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[cluckingmad]

My lovely little exbatt Martha just died this morning - we've been away for three weeks and the chicken sitter said she'd been a bit quiet although she was happy enough when food/corn was around. I've noticed she's been sitting quietly away from the other girls when they've been out in the garden, yesterday morning she'd appeared at the door of the cube and seemed less keen than usual to go out, walking quite slowly but pottered around a bit without any problems, hubby put them away in the evening and said she seemed quite slow and her abdomen felt quite full last night so wondered if she was having trouble egg-wise. This morning she didn't come out with the rest of the girls and was sitting in the cube as if going to sleep.

 

Brought her in to see if a warm bath would make her more comfortable but she started to flap and put her head back gasping and then she was gone A foul liquid came out of her beak when I laid her down so am now concerned in case she died of an infection or if it was simply old age?

 

Can't get hold of our vets currently, any suggestions would be really helpful as don't know whether I should be worried for my remaining 11 girls!

[staceychristie]

Sounds like she may have had a blockage in her crop. The foul smelling brown muck is common in crop problems. I'd keep an eye on the other girls, and check that they haven't got foul breath. Have the others got either a squishy liquid, or a hard crop?

 

Stacey

[brambles]

poor little lady. So sorry to hear this.

[cluckingmad]

Hi Stacey,

Must admit my first thought was crop problems but hers was totally empty this morning... All the others seems absolutely fine and are their normal piggy little selves, all tried to mob me as I went into throw some corn for them which was a relief!

 

After losing Maggie to peritonitis only a month or so ago I'm going to be spending a lot of time fussing over my remaining girls - already had a lovely cuddle from Suzie, my little sultan (aka my baby).. she always seems to know when a cuddle is needed

[Chucky Mama]

Sorry to hear the news about poor Martha. It sounds like a combination of thinngs. I doubt very much if it was anything that will be a problem for your others. It could have been sour crop or peritonitis or as you said just an all systems failure due to old age.

[staceychristie]

I know that it's hard to not to be worried when you've lost one so close to the next incident. Ours are all given a hug (if they want one or not ). I'm sure they do know when something up. We've just lost one, and they keep trying to get on my lap now. Guess your right when they know WE need a cuddle

 

Stacey

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it. I'm guessing her time was up. If the others appear fit and healthy, they probably are.

[cluckingmad]

Hi all,

 

That was the vet's view - all the other girls are absolutely fine, so am starting to relax again now... mind you, lovely hubby did point out that there may be space for some newbies soon (keeps fingers firmly crossed he wasn't just saying it to be kind!!)