lost one today

[janeyo]

I know there are folk who will say 'she is only' a chicken but I am very sad that I lost my favourite hen this morning.

She was a bit fluffed up for a couple of days but still eating and drinking, found her this mornign collapsed in the nest box very close to death. Whipped her up the vets as didn't want the rest of my brood to go down with the same thing. She then passed loads of fluid from both ends and died while we were there. The vet was about to put her out of her misery anyway as she was clearly dying.

Vet said she had peritinitis, as he belly was filled with fluid, and there woud have been very little could have been done even if I'd taken her sooner. They go downhill so quickly and often perk up again. But now I feel bad for not going yesterday as she might have not suffered so much today.

She was our fave girl, the one who loved a cuddle and we even took her to school for a pets show-and-tell last year - she was a great hen and will be missed.

But at least she had a great life scratching about and digging for worms in the open air.

[Nicos]

Aww...that's really sad...poor little lass.

She wasn't 'just a chicken'....she'd nudged her way into you heart- and from the sounds of it, a lot of other people's too..esp at school.
I'm sure there'll be quite a few young peeps who will have chooks now when they grow up just because she was so lovely.

Big hug gal..and nope- don't feel bad xx

[shirlthegirl43]

(((hugs))) don't beat yourself up too much Janeyo, as you say, they can look close to death one day and be fine the next.

[Glutton4...]

My sympathies, Hon. It is sad when they go.

[vicky]

They are all different, I don't think those that don't have them understand, but lots of us do! Sympathy to you x

[petal]

Its so upsetting isn't it? At least you can give her a decent burial with some nice flowers.I only have photos to look at of those 2 that nasty dog took recently.Total sympathy from me to you.

[binley100]

She's not only a chicken she was part of the family.........Sympathies XX

[Suechooks]

{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}

[SuzyB]

Aww thats very sad because they do become part of the family dont they. I lost my little Cream Legbar yesterday, she was my Sweetpea. She'd always been a bit sickly, she came to me with mycoplasmosis, had 4 lots of injections to try and get her fit but the cough and snuffles hung around. She didnt grow much either in the 3 months I had her but she was very affectionate and quickly became a favourite. RIP to our girls x x

[Flummery]

So sorry to hear about the losses - I had one of my own today. Ruby, bless her, had been on and off for some time and seemed to be picking up. Today she was clearly miserable and the vet diagnosed a lump on her liver. Tumour or abcess, the result would be the same. He suspectd she was bleeding internally from it too. Poor thing. Wish I'd taken her sooner but you think they are improving - or maybe you just hope so.

[polo]

Hugs to you all - what a week!

[chris]

crazy how attached you get to them... sorry to hear that!

[elizajay]

Sad for both your chook losses Janeyo and Flummery. My Barley died today too, my favourite.

[country chic]

sympathise as so sad when they go.

[lettucegrow!]

This is a sad start to the new year. Sorry to hear of your losses everyone, they're never 'just chickens' especially when a small flock's kept- they really work their way in there. xxx