4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[mictogirl]

Hi All.

 

Hope someone can give me some advice. I've never had pets before so never been to a vet.

 

Our bantam Tiny is looking like she won't last much longer I'm pretty sure it's just old age, I think she's about 4 years old now! I noticed she wasn't looking particularly happy over the weekend and was just standing there, head and tail down, but she did seem to perk up a little and have a scratch about with the ex batts. She has always taken herself off to bed before the others and sleeps in the nest box (old lady's priviledge I guess!) but last night she went up there really early. I checked on her but she seemed OK, breathing normally.

 

This morning hubby went to let them out etc and Tiny was still breathing but obviously in a bad way, he even managed to pick her up no problem as she obvisouly didn't have the energy to run away like she usually does. We've put her in a cardboard box in the study with some food and water, but she hasn't moved at all, just lying there on the straw breathing heavily.

 

I'm now at work and I don't know what to do. I'm kind of hoping she'll die naturally in her sleep during the day. At the same time though I don't want her to suffer (I'm not sure she is) so don't know whether I should be calling around some vets to get her put to sleep.

 

I guess if I can get an appointment for later this afternoon or even tomorrow morning and she doesn't make it, I can always cancel can't I?

 

It's daft, I've never been particularly in love with the chooks (per my thread the other day) but this is still upsetting me! She is also the kids' favourite girl, I'm not looking forward to telling them about her, though they are likely to be too young to understand anyway.

 

Any advice much appreciated.

 

Laura

[mictogirl]

Well I've phoned the vets and made an appointment to get her put down at 4:30pm

 

I forgot to ask how much it's going to cost - can anyone tell me? And I presume I'll have to leave her body there for cremation as I'm not allowed to bury her in the garden???

[Mazzarina]

Sorry to hear that - very sad news. It sounds like she's had a good long life, though, and you've made her as comfortable as can be.

I think vets charge about £10 for cremation, but it varies from place to place of course. Officially you can't bury a chicken, but I know a few people do (digging a deep hole), or dispose of the body by securely wrapping it and putting it out in the normal rubbish. I haven't yet had to face this, so I wouldn't know what I'd do myself.

Best wishes and sympathies.

[tidygirlsuk]

Sorry to hear about tiny.

[tania]

oh that's sad. I hope, in a good way, that she dies at home where she's comfortable. Bless her.

[Chickvic]

Sorry to hear about Tiny

[Groovychook]

So sorry to hear about Tiny xx

[Redwing]

I'm sorry to sound harsh but have you thought that it could be something that could be cured? having Tiny put down without checking seems a bit previous

[eggalp]

I had my Ginger put to sleep a couple of weeks ago, i was totally gutted

 

It was £20 and i brought her home and burried her in the garden. I dont see what harm she is going to do under my lawn. I put some daffodills on top so i know where she is and i can remember her every year.

 

The vet was lovely and didn't care that i was sobbing like a baby!

 

All Ginger wanted to do was sleep towards the end - and i know it was sad but i helped her to sleep - so i feel comforted by this.

 

I hope you are ok.