It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

smileyt_2

Hulloo ladies. I need a listening ear from you, please, as I have a tough decision to make.

I have two remaining hens, Hepzibah and Morticia. Hepzibah has been ill on and off for a few months but each time she recovers. However it looks like this time she isn't going to recover - it's a beautiful day here and she is sitting inside the hen house and looks to be in pain. She is not responding the the medication the vet gave me ten days ago. I think I am going to take her back to the vet on Friday (I am working until then) and it will probably be curtains.:(

This means I will be left with Morticia. She is currently healthy. However, they are flock birds and it is cruel to keep one hen on its own and she will be miserable. I know she will, because I had Mavis hen for a while on her own until I could get Hepzibah and Morticia, and she was very miserable on her own. Plus Hepzibah and Morticia spend a lot of time together; they sit on their perch in the hen pen together and watch the world go by (such as it is in my back yard), and peck crumbs off each others' beaks. They are friends.

I can't afford to get any more hens because the vet's fees are crippling me financially (I have spent £400 on the hens alone in the last year) and I don't want to take on any more animals if I can't afford to care for them properly. I have tried on five different chicken forums to see if anyone would rehome Morticia for me, but no-one wants her because she is a carrier of Marek's Disease. This is a disease which is fatal to hens and can wipe out an entire flock in a few weeks; there is no cure. So I can understand why no-one else wants her. The vet warned me that this would be the case, but I tried anyway.

I was going to keep her and see how she gets on by herself, but I think I would be doing that for me. Now I am thinking that it would be kinder to have her put to sleep at the same time as Hepzibah. They will have had an extra 15 months of life with me, as they would have gone to slaughter otherwise. They have experienced two summers (and a snowy winter), the chance to scratch around for insects and have dustbaths - in short, they have been allowed to be hens. They will have a far gentler and more humane death at the vet's than they would have if they'd been slaughtered. They have had a good quality of life chez Smileyt

The only sticking point is that it feels so wrong to euthanise a healthy animal. (Putting aside my emotions of having to say goodbye to my girls).

I believe I would be acting in Morticia's best interests if I had her put to sleep when Hepzibah is put to sleep. But there is a lingering doubt that I am being selfish by taking a healthy life. If I had known how much veterinary treatment hens need, I would not have taken them on in the first place, but all the research I did said that they were hardy wee beasties (mine haven't been). Also I find it difficult to cope with the emotional side of constantly watching the hens for any signs of illness.


I will of course speak to the vet about it when I take Hepzibah up there (if I can string a sentence together, because I am filling up now just typing this, and I know I will be crying in the surgery.) She might be OK, of course, in which case the decision can be deferred until the situation arises again, which it will. He may refuse to euthanise a healthy animal, anyway - I don't know.

I'm not asking any of you to make the decision for me. I'm just asking for comments, please, to make sure I haven't missed any points in my reasoning. I know that if you comment, you will do so kindly but honestly, and not post nasty troll remarks.

Does anyone have any comments?

Thanks.

[Deleted User]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

kidcat

Greent - that must have been awful for your DS, I know one of my biggest nightmares recently is that one of the kids will find elderly cat if she passes at home, with both boys being ASd its bad enough telling them but having them find her too. Well done on the proper funeral I am sure he will appreciate the chance to say goodbye.

Its a beautiful day here (sorry mardatha) and washing all on line - its a busy week with loads on in DS7 school (I am beginning to feel bombarded by them tbh), and DD5 is still off school sick - chest infection and her lung isnt functioning properly on one side apparently. So am going to have to run the gauntlet and request some work sheets at home for her to do - it never goes down well - you would think they would be happy to have her do some stuff to keep up - but its always a big no no.

The tomatoes are all turning red and there are still a hundred or more on the plants.

GQ well done on the pumpkin capers will definitely attempt the seeds in the oven and a considering the risotto too - I love rissotto but no-one else is very keen.

D&DD

Kittie quick Q did you dry your onions off before dehydrating them I need to get mine up today but didn't know if I should stick them on tomorrow??
Wrong thread I know but I saw you on here lol
Thanks

kidcat

Smileyt- I obviously cross posted with you, but didnt want you to feel ignored, I dont really have any advice - I have no idea when it comes to chickens, but I just wanted you to know I was thinking of you.

Fruball

smileyt wrote: »

Hulloo ladies. I need a listening ear from you, please, as I have a tough decision to make.

I have two remaining hens, Hepzibah and Morticia. Hepzibah has been ill on and off for a few months but each time she recovers. However it looks like this time she isn't going to recover - it's a beautiful day here and she is sitting inside the hen house and looks to be in pain. She is not responding the the medication the vet gave me ten days ago. I think I am going to take her back to the vet on Friday (I am working until then) and it will probably be curtains.:(

This means I will be left with Morticia. She is currently healthy. However, they are flock birds and it is cruel to keep one hen on its own and she will be miserable. I know she will, because I had Mavis hen for a while on her own until I could get Hepzibah and Morticia, and she was very miserable on her own. Plus Hepzibah and Morticia spend a lot of time together; they sit on their perch in the hen pen together and watch the world go by (such as it is in my back yard), and peck crumbs off each others' beaks. They are friends.

I can't afford to get any more hens because the vet's fees are crippling me financially (I have spent £400 on the hens alone in the last year) and I don't want to take on any more animals if I can't afford to care for them properly. I have tried on five different chicken forums to see if anyone would rehome Morticia for me, but no-one wants her because she is a carrier of Marek's Disease. This is a disease which is fatal to hens and can wipe out an entire flock in a few weeks; there is no cure. So I can understand why no-one else wants her. The vet warned me that this would be the case, but I tried anyway.

