lindaM Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 harriet, my gingernut ranger, became noticably ill last friday and was sadly dead by 11pm the same day. she had spent the day in the hen house and wouldnt eat even her favourite meal worms. she had seemed totally fine the day before. there was a heat lamp added to keep the temp up to about 20C. her poo was very watery and clear an hour before she died. she was about 3 years old and hadnt laid an egg for about 6 months. egg laying had become quite a stuggle for her this year, often shelless so i was relieved when she stopped laying altogether. after her death cleaned everything possible with virckon today, just over a week later, dot my speckledy, died in a very similar way. she seemed fine yesterday but today wouldnt eat or drink and just wanted to stay still, by 9pm she was dead. again as soon as she looked poorly a heater was added to keep her at 20C. i had been closely watching her all week, especially as she was now my only hen and i wanted to check she was still doing all her usual behaviours and if not i was going to rush to get her a new friend. she didnt seem to be missing harriet except when it came to opening the run door as harriet was always the pushy one to get into the garden, though she had even managed to work that out by yesterday. dot was about 3, she never had problems laying eggs but had stopped laying about 7 months ago. they had both been wormed in august. before starting again i was wondering if i should have an autopsy on dot in case there is some problem that could also strike down my new hens when i start again. these two hens came with my eglu and are my first ever. it will be very sad in the morning to have no hens to let out into the garden would welcome any thoughts/ideas linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Sad news. I am very sorry. It probably won't serve any useful purpose tbh, given the hen's ages, and will be very expensive. I'd jetwash everything and start again in the Spring. Welcome to the forum, even though your first post is a difficult one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindaM Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 many thanks for your reply egluntine. will look into a jetwash, though the hen house is now wooden and i use the eglu as a spare, so not sure if it ok to jetwash it. i can see it would be wise to wait til spring to start again but doubt i will manage that level of discipline! linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I'm really sorry about your two girls Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Welcome to the forum, Linda. I'm so sorry about your two girls - what a sad first posting . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 so sorry to hear about your girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Oh that's such sad news, I think Egluntine is right about the cost of an autopsy though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
