WHEN TO CALL A VET Unfortunately, once chickens get seriously ill they tend to go downhill very quickly and are unlikely to recover without professional help. In this situation, you will need to make the difficult decision about whether you want to have your hen medically treated or whether it would be more humane to have her euthanised. It’s a choice nobody wants to make, and you should take into consideration the hen’s quality of life, the cost of treatment and the likelihood of success. It’s also worth remembering that not all small animal vets are experienced with the treatment of chickens. You may want to do some research ahead of time (i.e. before you have a sick chicken) to find the best place to go. THE CHOOK BOOK | 39