Single hen

[SAB]

Doris (ex-batt) has died suddenly.

 

Undercarraige had looked swollen over weekend, sudden weightloss and feather loss. She was eating, drinking and moving fine and trying to preen self, but looked bedraggled in rain. Brought in to house for some tlc which she seemed to enjoy and returned her to her flock to sleep. Stayed in nest box for most of day with our other birds taking turns sitting with her and our turkey stag continually rounding up all the other chickens to keep them where he could see them! Checked on her over the day and she looked better than yesterday but on most recent check I could not find her at first - she had left the cube and was in a corner of the walk in run dead. Very sad, but glad for her that it was quick and that she had 7 months of freedom! When we first rehomed her she seemed physically the most robust of our ex-batts but so depressed we did not think she would make it through the first week - but lots of cuddles got her there and we have great memories of her - will miss her egg announcements.

 

RIP Doris

Doris with my daughter and eldest son receiving some TLC last night

Edited March 3, 2009 by Guest

[HENthusiastic]

So sorry for your loss .

Well done to you for giving her a good retirment . She learnt about and experienced life as a real chicken and thats wonderful. Hope you take comfort from this.

R.I.P. Doris

[Tweety]

Sad news but, as you say, it was quick and she had a wonderful second chance at life with you.

[Egluntyne]

Very sorry to hear it. Sounds as if she developed peritonitis. Poor girl.

[SAB]

Thanks everyone for your good wishes. I do think it was peritonitis Eglutine (having been frantically on the forum looking at posts last night).

[Seagazer]

So sorry to hear about Doris

[Groovychook]

Very sorry to hear about Doris xxx

[Falkor]

So Sorry to hear about Dorris. Hugs.

[Chickvic]

Sorry to hear about Doris

[Cooks]

so sorry to hear about Doris

[Purplemaniacs]

Sorry to hear about Dorris, well done for giving her such a lovely home and a great second life even if it was rather short, she had the chance to experience all the good things that all chickens should be able to experience.

 

Chrissie

[poachedegg]

Poor Doris - though you gave her a lovely retirement.

[kathyschix]

So sorry for your loss. What a lovely picture!

[SAB]

So sorry for your loss. What a lovely picture!

It is great that the last picture we have of her, only the day before she died, is such a lovely one and she was so happy . The 2 of my children in the photo are coping with it all really well - at 12 and 10 they understood all along that ex-batts will often not live a long life but any time out of the cage is ! Our youngest who is only 5 and only joined our family last year is finding it really hard - he first arrived to meet us the day before the ex-batts came and spend the day making a "foster home" in the shed for them to live in until integrated with my other chickens. The chickens were amazing at helping him settle with us and the death of Doris has brought up all sorts of issues of loss for him but at least he is talking to us about it - and thank goodness it wasn't his special chicken Toto! Also this forum with all its good wishes helps him to see how many caring people there are in the world

[Electricbarbarella]

sorry about doris, I hope your youngest handles it Ok in the end. Sounds like the chooks have done as much for your family as you have for them, you sound like a very lovely family and your eldest children are beautiful.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm so sorry to hear about Doris .

[chelsea]

so sorry to hear the sad news about Doris.

[SAB]

sorry about doris, I hope your youngest handles it Ok in the end. Sounds like the chooks have done as much for your family as you have for them, you sound like a very lovely family and your eldest children are beautiful.

Thank you - we can't wait till our youngest is legally ours so his photo can appear on the forum too - shouldn't be long now . You are right, the chooks have been amazing for us; all that stuff about rehabilitation, introductions and pecking order - they have been like feathered psychotherapists in helping integrate our newest member of the family. Even Doris's death allows us to help him work through a lot of feelings that are difficult for him to verbalise otherwise.