Chicken boarders

[kerryegg]

I am so upset. After a week hardly moving but enjoying her food Pepper has gone. Today I brought her into the house, still eating, drinking, bright eyes and comb but heavy with swelling around her vent. Shuffled a bit on the floor and after everything I have tried, warm baths, oil, nuttra drops, oily fish etc, thought it only fair to call an end. She was my scatty hen and this last week has been the first time I have been able to cuddle her and she seemed to enjoy it.

Fortunately a lovely farmer friend came up, had a look, agreed that the time had come and put her down for me. Instant, no suffering which was what she deserved.

From all my research I think it must have been sterile peritonitus.

I think she had a good life. Ginger is looking a bit lost but has just laid an egg.

I don't know what to do now. Ginger will be 3 in August and always appeared to be very fond of Pepper, unless there were grapes involved.

Anyway I am going to have a lie down now, it's been a week of sleepless nights.

Sorry to be such a wimp.

[Tutti Frutti]

Oh poor Pepper! You must be shattered, I hope you get some rest and manage to doze. Caring for a sick chook is so exhausting but she's at peace now and even gave you some last cuddles, you did ll you could and more. Sorry to read the news

[ClaireG]

((hugs)) I'm so sorry to hear about poor Pepper

[Chicktastic]

Im so Sorry to hear about Pepper!!! You get so attatched to them its unreal!! Hope you feel a bit better after some rest xxx

[pipistrelle]

So sorry to hear about Pepper ((hugs)))

 

Seems to be a bad time for the chickens at the moment

 

P x

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it.

[Plum]

So sorry, it's hard to see them go

[kerryegg]

Thanks for all your kind wishes. After a good nights sleep and a post about new hens, no replies yet, I have more or less decided to get 3 new hens. I can wire off part of the WIR and remove Ginger at night, probably easier said than done though. I will then let the new ones sleep in the eglu and put Ginger in a makeshift roosting box in the summer house for the night.I will clean the eglu before returning Ginger in the morning and again before the new ones go in to sleep. Good job I only work on a Wednesday on a voluntary basis.

Still can't believe how upset I feel and the free range chicken for Easter lunch is definately staying in the freezer. Couldn't face it yet.

[Pikey]

Sorry to hear about Pepper

 

It seems lots of our ladies are having the same problems at the mo.

 

xxxx

 

P.S I'll have a look at the post aobut new chickens in a mo.