Run wanted

[madchickenlady]

Some good news at last! Delilah seems to be more alert, and if I hold a spoonful of weetabix right up to her, she is eating a bit. She's taking the fluids, and earlier she tried to stand using her left leg. She hasn't moved either leg for two days, so it's a huge step forward. I know that she's still very poorly, but at the moment she seems to be improving It's chicken bedtime now, so I've put her in a comfy box in the downstairs loo to sleep.

[tooties]

I'm certainly no chicken expert but I think you forcing stuff down her throat at regular intervals has probably re-hydrated her and thats why shes feeling brighter. If an animal is de-hydrated it goes downhill v quickly.

 

She sounds like a real character, hope she continues to pick up and is soon back to her bad tempered self!!

[Guest]

so glad to hear there's a bit of an improvement xxx

[The Dogmother]

Well done chicken mummy

 

Come on Delilah, we're all rooting for you.

[Plum]

Keeping my fingers crossed for your girl.

[madchickenlady]

I gave her a quick under carriage bath this morning, as all that lying in your own poo can't be good for you . She seemed to quite enjoy it, and closed her eyes and dozed while I gave her a quick blow dry. I did notice that her belly is virtually bald I have this vague recollection that a broody hen removes her tummy feathers to better incubate her eggs I'm wondering if she was going broody, and then went down with the mycoplasma as she was under stress. She's eaten a bit more weetabix this morning, and I'm still dribbling water into her every hour or so. I have Tylan soluble here, but I'm concerned about getting the right dose into her as she's not drinking herself, or very much. It's in the water I'm dribbling to her, and has been since monday night (after consulting the vet). I noticed yesterday that her crop was quite full and squishy (I'm assuming from all the wet food/liquids). This morning, it had gone down a lot but there was still something in there. She is passing greenish sloppy poos, so something is getting digested.

[The Dogmother]

Sounds like something is getting through then, which is good.

[Daphne]

well that sounds promising. Your idea about the broodiness bringing on the myco might be spot on - our ill girl had/has myco and I think its been brought on by laying her first egg. Anyway, we're all there with you - Go Delilah!

PS we had the green poo too from the weetabix, but I figured green poo was better than no poo!

[madchickenlady]

Delilah was put to sleep this morning She was gasping for breath, and wouldn't eat anything. I managed to get a few drops of water down her, but deep down I knew that she'd had enough. She was losing the fight, and if nature had taken it's course I believe that she would have just kept slowly fading. She deserved better than that, so I took her to the vet. He agreed that she was in a very bad way, her thinness meant that she was beginning to get sores on her underside from lying the whole time. So, the decision was made. I am ridiculously upset, and feel horribly guilty. I really really hope that I did everything right RIP Delilah x

[Guest]

you shouldn't feel guilty in the slightest, you did everything possible for her, including the hardest decision of all. So sorry she didn't make it

[WitchHazel]

So sorry tohear about Delilah. You did everything you could, and having her put to sleep was the right decision.

 

It's horrible when you lose a chook; when I lost my first, I found it hit me much harder than I expected.

 

to you

[chelsea]

so sorry to hear about Delilah , you did everything you could. Dont beat yourself up - you're a good chicken mum!

[tooties]

I'm so sorry to hear about Delilah. You did the very best possible for her. The hardest decision an owner has to make is often the best one for the pet. When they have given up fighting, thats when you should take comfort that it was the right decision for them.

 

Thinking of you, RIP Delilah x

[Daphne]

Oh I am sorry to hear that You really really really mustn't beat yourself up. She had a hard struggle and was brave, but sometimes its just not meant to be. These chooks do often seem to have frail constitutions and there's just nothing we can do about it. In fact, you did the hardest thing of all - you had her PTS, even though you didn't want to because you knew it was the right thing for her. Grieve over her; its natural - we love our chickens and its the last thing we do for them.

Daph

[Plum]

I'm really sorry you lost Delilah. Don't feel guilty, you tried for her it just wasn't to be.

[Larkspurs]

Oh no! I think you did everything you possibly could and the devotion you showed by nursing her was really immense. So don't feel guilty please, you did everything possible and more. Hope you feel better soon.

[The Dogmother]

I'm so sorry to hear that, rest in peace little one.

[madchickenlady]

Thankyou so much for your kind words everyone. I have scrubbed and disinfected my housing/run set up, and am giving the rest of the girls a course of Tylan in their water just to be sure that they are covered in case it was something contagious. Touch wood, they all seem well My bottom hen, Mini, is rather lost without Delilah I'm keeping an eye on her, but won't rush in to getting a new hen friend for her. I think it's probably wise to watch the others for a month or so, just to make sure I don't have a more serious problem. It was so awful losing Delilah, I'd hate to see any of the others go the same way

[Ain't Nobody Here]

So sorry to hear about poor Delilah .

[Groovychook]

Very sorry to hear about Delilah

[GKH]

so sorry to here about your girl