Colin and Sian Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 One of our chickens has died... We've only had them a month and don't know what's happened. It was fine yesterday, pecking around the garden as usual and then this morning when we opened the eglu it was by the door dead. It was always the quieter of the two (in fact the other one's a bit psycho - very pecky and will chase us round the garden) but I'm sure it was eatng properly and it hadn't been acting differently over the last few days. Only one of them has been laying - but we can't figure out which one - I thought it was this one but maybe not. I just assumed one of them was slightly younger and would get going some time soon. And now I don't know what we've done wrong and if the other one's going to die. And I can't believe how gutted I am and how attached we'd gotten to them. Has anyone got any ideas what could have gone wrong? Sian and Colin PS Our neice had called them Purple and Durple - it's Purple (the red one) that's died Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 desperately sorry to hear your news. the chances are you have done NOTHING wrong. Chickens can have dodgy hearts blood-pressure problems and drop dead almost at any moment. There is rarely any warning - and if there is it is often too late because chickens are good at hiding signs of weakness. there are lots of accounts of similar things happening to other forum members - but it is still quite rare - so there's no obvious reason why anything should happen to Durple, so beyond the "belt and braces" measure of giving the eglu a good clean in case of a very rare occurance of a life-threatening infection (this is really VERY rare) - then there's no need to be anxious... it sounds a bit callous - but the advice that most people have found helpful in the longrun is to bury your chicken - mourn her loss (that's entirely natural, we're all attached to our chooks) - and then buy another one (possibly two) to keep Durple company. (also - why not put a pic of Purple in the Pet Memorial sticky - it's a nice place to remember lost friends...) I should repeat - because it really is true - it is not your fault... Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Colin and Sian, what a shame - so sorry to hear about Purple. Phil has said it all - chickens so often seem to go from 60-0 with no warning and the only thing we can say about that is at least it's unlikely that she suffered very much. Do get Durple a couple of friends as soon as you're able - chickens are very sociable creatures and she may well pine without her little chickeny friend. Of course you'll miss her very much, but hopefully introducing a couple of new characters will give you a bit of comfort and amusement too! Sue Budgie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 I'm so sorry We recently lost one of our chickens and we were all very upset - we all get very attached to our chooks and their loss is very sad - something our non chicken owning friends do not always understand. PLease be reassured that you didn't do anything wrong - you just sometimes get a chook that's not quite right. Durple will be pining for her but you need to get her another friend (preferably 2 ) We bought 2 new girls within a couple of days which was very very hard because we were so upset about losing Ginger but at the same time excited by the arrival of 2 newbies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 If you've got Omlet hens and have only had them for a month, give them a ring and see if you can get a replacement from them. I'm so sorry to hear about what's happened. It's a horrible shock for you to lose a hen so soon after they arrived but you didn't do anything wrong at all. Some hens have a very light hold on life, I'm afraid but most are tough as old boots so hopefully you'll have better luck next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 I'm so sorry to hear about your loss Colin and Sian. The others are right - it really isn't your fault at all, like Kate says, some are more sickly than others; I have 7 hens and two of them are like delicate little spinsters, who get colds at the dropof a hat Call Omlet and speak to one of the lovely ladies there, see if you can't get a replacement (or two...) as friends for your remaining hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Oh , I'm so sorry to hear about poor Purple, and what a horrible suprise when there was no apparent illness beforehand. You must be devastated. Unfortunately as has already been said some hens can be more sickly than others, also they are wonderful at disguising illness. Equally there might have been some congenital, ie heart, defect that caused the sudden death. Unfortunately most likely you'll never know what caused her die so unexpectedly..... but please don't blame yourself. It sounds as if you gave her a lovely life, desperately sad that it wasn't longer of course, but she had a lovely home and lots of care and attention. What animal could ask for more You were great owners, and this happened entirely out of the blue.... there was nothing more that you could have done. I would also add to the general suggestions about getting poor Durple a new friend. They are very social animals and Durple is likely to feel lonely without a mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 What a shock for you karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 I'm so sorry. We all get very attached to our chickens and it is very sad to lose one. I hope you find some new friends for Durple soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamsin Posted October 3, 2006 Share Posted October 3, 2006 soooo Sorry to hear your sad news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 Sorry to hear your news, and hope you feel