also I think those of you that take on the e x batts are brilliant and do such a wonderful job however short their lives are.
Keep us posted on their progress
Love
Lin x x x

[undautri]

you deserve a medal solarbats - such a perfect retirement home
xx kath

[Nut House Hens]

Helen, they are gorgeous. Re Flopsy, would an abdomen scrape be worth a try?. Mike does them for about £25, I dont know what they charge in your vet. I have had great success with them. No10 has had 2, the first to removove 6 eggs from her abdomen and she had an injection of Delvesteron to put her off the lay for 4-5 weeks. Unfortunately there was an egg in the making and it landed in the abdomen. At the end of the 5 weeks I got her the suprelorin implant and she hit an immediate moult from the hormones. 3 weeks later Mike did a second scrape and removed the last rogue egg. That was about 4 weeks ago and she is hapily running around outside. Sadies first scrape with the delvesteron workrd well, but that was in December when I was new to all this. She refilled over time and had her implant 2 weeks before her second scrape. Sadie didnt make it, only had a further 3 weeks. I believe the implant and op with Sadie were too close together. If I have to do it again I will get the implant, wait 3-4 weeks to allow the hormones to settle and the hen get its strength up again before the final scrape.
With Braveheart, you could try 2 things together for the feather regrowth. I used Forever Living Aloe Vera & Bee Proplis cream on the hens and it really helps their feather regrowth and I add the Forever Living Aloe drinking gel to their water. Both products work on the immune system but also in humans stimulate the hair follicles and in hens seem to stimulate feather regrowth.
Also, something someone shared with me recently was that one of her hens was diagnosed with EYP, she said she was fluid filled and solid. She gave her a plate of chopped fresh garlic in her dish everyday for about 4-5 weeks. At the start the hen are all the garlic before eating any of its meal. Gradually as the weeks went on it ate less of the garlic until eventually it stopped taking it. She claims the hens abdomen has gone down completely and her vet says she seems to be clear of the EYP. The hen seemed to self medicate with the garlic until there was no need for her to take it anymore
Might be a few things to try there
Braveheart looks so like my little tiny Amelia. They are so beautiful, feathers or not
Babs xx

[Littlechick]

Tug at your heartstrings girls aren't they! I love Flopsy's comb, what a great look it gives her! If they have been with you three months, perhaps Braveheart is taking her time on the regrowth? I have had batties that have taken a long, long time to refeather. At least she isn't getting sun burned lol!!

[solarbats]

Babs - thanks for your suggestions, and believe me if I were nearer I would not hesitate to go to Mike!

We tried to draw off fluid but there was hardly any there - which is why I suspect something more solid. However she does sound like she has a lot of fluid on her lungs which is giving her discomfort - wondering if something like Frusemide might help?

I have thought about a scrape, but there are two considerations:

1. There is a good chance that there are already tunours in the system.
2. Cost here has been quoted at £350 provided there are no complications (and aren't there bound to be?).

Even if money were no object I'm not sure if I would go ahead having seen how much of these problems are secondary to cancer. But I will try the garlic!

Bless you for all that you do for those hens Babs.

[doormouse]

Amazing girls with amazing stories and an amazing owner Helen! Babs - will definitely try the garlic trick on my Helen... !M

[Nut House Hens]

Frusemide should help if you have some, its a good diuetic and will help with fluid build up. I cant believe the cost you are quoted! Sadie & No 10 had no fluid, it was all solid gunge! In fact both of their abdomens had sealed off areas where the eggs and gunge were, Their bodies had divided off the area. Mike sid at first he thought they were tumors as the "tissue" surrounding them had blood vessels all over the surface, like a huge tumor, but when he took it away he discovered that their own bodies had sealed the area off!
I wish I could post Mike to you for a few days, but his wife may not be amused as she just gave birth on Friday to Reuben.
My Amelia has some sort of heart trouble I think. She is the teeny weeniest hen Ive ever seen. Her comb keeps going blue and she sleeps a lot. Im hoping she can make it through as she is Babys only friend

[solarbats]

I'm so pleased for you that you have Mike. Vets here are generally pretty mercenary I think Jo at LHR can't get a decent vet either - decent as in knowledgeable and reasonably priced.

We just have to be philosophical about it and try to make their lives as comfortably as we possibly can, and I tell myself that there are people in parts of the world who can't even get basics like antibiotics. Can't help feeling like I'm letting them down though

[Nut House Hens]

WOW thats horrendous. I always have 2 bottles of baytil here and 100 amoxycillan. If I can ever help, just ask. Mike is good about me knowing when ABs are needed, but I cant rip the ass out of it! But if I can help I will.
Babs