Henhathnofury Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 This morning I let all my girls like and they were all full of energy, eating well. However, an hour later Lottie was separated from the other two. She looked depressed and refused to eat. Then, when I went into the shed, she climbed into the vet box we use if they are unwell and stood there like a statue. I thought I felt a hard lump in her crop, so I dosed her with a little olive oil and massaged it. She wheezed a little and opened her beak. However, later, the lump was gone but she still stood still, not eating. I had to feed her water from a spoon and she drank quite well. Eventually I brought her in to our drafty hall (no heating) in the vet box. She simply stood up, looking wan. At 8pm, my husband took her to the vets and she died as the vet was examining her. My daughter screamed and cried when I told her...Lottie is her darling...the sweetest, most gentle Amber Star. I think also all the grief of our week came out...I had some particularly bad news from my doctor on Monday. None of us could eat this evening...especially as my daughter kept sobbing that she would never see Lottie again. (We didn't tell her, but the vet is to do an autopsy) I have no idea why this little angel died...or why she waited until the vet. I have cuddled her all day and given all a lot of love...so I hope she died knowing that we loved her. It's never easy is it but I see the love that you all pour into your chickens...it makes me realise what a lovely bunch of people you are...how you would understand the sadness.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 I'm so sorry to hear about little Lottie xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Huge hugs to you all (((( )))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pencilbeckett Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 So sorry about your lovely girl ((((((((hugs))))))))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Very sorry to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathyschix Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Very sorry to hear of your loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 so sorry to hear about lotty, I hope you are Ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 So sorry about your loss. Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Poor Lottie Hope you and your little girl are ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Oh, HHNF, that made me cry - I'm so sorry to hear about Lottie. Hope you and your little girl are OK after such a terrible week. T x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'm so sorry to hear about Lottie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Oh, HHNF, that made me cry - I'm so sorry to hear about Lottie. Hope you and your little girl are OK after such a terrible week. T x me to. thinking of you x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 so sorry to hear your sad news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 So sorry to hear about Lottie and I know how distraught you and your daughter must be feeling. How old is she? (your daughter). Know that you did everything you could have done and that if Lottie had to go, she went peacefully. Thats all any of us could ask for. I am also really sorry to hear you had bad news at the doctors. If we can help in some way by being here for you, we will be. Please feel you can offload on us at any time. Sometimes it is easier than people really close to you as you don't want to cause any more pain than is necessary. Jackiex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 So sorry to hear that you're having such a hard time of things at the moment.. Thinking of you. xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 So sorry to hear about Lottie, how upsetting for you all She was obviously very much loved bless her. Take care xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I am so sorry to hear your news. I sympathise totally as when our ex-batt Thelma died before christmas i was unconsolable. They become part of the family and they have such strong characters it is just heartbreaking. Big hugs to you all, especially as it sounds like you are going through a difficult time as it is. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Sorry for your loss I know how devastated I was when Pearl died. Hope things improve for you. (((hugs))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Thank you firstly for your support. I had a sleepless tearful night last night. My daughter is still inconsolable. At eleven, she now seems much younger...has become very mummy-clinging and tearful. The vet did a post mortem on Lottie and found that she died of something very peculiar and unique to her. She had an impaction of soil and gravel in her stomach...not her crop..which the vet thinks was caused by her eating the material very fast and in a short space of time. Very very unusual and to be honest, inexplicable. She had access to layers mash at all times...treats when appropriate. I feel that there must have been something wrong with her digestion in some ways...it would explain, as with humans, why she was a relatively sluggish chicken. To us, she just seemed very tame and quiet but it could explain why the other two looked frenetic by comparison. So nothing we had done wrong..thank God and no threat to the others. Bless too the gorgeous vet who had the trauma of an animal die in her arms and who then stayed late just for a post-mortem. If anyone is near Henley...the vets there have been fantastic. A rubbish week really. Life, I suppose...with all its tests and traumas. But I still love chickens, their lovely silly characters. Desdemona, one of the other hens, went straight up on a window box as soon as she was let out of her run, looking into the shed which was the last place she had seen Lottie. So I took her in the shed so that she could satisfy herself that she was indeed gone. I have never seen anything so sweet, the thorough way she checked every corner of the building. Then she waddled off with Helena Pepperpot, childishly puzzled buy the whole thing. They really get you, don't they, chickens? Right in the heart.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Both my original Omlet girls died last year one in March, the other in September. I planted a little patch of spring bulbs for each of them. Is this something you and your daughter might like to do? Please don't be sad. Hope you do something nice on this lovely sunny day. Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 only just seen this, I am so sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 So sorry to hear about Lottie. She was obviously a much loved and cared for member of your family. I hope your other news isn't too serious and your life gets back to a more happy note. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 So sad to read this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 I managed to take my daughter out in the sunshine today and we planted a little rockery for Lottie, with some snowdrops and some pretty stones. Then I gave her some coloured chalk and she wrote a message for her on the path. It really helped us both and the other two girls scuttled around the garden being naughty....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLK69 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 sounds like a bad week - was v sad when I lost a hen, it is good to acknowledge grief and let it out rather than pretending. Hope it all gets better soon. S x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
