Chicken trauma time.

One of my hens had been inside the Eglu for a few days. Both girls have both been off their normal laying schedule, sometimes laying eggs at midday, so I figured that she was laying an egg in there when I went out to feed and water them, and didn't pay too much attention. Normally they are never inside during the day.

Today I lifted the egg hatch and noticed her inside again, along with a bad smell. I decided to take her out and inspect her, and to my horror she was VERY sick, with a bottom completely drippy and wet with diarrhea. I offered her some water and she drank a little, but would not eat.

I immediately took her into the bird vet (once I found one!), and to my worse horror, was told that she had several large wounds to her bottom, all of which were swarming with maggots!!!!

I have no idea how she would get a wound in the first place. I only have two hens and they are very gentle with one another. No rats or vermin in the run, which is enclosed. My dog hasn't touched them. Nothing sharp in there either. It's a total mystery!

The vet said that perhaps she had a small irritation that then got droppings in it and spread to become a bigger wound, and then several wounds as the maggots set in.

My God, she seemed just fine until a few days ago! I feel like the worst chicken owner in the world, but I honestly don't know how this happened! She has always been a slow and irregular layer compared to my other hen, but for the life of me I don't know what else could have happened to her. It's not like she's sick from a stuck egg or anything. They eat a very healthy diet, the run is safe and comfortable...I'm at a loss.

So now the vet says that she wants to keep her in the hospital for a few days on injectable antibiotics. The maggots are still coming out of her wounds. (yech!), so there won't be any stitching up until the wounds are completely clean and pest-free. After that she will need to be kept inside our house for up to a month until she is completely healed, otherwise there is a chance of maggots reinfecting the wounds. I will also need to inject her with antibiotics. If I can bring her home a bit sooner, then the cost won't be quite so high, but already the estimate is over USD$300 without overnight care, and I can't imagine that is going to be cheap once added on!

I really don't know what to do. She's a sweet girl, she's our pet, but the thought of paying USD$300 for a chicken that will still require ongoing care is killing me. Dan is going to flip...he is already complaining that the chickens have cost us $$$ and daily eggs aren't worth all this trouble, etc. I can't see him being thrilled about a chicken inside our house for a month either, especially since she is *tremendously* noisy in the mornings. And I have no idea where I would keep her, either.

I can't imagine telling the vet to put her down when she has a chance of recovering, but I honestly can't really afford the expense and upkeep of getting her better either. I am 5.5 months pregnant, with a 2.5 year old, a dog, a home-based business, etc. I have customers in and out of my house all day with small children, another barrier to having a sick hen penned up in my living room.

If I were a farmer she would probably have been in the stewpot a long time ago. If she were my dog I wouldn't mind paying $300 and putting in the recovery time, but she's somewhere in between for us. A pet, but not quite at dog level, you know? We don't sleep with her in bed at night, you know?

Sigh. When do you throw in the towel on a chicken?

UPDATE: I just talked to the vet again and she said that Lucy's not eating, and she is currently just sitting with her head down on the ground. Not good at all. They will keep her overnight, give her food by tube, keep her hydrated and give her meds to control her pain, and if she's not up on her feet by tomorrow then we'll talk about what to do.

For everything she said she *could* do, it would be $491. I just can't afford that right now. I set the limit at $400 (which is still a stretch) and if she doesn't get better with what the vet can do for $400, then we'll put her down. Shit, I have to sell over ten Ergos to make $400. And for that I might just end up with a dead hen anyways.

Then I have to find another hen, because they are such social creatures. Henrietta can't live on her own as a solo chicken, she would be too lonely. They do *everything* together. In fact, I'm kind of beating myself up for not noticing this illness sooner, since Henrietta was pretty disturbed about Lucy, now that I think about it. She ran over to me every time I went outside and tried to get my attention, I swear. Lots of loud squawking. Which I ignored. Ugh, bad chicken mom.

I am so grossed out about the maggots. Jesus Christ, that poor chicken. Not only were they in the wounds, but they had crawled underneath her skin and made tunnels away from the wounds. So repulsive to even think about. I am itchy all over. I hate every fucking fly I see. Disgusting little bastards.