I'm going to have to euthanize my pet hen.

First off, I love my veterinarian. He knows so much about all different animals that it amazes me. I've been trying to get an appointment for my pet hen since Friday. I was more than willing to take her to the clinic and charge me for his the diagnosis. But he an I have a soft spot for one another and he hates to have to charge me so he called instead.

I explained what was wrong with Sweetie. I told that I thought that she had a broken knee, and now that it was healing enough for her to kind of walk, her right foot turned inward so the toes of her right foot some times touched the toes or the good left toes. He asked how I thought it happened. The only thing I was thinking was that the rooster jumped on her. I can't blame the rooster. They're born to rape. They can't help it. But when he jumped on her when she wasn't expecting it this time, her knee broke.

He said that she had a ruptured her cruchiate I know what it is but I don't know how to spell it) ligament. He said that cows get the same thing sometimes when a big bull jumps on her. He said that he can fix it dogs and cats. He once fixed it on my favorite dairy goat. But he said that the surgery doesn't work on cows and he can't figure out how he might make it work on a hen even if I had buckets of money.

He is so kind. He asked if I knew how to euthanize her humanly. I know how. It's not a fun job, but the way I learned to do it there is no apparent stress to the animal. And that was basically the end of the conversation.

I'll give Sweetie a couple more weeks just in case she manages to overcome it. Two weeks. No more. I can do the hard thing when it is the best choice.

Wow Liz! After all you've gone through with her, this is a shame. You really made her a pet. Her injury makes me think of my mother-in-law's broken pelvis, which led to her demise, although I'm sure it was not caused by the same thing (sorry, had to say that).
Steve

I made a joke there, but it came from the idea that it seems odd a certain injury can have such a devastating affect.
Sorry you have to do this.

I loved the joke Steve. I doubt that I'll ever get that injury from a "rooster" either. Of course you never know.......

I can't feel too bad about this. I was able to let this poor animal that was treated it's entire life like a product a real life. She's one of a few meat chickens to experience a life as a real chicken.

You're a kind and benevolent soul Liz. I sure hope she recovers over the next 2 weeks...

Thank you, Danny. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. This chicken has surprised me before.

C'mon Sweetie surprise us all again!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LizStreithorst

I can't feel too bad about this. I was able to let this poor animal that was treated it's entire life like a product a real life. She's one of a few meat chickens to experience a life as a real chicken.

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Discus Paul has some good recipes

Jeanne

Any chance a splint will help? I know, probably not, but... :sorry:

Not really. The ligament that holds the knee together has torn apart. Nothing will put it back like it was. Thanks for thinking of her, though.

I hope she miraculously recover!

There is a number of pro athletes that can perform at an elite level without their ACL. Sweetie sounds like a pro, maybe she will come good too!

How do you tell if a chicken is suffering or in pain?

It's hard because they don't moan and groan. I think that it hurts her to walk because she mostly sits in one place, just walking occasionally and just a few steps each time. She outside right now, and I'll be going out to push the mower so I can keep an eye on her. I've got to give her a lot of credit. She's trying hard.

So very sorry to hear, Liz - here's hoping she can make enough of a recovery to at least limp around, it does sound like she is trying, poor thing.