Gone so quickly :(

[zanush]

I went out to let the chickens out this morning at around 7.30 as usual, they just wander freely around the garden. Hettie wasn't wating at the door as usual, when I looked she was just sitting in a roosting box, breathing heavily and seemingly unable to move.

I sorted a box for her and brought her inside. She still wasn't moving, didn't seem egg bound, crop was soft, but I couldn't get her to eat and drink anything. I left her in the sitting room, with a towel on her because she felt cold, and took my son to school.

Got back 10 mins later and she had died already. I can't work out why. Yesterday she was perfectly fine.. didn't seem ill at all. But 12 hours later she is gone. She was the friendliest of my ex batts, used to sit on my lap and help me eat my lunch, took dust baths with the kitten, and was just lovely.

Is it likely to be something contagious? I have shut off her house and will disinfect it all and make all the others (6 now) sleep in the other house for tonight.. but is there anythng else I should do to protect them?

I know it sounds pathetic, but I don't think I'll be able to cope if they all go.. I love my girls. They are as much pets/family to me as the cats.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[di]

Sorry to read that Zanush.
From what I've read I think often by the time they start showing symptoms they're often already pretty poorly...if the rest of the flock spot a weakling they'll peck at/bully it,so it's best for them to hide their poorlyness.
It could just be that it was her time to go,I don't know an awful lot about ex bats other than they 'can' have poor health due to the conditions they lived in for that first year.

Sounds like she was a great hen and you most definately made sure her latter time made up for starting life in a cage.{{{{x}}}}

[Suechooks]

Oh dear poor you. First of all {{{hug}}}.
Sadly ex-batts can do this but that doesn't mean they all will. I had 12 and 1 died the first week, one died after a month and the rest were around for u to 2 years or more. I still have one after 2 and a half years.
You have to remember the sh***y life they had before they came to you, and think how happy you've made them letting them do all the chickeny things they were denied before. I think everyone who's had ex-batts will sympathise as we've all been down this road. The favourite/tamest are usually the most vulnerable which is why we feel the need to spoil them.
Despite the heartache I'll always have some ex-batts as theyre such wonderful characters. Don't despair.

[Hans Mum]

sorry, its not nice when they just go but think of the life she had & what would have happened to them all if you hadn't come along. Ive had my batts about 15months now & I lost 2 of them a few weeks ago But at least they went with dignity & the sun on their backs. Like Sue I'll always have a few of these girls.

[frias]

Sorry to hear about Hettie. Last year of my ex-batts died died during the night without showing any signs of illness and shortly afterwards I had to have 2 put to sleep, one with tumours and one with egg peritonitis. I nearly gave up at that point and felt sure it was something I was doing wrong. It was just a bad patch however and hopefully Hettie didn't have anything contagious and the rest of your girls will be fine. (((((big hug))))

[Scottishnewbie]

we also have had ex-bats and they really are rewarding - ours have never laid an egg but it doesnt matter to us. 3 of them have died over the last year or so and the final one looks like she might not make it till morning - but we have thought this endlesstimes before now, so who knows!

[Glutton4...]

I lost my favourite ex-Bat earlier this week too - I snivelled like a kid! She was fine the day before, and dead in the morning. I've lost several over the eighteen months I've had them, but this one, well, she was the best.