ill hen - advice pleae

[polo]

Hi everyone,

I feel terrible, totally responsible for whats happened. I let the girls out for a run around the garden and when i went to lock them away at 430 I found them all outside the run rather upset because the door to the run had blown shut. Ginger was lying on her side, couldnt stand up at all. She doesnt have a mark on her. All i can think is that she injured herself trying to get in.

She is tucked up in the kitchen and doesnt look good. Very sleepy and not perching. What can I do to help? Should i be syringing water into her soon?

Thanks, polo.

[Suechooks]

Keep her warm out of draughts overnight - tucked up in a box or cat carrier would be good. I'd let her slee overnight and see how she is in the morning. If she's injured herself as you suspect she may benefit from just rest. If she won't eat or drink in the morning then think about syringing water but make sure it goes down the right way or you can drown her. Could you take her to the vet tomorrow if she's still sick? Fingers crossed and don't beat yourself up about it!

[polo]

Thanks Sue, too late now. She just died. My daughter and i heard a horrible strangled sound and by the time we got in the kitchen she was dead. I think my 9 year old is traumatised _ her hamster died last week too.

She was one of the 5 we rescued in august- in an awful state so i hope she had a better few months. Still feel crap for not checking the damn door.

[janeyo]

Ahh how awful for your little one, but at least you know she had a healthy normal chicken life for a few months at least. Your daughter will be a better person for haveing had chickens in her life!
Don't feel badly, I often don't check mine til night time and if I find one that's got shut out I always check earlier the next day. 4.30 is not too late to be checking your girls!
Hugs to you and your daughter XX

[polo]

Thanks Sue, too late now. She just died. My daughter and i heard a horrible strangled sound and by the time we got in the kitchen she was dead. I think my 9 year old is traumatised _ her hamster died last week too.

She was one of the 5 we rescued in august- in an awful state so i hope she had a better few months. Still feel crap for not checking the damn door.

[Mell]

An ex battery ? Sadly these birds often die early despite best efforts, their poor little bodies have been push so far for so long. The damage is already there. So please don't blame yourself.

[polo]

No Mell she was a free ranger whose owner had died. Don't even know how old she was. she will be missed x

[Pumpkin Becki]

Poor polo, what a shock for you all. I hope the rest of the flock are okay. (((Hug)))

[Mell]

No Mell she was a free ranger whose owner had died. Don't even know how old she was. she will be missed x

I guess it was just her time then...

[elizajay]

Sorry to hear about poor ginger. It is too easy to let the run door blow shut, it has happened to me too. Luckily, I got away with it without your sad experience. I have kept a stick next to the door to stop the door from shutting since then.

[Suechooks]

Sorry to hear that Polo. Don't feel guilty it could well have had nothing to do with the door.

[SuzyB]

Aww thats a shame. Thats happened to me with the door blowing shut before. I found 4 stragglers all shivery in a pile by it, whilst the others who'd gone in earlier were all tucked up. I too use a stick stuck in the ground in front of it now. It might have well been her time to go, specially if you dont know how old she was, dont feel guilty x

[Mell]

They seem much better behaved than mine ever were ! If I didn't shoo them in they just went off & perched whereever they felt like, so often ended up in trees for days One of the reasons I now have ducks being tied to dusk got to be a pain.

Two sweet occasions were when my flock was slaughtered by a fox (that isn't the sweet bit btw) and a week later a cluch of chick popped out of the hedge, no idea how they survived & were brooded without a mum. This year one of my ducks vanished, & she was brooding 4 youngsters, camoflagued in the mint ! Very unusual for runners... 2 are now laying well, the other two didn't make it

[polo]

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone. We will be having a burial this evening - my daughter is insisting on it!

Mel - heartwarming story about the chicks and ducks x

Polo

[Nicos]

Hope it goes OK.
It's bad enough when we are upset- but to see youngsters come to terms with losing a 'loved one' is very difficult isn't it??

xx