Keeping hens and ducks chat. 7 July 2015 at 5:07PM edited 27 April 2021 at 11:46PM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 3.4K replies 350.6K views

Cheery_Daff

Well, we did indeed have to make the hardest decision ☹ Although in the end it wasn't that hard. She'd lost a third of her body weight in the last 4 weeks, and had a growth that was quite big, and the vet thinks was likely there but behind the egg last time. Anyway, her 'limp' seemed to have been some kind of neurological weakness, tumour likely pressing on something too and not helping. 

Anyway, series of things - they could have done more tests, but it would only have been about prolonging, not curing. 

So she's gone - the last of the batch of 3 we got as point of lay during lockdown 2 years. We got them thinking they'd last longer than ex battery hens, but in our case that's not been true at all - Bonny lasted the longest and she was only 2.5 years old. I'll only be having rescues from now i think (if we have any more at all)

Anyway, we are sad, and are now down to four 😕

sammyjammy

Ahh you did the right thing by her, try not to be too sad x

edwink

Aww, bless you Cheery and poor little Bonny.  That is sad news but you need to say to yourself that you did everything you could for your little hen and she had the best life with you both and the other hens. Just look at where your hens live for a start, it's right out in the fresh air away from lots of traffic and it is beautiful. 

You did everything you could Cheery so try not to be so sad.

Take care 😘

Edwink x

orangecrush

I’m so sorry @Cheery_Daff, it’s so sad when you have to make that decision. I absolutely think you did the right thing. Animals will keep going long past their capabilities, we have to be the ones to say ok, you’re suffering and it won’t get better. It’s awful, but it is the responsibility we have as animal keepers. As hard as it is, it’s the kindest thing for them. Internet hugs for you. 

Glittering_M

Hi all,
Sorry for being quiet.
Has anyone got any advice. I live next to my family and rent the house off other relatives but as they live abroad the property is managed by my family next door.

My family next door are very adamant that we are not to get chickens. We've got space in our bit of garden so it shouldn't concern them. They worry about the foxes and the smell. I've tried talking to them but they just won't listen even when I try and explain that I've done research into trying to ensure it would be as safe as possible. I think our house owner would be fine but obviously would ask. 

edwink

Hi everyone

Sad here as lost one of our girls last night.  Bless her, she was a little quiet for a couple of days and didn't go to bed when the others went in last night. We always go out early to lock them up and spotted her nearly at the hen's run. We took her indoors with us and she died during the evening.  She had a super life here but as you all know we still get sad about losing any of them. 

Hope everyone and their feathered friends are all ok.

Edwink x

Cheery_Daff

Aw, sorry to hear about your little hen edwink. Always sad, as you say xxx

Glittering, sorry I missed you there. Sounds like a tricky situation. Your family are neighbours (as well as family!) and on those grounds technically don't really have a say - but I suppose they are also acting as landlords, and on those grounds probably  DO have a say. I suppose it depends how good relations are, and whether it's worth risking a relationship (and possibly a home?!) for? Do you have any kind of tenancy agreement?

All alright here, we are muddling through with our four ladies. Four doesn't feel like very many... and I'd like to just stick with this for now... but I'm very mindful of the bird flu, and I wouldn't be wanting to introduce new ones while they were all shut in 🙄 I suppose there's at least a couple of months to think about it (and hopefully they'll decide not to bother with chicken lockdown this year but I can't see that happening sadly). We'll see.

thriftwizard

Just catching up - sorry to hear about your loss, @edwink, it's never easy to lose a member of our little flocks. And I'm watching the bird 'flu news with interest, @Cheery_Daff; the news of the wildfowl & seabird population near us (Dorset) is pretty scary. I'm ready to roll if we have to confine them again at short notice, but really don't want to have to.

edwink

Hi everyone

It's not looking good regarding Bird Flu this coming winter.  Oh dear, this area is not too far away from me in Hertfordshire.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-63048231

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-63059558

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-63094956

Edwink x

edwink

THIS IS RATHER CONCERNING

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63183942

Edwink