Appetite stimulants for old injured hen?

[cate1124]

My 10-year-old Welsummer, Charlotte, is just barely eating and drinking after what I assume was an awkward fall from the roost or attempting to get on it Monday evening. Did not see it; discovered her in pine shavings beneath. Vet has diagnosed a badly wrenched knee, and Charlotte has been on Meloxicam since; we are seeing little improvement in her mobility, and her inappetence is really concerning. Unfortunately, the injury was to her left leg, which she has used all her life to compensate for a deformed right foot. So this is a really big challenge for her, and I'm not sure she can meet it. Any suggestions to get her eating? I've tried all the standards -- wet mash, eggs, fruits of various kinds, greens, every treat I can think of. She even stopped taking the raw hamburger she used to love, and in which I hid the Meloxicam, which is a real problem, as force-pilling her invites further injury to the leg. There may be something else going on -- maybe internal injuries -- as vet says injury to a limb does not usually cause inappetence or depression. Any suggestions welcome.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

First let me say that a 10 year old hen is quite an achievement and testament to your good care! She's very lucky to have you as her keeper.

It sounds like you're already doing what you should be. She may just be in decline. Chickens are so tough, yet so fragile. I hope she is on the mend soon. Best wishes!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My 10-year-old Welsummer, Charlotte, is just barely eating and drinking after what I assume was an awkward fall from the roost or attempting to get on it Monday evening. Did not see it; discovered her in pine shavings beneath. Vet has diagnosed a badly wrenched knee, and Charlotte has been on Meloxicam since; we are seeing little improvement in her mobility, and her inappetence is really concerning. Unfortunately, the injury was to her left leg, which she has used all her life to compensate for a deformed right foot. So this is a really big challenge for her, and I'm not sure she can meet it. Any suggestions to get her eating? I've tried all the standards -- wet mash, eggs, fruits of various kinds, greens, every treat I can think of. She even stopped taking the raw hamburger she used to love, and in which I hid the Meloxicam, which is a real problem, as force-pilling her invites further injury to the leg. There may be something else going on -- maybe internal injuries -- as vet says injury to a limb does not usually cause inappetence or depression. Any suggestions welcome.

I'm sorry about your hen.

At her age, it will be more of a challenge to recover.

Is she isolated/separate out from her flock? If possible, cage or separate her within the coop/run so she's near the others.

Sometimes they do better if they have a friend to eat with since this is flock behavior. If she has a buddy within the flock, bring the buddy in to enjoy some food/treats with her to see if this will get her appetite going again.

You can also give Poultry Nutri-Drench a couple of times a week as a boost. This may help with appetite. Direct oral dose is 1cc per 3lbs of weight. The medication may also be suppressing the appetite as well.

 

[cate1124]

I'm sorry about your hen.

At her age, it will be more of a challenge to recover.

Is she isolated/separate out from her flock? If possible, cage or separate her within the coop/run so she's near the others.

Sometimes they do better if they have a friend to eat with since this is flock behavior. If she has a buddy within the flock, bring the buddy in to enjoy some food/treats with her to see if this will get her appetite going again.

You can also give Poultry Nutri-Drench a couple of times a week as a boost. This may help with appetite. Direct oral dose is 1cc per 3lbs of weight. The medication may also be suppressing the appetite as well.

 

[cate1124]

Thank you; you have often helped me. I am doing all you suggest. She has been caged in the coop; the last two days I have had her out in the coop with the others so they can sit near her and she can walk if she wants to try. I am a big believer in not isolating a hen unless absolutely necessary. I've been offering NutriDrench in water, but she is not drinking. When I give the other girls morning scratch, I give her a plate in her cage, as I think this ritual and their pecking encourage her to eat; indeed, this is the only time she does. I expressed the concern about meloxicam appetite suppression/GI upset to my vet, but it's a tough call, as we are trying to control pain/inflammation. And this hen has had meloxicam previously without it affecting her appetite, at least that I noticed.

