Avian Flu Update? 1 2

[Natspringy 35]

Our little Shellington.

Lost to mareks. such a gorgeous, cuddly, sweet natured girl who was the most lovely little patient in her last few days and wonderful companion for my 4 year old from day 1. 

Rest in Peace Shelly. We will miss you. Xxxxx

[Natspringy 35]

Our little spotty dotty....

Said goodbye today to our beautiful girl 😢 such a gentle, sweet natured little bird. The sweetest patient and gentlest girl.  She will be very missed by us all.

Rest in peace my beautiful, sweet girl.  We will miss you Xxxxx

Edited July 8, 2018 by Natspringy

[mullethunter 570]

My best ever chicken Bern 

[AndyRoo 181]

RIP Little Legbar.

Unfortunately my partner just went out to check them and he found her snuggled up under her wing but completely gone. It looked like she'd just drifted off in the last hour or so. 

There was no sign of sickness or injury, so maybe it was just her time to go.  

[Valkyrie 392]

Goodbye little Skye, the nosiest and chattiest cuddle munchkin of the lot.  Crossed over yesterday aged 10 and some months under her belt.  

 

[Hippie Chick 4]

Agnes, 4 years old, Rhode Rock.  Passed away 21st March 2019.

A feisty little thing that always laid rubbish eggs and didn't bother laying eggs at all from March 2018 onwards!  A real character who always ran down the garden path flapping her wings like she was on a runway about to take off.  I'll miss her.

Edited March 22, 2019 by Hippie Chick

[ajm200 171]

Lost one of our young Bantams last night.  She looked like she was sleeping when I found her.   Curled up with her head resting near her wing.  She was fine yesterday as she was out and about with the others, looked healthy and even laid an egg 

 

RIP Cookie.  Just 7 months old 

[Valkyrie 392]

Well sad ending, but not before time.  Trigger turned particularly nasty to his girls and us.  He had a lot of freedom here and even that didn't stop him from grabbing the girls by their heads and swinging them round.  Last straw when he jumped on one of the Swedes and trampled on her head because I'd been doing some bumblefeet treatment on her.  The reintroduction about half an hour later with her vetwrapped booties was too nasty to be allowed to continue.  The first time he chased her round the orchard until she found a safe place out of his reach.  I hate dispatching, but he had to go.

The photo below was taken on better terms at Christmas, but he'd already started going for me before then!

I am going to rethink roosters - always wanted one, perhaps he wasn't the best to start with, but there are nicer lads around but maybe not this year because I feel the ladies need time to recover and enjoy their lives now.

[soapdragon 571]

You did the right thing, Valkyrie. Sounds as though he was making life very difficult for the ladies and bullying them let alone the two of you!

[Valkyrie 392]

He was more obnoxious the other day - he kept calling the girls away from me so they'd run happily to me for their corn but stopped in their tracks and went back to him in the garden.  As a result of that they stayed in their run for 2 days, well, door open with electric fencing on so they could wander around outside but limited so that I didn't have to chase them all around the garden, orchard and field.  Last night I gave them their freedom for a couple of hours to see and they came in when I called, so he was allowed to sit in the sun and wander for his last hours before bed.  Yep, stressful for us all.  

[Minnie&Moose 30]

Sorry to hear that Trigger turned mean Valkyrie - you definitely did the right thing dispatching him.  I've only had to do spare lads that we've hatched so far but Marvin, our bantam, is on his final warning now!

[Valkyrie 392]

I think that's the trouble - I lost count how many times Trigger had the final warning!  I think you keep hoping, but it's in the genes.  With Jiu Jiu he was our only hatched boy, so was a girl until he crowed - and then we had no choice but to dispatch.  Good luck Minnie&Moose.  

Edited June 2, 2019 by Valkyrie
Resting on the keyboard! oops

[Minnie&Moose 30]

Thanks Valkyrie.  Marvin seems to be on his best behaviour at the moment - one of his broody hens has just left her chicks and returned to his gang - he's ever so happy to see Midge again!

[Valkyrie 392]

Reprieve!  Hopefully it was a short spat.  Incidentally, Trigger made delicious soup and the meat was much more tender.

[The Dogmother 580]

I'm sorry to hear that Val - some cockerels can be just plain nasty (so can some hens though!) I hope that you find a better natured chap for your girls.

M&M, I'll give Marvin a stern talking to when I see him!

[Valkyrie 392]

It had to be done DM - he was downright nasty to us and to the girls.  The only one he left alone was Dusty.  She wouldn't allow hanky panky either.  But he was pulling their heads and swinging them round, stamping on them from the side - and not hanky panky either, just bad tempered boy.  They seem to be settling down fine at the moment.  By the way Inga has been getting the bumblefoot treatment - one gone thanks to your instructions.

[Patricia W 326]

My little Willie a Barbu d’uccle Cockerel is very sweet.  Got him by mistake fromCostwold Chickens as Millie.  Then he crowed.  But never got round to returning him. 

There’s a FB page to rehome and/or Rescue Cockerels which I used to find Phillip a new home.  Red Rooster Rescue.  If you want another Kerry, try them.  Lots of school hatchlings now.  I wish schools would stop doing that. 

[AndyRoo 181]

RIP Pepper. She's gone to the big coop in the sky.

[Valkyrie 392]

Poor Pepper - fly high little one.  Lots of hugs for you too AndyRoo.

[AndyRoo 181]

1 hour ago, Valkyrie said:

Poor Pepper - fly high little one.  Lots of hugs for you too AndyRoo.

We're ok. All our original hybrids are coming up to being around about 3 years old (or slightly older), so I was expecting them to start popping off sooner rather than later.

[Valkyrie 392]

Well Goldie has gone to the land of mealworms after a fox attack last night.  Inga disappeared but Goldie came back minus some feathers, the overgrown feather duster that was moulting, which probably helped her escape but she did have a gash.  Patched her up while OH rounded up the other two (Frida and Dusty) as the little ones were inside and safe.  She was eating and drinking but this morning the fever had set in from I'm guessing the toxins.  I had just sourced a vet but the next check and she'd gone.  

Oh and Demon Inga returned without a feather out of place, unscathed, unfazed half an hour later!  Couldn't have been her could it!!!!  She'd been pouncing on Curly who escaped to use the spare nest box and ran the gauntlet twice!  I've put the spare nest box on her side now - but she used the cube instead.  Pfft!

So this morning 5 girls under house arrest with Dusty missing her friend and the evil twins are eyeballing the pekins as usual.  

[Valkyrie 392]

Frida, Goldie, Inga (Demon) and Dusty at the back - in the usual spot staring out the pekins.

[patsylabrador 332]

Hermione died overnight. She was around 10 1/2 years old and had started laying loads of eggs again which I thought was a bad idea but she wouldn't listen to my advice. She was a grumpy and supremely unpleasant chicken all her life but was still part of our family. Here's a picture of her coming in to land at CCH ( Chicken Central Heaven) That just leaves Persephone now who is her sister and the same age. They were usually joined at the wing so I think she'll feel strange. 

[mullethunter 570]

Fantastic photo - feel sorry for Persephone. I try not to personify but always got the feeling my Bernadette was never quite so happy after her sister Shelley died before her.

[Daphne 151]

PL - Great picture of Hermione, I'm sorry you have lost her, but I take my hat off to all of you who keep their chooks for so many years, its not something I ever managed, which feels like a bit of a failure.  Anyway, I think certain birds do form close bonds, not all of them by any means, but sometimes the bird who is left does definitely know, at least for a while.