able to add another couple to keep Purple company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 My advice would be to get two new hens, not one. Everyone who has three would recommend it, and you will avoid the situation of a lone hen in the future (by which I mean the distant future: you are not likely to be so unlucky again). And you may feel that there has been a positive outcome from this sad event if you end up with an extra hen. I am thinking of replacing my Gingernut that was taken by a fox last week by two Gingernuts, but Omlet won't have any in before the end of next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin and Sian Posted October 4, 2006 Author Share Posted October 4, 2006 Thank you so much for all your kind words. It all really helped. Like you all said Durple is doing fine - it seems that Purple just had something wrong. The people at Omlet were fantastic and we picked up two new chickens yesterday - and they both laid an egg today!!! . It's a bit horrible at the moment as they are both really picking (pecking!) on Durple but I'm sure all that will calm down soon. Many thanks again for all the kindness and good advice. Sian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 The pecking will settle down soon - try squirting with a water spray to stop them from doing it. Provide more food/water stations and they will have less to fight over. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorlewis Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Sian - I was so pleased to see that you had started this post. My favourite chicken has just died. It was called Lucky. Obviously a bad choice of a name! I've only had them for a few weeks. I know it sounds riculous but I'm feeling so sad about this - my mind keeps drifting at work. How did you get over Durple? Do you think new chickens are the answer? Best wishes, Connor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Connor - sorry to hear that Lucky died - I think a couple of new hens would be a very good idea. If you've only had chickens for a few weeks, are they covered by any sort of guarantee? could you get a replacement from the same supplier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin and Sian Posted January 12, 2007 Author Share Posted January 12, 2007 Sorry to hear about Lucky Connor. Getting new chickens definately helped - but the biggest help was all the lovely replies to my post. It was so reassuring that it was nothing that we had done wrong and that sometimes these things just happen. The sympathy was also really valuable - other people don't really understand how attached you get to them. As you can see from our signature it sort of snowballed - we now have eight chickens in two eglus - the newset three we only got last weekend - only nine weeks old and still tweeting rather than clucking Don't have a garden anymore - more a a mudbath and am now the proud owner of wellies but the chickens are great and we wouldn't have it any other way. Definatly get a new one (or two, or three!!) and I hope it goes well for you in the future. Sian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveypup Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Terribly sorry to hear your news. Don't be embarrassed about your feelings- chooks are so endearing it is no wonder we get attached. At least she didn't suffer. Take care x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorlewis Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 A HUGE thanks to everyone who replied - I wasn't expecting such a response and it has made me feel better. I am pleased to say that over the weekend I took your advice and got myself two new chickens. I hope you don't mind, but I've called them Colin and Sian - was looking for inspiration from somewhere and you just popped into my head! So far they've settled in well, although they don't seem to be socialising at all with the other chicken. Any ideas on how I can get them to be friends? Thanks again guys! Connor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin and Sian Posted January 15, 2007 Author Share Posted January 15, 2007 Gosh! I don't think we've ever had anything named after us before!!!! Don't worry about them making friends - it will come with time. If they're not pecking at each other you're really lucky as sometimes it can get a bit nasty before they sort out the pecking order. So if they're just ignoring each other at the moment I wouldn't worry - they'll make friends in time. I hope it all goes well. Sian (the human not the chicken! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin and Sian Posted January 16, 2007 Author Share Posted January 16, 2007 Colin says it is an honour and a pleasure!!! He also suggests putting some treats (sweetcorm etc) in one pile so that they're tempted to socialise. Don't worry if they peck at each other - our two new ones were horrible to our older one for a while but Durple is definately top of the pecking order again now! Sian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorlewis Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 So glad you are happy with me naming my chickens after you. Sian is definitely the dominant one - Colin is much more laid back. Is this anything like the real thing???? Me and my partner have been wondering if you want to meet your namesakes anytime? I'm sure they'd love to meet you! We could share tips over a glass of wine or two!!! Hope all is well with your brood! Connor PS I'm going to Mykonos on holiday in a few weeks - do you know of any must see places? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballgunner Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 im so sorry to hear about purple lots of people have had a bad day today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
