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OK, I chicken-sit for a family who have 2 hens - a Bluebelle and a BlackRock...
They brought the hens on Friday for a week, however one of them had been ill for a while. I'd been told this by text, but hadn't realised how ill she is.
She's not infectious or anything, but she has a large growth in her abdomen. The family have taken her to the vet and she has had antibiotics, steroids and painkilling injections; however it is very obvious (to me anyway) that she isn't going to get any better and would be best put out of her misery. As an aside, I am rather mad/annoyed that a vet has given her all these treatments, at a cost of about £60-£100 to the family, knowing that she will not get better.
The family's kids were distraught, wanting to cancel their holiday. It all seems like the family expect her to die whilst she is at mine. They have left me extra cash for any vet fees I might incur whilst she is here.
She cannot walk, or stand. She has to be put outside, or back in the house. She is eating and drinking small amounts, if the food is near enough for her to reach. She spends the rest of the time sitting on the floor with her eyes shut. If she wobbles over, she will just lie on the floor until she is picked up.
She has no quality of life, and if she was one of mine, I wouldn't have let her get this bad. I am tempted to do the deed myself and just tell the family that she died in her sleep... although I will feel very guilty about saying this to them...
They brought the hens on Friday for a week, however one of them had been ill for a while. I'd been told this by text, but hadn't realised how ill she is.
She's not infectious or anything, but she has a large growth in her abdomen. The family have taken her to the vet and she has had antibiotics, steroids and painkilling injections; however it is very obvious (to me anyway) that she isn't going to get any better and would be best put out of her misery. As an aside, I am rather mad/annoyed that a vet has given her all these treatments, at a cost of about £60-£100 to the family, knowing that she will not get better.
The family's kids were distraught, wanting to cancel their holiday. It all seems like the family expect her to die whilst she is at mine. They have left me extra cash for any vet fees I might incur whilst she is here.
She cannot walk, or stand. She has to be put outside, or back in the house. She is eating and drinking small amounts, if the food is near enough for her to reach. She spends the rest of the time sitting on the floor with her eyes shut. If she wobbles over, she will just lie on the floor until she is picked up.
She has no quality of life, and if she was one of mine, I wouldn't have let her get this bad. I am tempted to do the deed myself and just tell the family that she died in her sleep... although I will feel very guilty about saying this to them...
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