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[House MD 221B]

Scramble was put to sleep this afternoon at 13:30.

After showing some improvement up until yesterday, this morning she had laid and couldn't even support her own weight, had lost a lot of weight, and had passed a lot of diarrhoea.

We took her to the Vet and she agreed it was the kindest thing to do.

We're not sure what actual cause of death was, but Poach seems fine and is as big a lump kin as ever.

We've cleaned the run and eglu from top to bottom, and changed the bedding, food, and water.

Thank you all for your help and time, she will be sorely missed.

 

I was wondering if anyone could help, as we have some questions we don't know the answer too...

 

1) So what now? Will Poach grieve? I know cat's can grieve for up to 6 months-ish... do chickens? and if so for how long?

 

2) What do we need to look out for, for Poach?

 

3) How will one chicken be on her own?

 

4) How long should we wait for until getting some more?

 

5) Could we please have some advice on Introductions?

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it.

 

Your remaining hen will need company. They are flock creatures and do not do well on their own. I would get another one (or two) as soon as you can...just as soon as you are sure that she is not coming down with the same illness.

 

Article on managing intros **here**.

 

Many breeders won't have much stock left at this time of year, so I'd start making enquiries as soon as you feel able.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Very sad news about Scramble .

 

Poach will definitely need a friend. They really don't do well on their own . I think if you feel ready to get new hens, go ahead as soon as you can source them. It would be best to introduce 2 new ones - Poach may accept them as she's on her own. You may need to separate them though so have something ready to put in place in case there is argy bargy. Some people have threaded canes through the eglu run to make two separate areas. A pet carrier makes a handy temporary bedroom too.

 

If Poach seems fit and healthy, the chances are poor Scramble was just unlucky.

 

Good luck. Such a shame you've had to deal with this so early on .

[House MD 221B]

We are due to go to France for 5 days on Monday, we have a friend who will check on her every evening after work and change her water and top up her food... Will this be too long for her to wait? We will be back on Friday and will look at going to Merrydale Poultry, on the Saturday, Ideally we would like to get 3 more... is this too many at once?

 

Thank you so much for your help.

Edited October 18, 2009 by Guest

[Egluntyne]

That sounds fine. You will know whether she is coming down with anything by the time you get back, and she should manage without company for a those few days.

[House MD 221B]

Good, I must say we... well I can't speak for Sally, but I was feeling a little guilty... I think Poachy's fine, she's has NONE of the symptoms, and to be honest I think it was an internal infection that got Scrammy, probably something to do with the Bloody Egg... she never truly got back to 100%, and from what I've been reading in the Chicken Health Handbook the Immune System tends to release anti-bodies from somewhere near the vent, so if there was trauma or infection there she could have been immuno-surpressed before the imfection even took hold allowing it to not only take root but spread more effectively. But Poachy is eating like a gannet, and happily chasing bugs and running around, she seems quite happy. I do feel a little bad that she's going to spend the next week alone. But hopefully in the next week or two we'll have 3 more to keep her company.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree with Egluntyne, she'll be fine till you get back .

 

You'll be fine getting 3 extra girls but you may want to get the converter (if you don't have it already!) Unless they get loads of freeranging a standard run is a bit tight for 4.

[House MD 221B]

I'm in the process of building a fence and gate to go along the drive-way to block it off (At the minute we use wheelie bins and trellis) And I've built the Fence part but not yet battened it to the wall... so we can calculate how much extra space an extender is and move the fence back accordingly Thanks for that.

[Woodcat]

hey

 

 

While your away you could try giving her a mirror. When i had one that hadto be isolated away from the others for awhile i did this and it appeared to improve her mood

 

Beth

[Redwing]

So sorry House

[House MD 221B]

Thank you all so kindly for your help. This is our first loss, and it's hit us quite hard, its really hard seeing poachy on her own, but we have a mirror we can strap to the outside of the run, which is a wonderful suggestion thank you.

 

Really wish we weren't going away, but its all paid for and planned Can't wait to get back on Friday and plan Saturday's expedition though. Don't get me wrong, we'll still enjoy our time away it's going to be fantastic seeing France Belgium and Holland by motorbike for 5 days, but I wish we didn't have to leave Poach on her own, thankfully Sal's friend Cath will be round every day for us.

 

We were planning on getting 2 more anyway, but were worried if it would upset how close Poach and Scrammy were because as someone else put it in another thread they were "Glued at the Hip" and it was so cute. But now we get to get 3 more, and to be honest... Poach could do with being taken down a peg or too lol she's a Pecky little maddam at times.

[cluckingmad]

what a shame So sorry to hear about Scramble, you've done the best for her all the time you had her though.

 

Carolyn x