I was going to keep her and see how she gets on by herself, but I think I would be doing that for me. Now I am thinking that it would be kinder to have her put to sleep at the same time as Hepzibah. They will have had an extra 15 months of life with me, as they would have gone to slaughter otherwise. They have experienced two summers (and a snowy winter), the chance to scratch around for insects and have dustbaths - in short, they have been allowed to be hens. They will have a far gentler and more humane death at the vet's than they would have if they'd been slaughtered. They have had a good quality of life chez Smileyt

The only sticking point is that it feels so wrong to euthanise a healthy animal. (Putting aside my emotions of having to say goodbye to my girls).

I believe I would be acting in Morticia's best interests if I had her put to sleep when Hepzibah is put to sleep. But there is a lingering doubt that I am being selfish by taking a healthy life. If I had known how much veterinary treatment hens need, I would not have taken them on in the first place, but all the research I did said that they were hardy wee beasties (mine haven't been). Also I find it difficult to cope with the emotional side of constantly watching the hens for any signs of illness.


I will of course speak to the vet about it when I take Hepzibah up there (if I can string a sentence together, because I am filling up now just typing this, and I know I will be crying in the surgery.) She might be OK, of course, in which case the decision can be deferred until the situation arises again, which it will. He may refuse to euthanise a healthy animal, anyway - I don't know.

I'm not asking any of you to make the decision for me. I'm just asking for comments, please, to make sure I haven't missed any points in my reasoning. I know that if you comment, you will do so kindly but honestly, and not post nasty troll remarks.

Does anyone have any comments?

Thanks.

TBH I think I would have her put to sleep at the same time. As you say, chickens are not solitary creatures and she will be miserable. As for re-homing her, we accepted a hen once and put her with ours... introduced them at night as they suggest etc... but my hens never took to her and lets just say it wasn't pretty when I found her and she had to be put down.

Sounds like they have had a lovely life with you so it would be a shame to see them suffer now. Let them leave with the good memories

Hugs to you - I can imagine how you are feeling x

greent

Oh, smileyt - what is it with us OSers and animals/ birds at the moment? I have no advice I can really offer - I, too, would baulk at doing taht to a healthy animal - but I've seen solo hens and they're really not happy (ETA: I've also seen what other hens can do to a new one, like kidcat - that's worse than a humane death at the vets)

Thanks for people's comments re: g-pig... We now have a solo guinea pig - she's ben in hiding in a little 'igloo' in the run all day so far - the two of them were sisters, so have never been apart (except when the other went to the vets for a few hours) She's not happy, poor thing - but I don't know if she'd like to share with 2 baby guinea pigs - I'd have to get two, really, for when she goes... Not that I'd do that yet.

DS1's mum's friend phoned me to say how upset he was when he got to her house this morning (DS1 and her eldest cycle to school together) I also phoned his school (he's just started at an all boys secondary school) and left a message for his teacher. He's a sensitive little eco-warrior, but has a temper if pushed - and will fly if teased about it today He's also tired (new school etc - heavy homework load - 3 'proper' pieces on Day 1 and so it continues) and has a school activity break away for the next 2 nighhts - and then Scout camp from early Sat morning - Sun afternoon. At which point I think he should just sleep for a while - I'll make him go to bed early on sun (and try to on Fri night after the school break)

Another load of sofa covers just about to go out - 1 more load to wash and then they're all done - just need them to dry and me to recover the sofas then.... (I do have 3 spare sets upstairs if necessary ) A 'normal' load will go on after that

mardatha

I would be no help either smiley - maybe the vet will decide for you.
With animals my instinct is mostly to let Nature take her course and I just make them comfortable, warm and safe. I only took my wee cat in because he looked to be dying, couldnt even stand up - and she said he had cat flu or AIDS and wanted to either put him to sleep or admitted to her hospital at £80 a night :eek: so I said nevermind - I will take him home and look after him myself. I just did hands-on healing on him over and over again and gave him fish oils in cream, and he's fine . That was last winter. I love using healing on animals because it feels amazing. But it's a very individual decision pet.

katieowl_2

@ smileyt - Sorry to read about your hens. Probably part of the reason that they have cost you so much is that they were rescues and you tried to give them a great quality of life. I've been very lucky with my girls so far (I have 8) they were bought point of lay as I wanted particular breeds, but I do know that lots of people don't do the 'vet' thing with chickens...they simply finish a sick bird off at home (humanely of course!) if it doesn't respond to treatment.

I'm really really glad I've not had to do this yet! I know Marek's is pretty serious, so in a way, she's not a very healthy bird either?

It's pants though loosing a friend, whether they've got fur, feathers, or skin!


Kate

starsandmoon

Getting my loft insulated on Thursday. Quite excited at the money saving possibilities and hopefully be warmer upstairs. This nice weather means I can finish off tidying up outside and making sure everything is sound for the winter.

Is anyone else finding using their car is cheaper than using public transport? I like getting the bus to town etc and not use the car but Im finding the bus is getting really expensive. Last week it was cheaper to drive 2 miles to the dental hospital and pay £2.80 in parking when taking my DD for a check up. The bus fare would have been £5.60 for the two of us (return). Work have offered me a parking space at a cost of £12 a month (I work a 3 day week) which again is cheaper than the bus. A weekly ticket is £13, even taking the cost of petrol into account it works out so much cheaper to use the car. How do people afford bus fares if they dont have a car and are minimum wage/fixed income?

Sorry to hear about those with poorly/deceased pets. Mums tortoise of 35 years died this year, very sad.