I'm just very sad. At 10, I did not expect her to live much longer, but I did not expect something like this to take her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Meloxicam might be irritating her digestive system. If that may be the case you might want to stop it, and see if she starts eating. Thiamine in human B complex tablets can help stimulate appetite. NutriDrench has some, but 1/4 tablet B complex tablets can be crushed into a bit of moist chicken feed or egg. It is a cheaper alternative. Here is a good price:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spring-V...MIi4XxvZLQjQMV4ffjBx3pdQUXEAQYASABEgKX_PD_BwE

 

[LaFleche]

My 10-year-old Welsummer, Charlotte, is just barely eating and drinking after what I assume was an awkward fall from the roost or attempting to get on it Monday evening. Did not see it; discovered her in pine shavings beneath. Vet has diagnosed a badly wrenched knee, and Charlotte has been on Meloxicam since; we are seeing little improvement in her mobility, and her inappetence is really concerning. Unfortunately, the injury was to her left leg, which she has used all her life to compensate for a deformed right foot. So this is a really big challenge for her, and I'm not sure she can meet it. Any suggestions to get her eating? I've tried all the standards -- wet mash, eggs, fruits of various kinds, greens, every treat I can think of. She even stopped taking the raw hamburger she used to love, and in which I hid the Meloxicam, which is a real problem, as force-pilling her invites further injury to the leg. There may be something else going on -- maybe internal injuries -- as vet says injury to a limb does not usually cause inappetence or depression. Any suggestions welcome.

With her falling from the roost at night and now more depressive demeanor a stroke comes to mind which can happen at any age but is more prevalent in quite old chicken.

Maybe check her eyesight as it can get affected as well and adds to the loss of general interest in surroundings, food and social activities.

 

[cate1124]

First let me say that a 10 year old hen is quite an achievement and testament to your good care! She's very lucky to have you as her keeper.

It sounds like you're already doing what you should be. She may just be in decline. Chickens are so tough, yet so fragile. I hope she is on the mend soon. Best wishes!

Thank you for your kind words and wishes. At such a time, all one has done right tends to recede, and all one's mistakes and inability to help come forward. I had taken her off the roost earlier that evening to trim messy vent feathers, and placed her back in the shavings so she could re-roost herself, rather than placing her back on the roost. (I have this notion they are better balanced if they calculate, jump, land and settle on their own, whereas they may be off-balance if simply placed.) If I had simply put her back up there and stabilized her, she would likely not have fallen. In 20 years of chicken-keeping, I've never had a hen injured from falling off a roost, and hers is just two feet high. I guess the one deformed foot and her age caught up with her, and she fell just wrong.

 

[cate1124]

Meloxicam might be irritating her digestive system. If that may be the case you might want to stop it, and see if she starts eating. Thiamine in human B complex tablets can help stimulate appetite. NutriDrench has some, but 1/4 tablet B complex tablets can be crushed into a bit of moist chicken feed or egg. It is a cheaper alternative. Here is a good price:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spring-Valley-Super-Vitamin-B-Complex-Tablets-Dietary-Supplement-100-Count/40775779?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&selectedOfferId=ED000F33E03245849190B364198372E6&conditionGroupCode=1&wl13=2244&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=2222222227740775779_161193766053_21214199653&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=697173827980&wl4=pla-2348450966064&wl5=9059834&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=40775779&veh=sem_LIA&gad_soThankurce=1&gad_campaignid=21214199653&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIoRKm1azykZtqUULzQ1TXhBQ&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi4XxvZLQjQMV4ffjBx3pdQUXEAQYASABEgKX_PD_BwE

 

[cate1124]

Thank you. But she is not eating at all, resisting all treats, so nothing that requires food to deliver is going to work, and handling her to force fluids or meds of course aggravates her injury, as she struggles. She was off Meloxicam for more than 24 hours and seemed to do worse, though I had the same question about GI upset. I'm still torn; we are using it to try and control pain and inflammation, yet her mobility has not significantly improved. That and the inappetence have my vet thinking something more is going on. She is coming Tuesday, but I will ask her again today about quitting the meloxicam. I'm afraid my old girl is a goner, either way.

UPDATE: I've had her out in the driveway (flat: dirt, sun, shade weeds) and she had a fabulous, long dust bath. Using BOTH legs very confidently to churn up dirt. She tents her left foot when up, though; not weighting the ball or heel, so I think at least one problem is there. I had hoped after I had her outside with the others and offered treat plates in the run, she would respond to routine and eat. But she did not. (Thankfully, she did drink a little.) So I am taking yours and Wyorp Rock's caution on Meloxicam to heart; as far as I know she can endure pain and inflammation, but needs to eat to live. If she does not resume eating on her own tomorrow, I will consider syringe feeding NutriDrench and B vit in applesauce once or twice. (I'm solo here, and holding and dosing her simultaneously makes me fear I would get oral drops -- just the NutriDrench -- down her trachea.) I will not persist, though, or tube-feed, if her appetite sans Meloxicam does not return in a few days.