MarkBevBen Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 We've got up this morning to find Cottie, our appears to have passed away in her sleep We're completely at a loss as to how or why this could have happened. Nothing has got at her, she seemed absolutely fine yesterday - even laid an egg for us. They were both playing happily in the garden for most of the day. At the moment Dottie our seems absolutely fine, but then they were both fine yesterday. Even when I checked on them before bed to say sweet dreams, everything looked okay We're taking both girls to our vet shortly to try and find out what might have happened. Maybe we're doing something wrong and chickens aren't really meant for us? RIP little Cottie, hope you're playing peacefully with Lottie in the big dust bath in the sky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Perhaps they are carrying something - were they Omlet chickens ? I hope your vet can help - you have had really bad luck, you will need to get you single girl some friends as she will be lonely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 9, 2010 Author Share Posted October 9, 2010 Perhaps they are carrying something - were they Omlet chickens ? I hope your vet can help - you have had really bad luck, you will need to get you single girl some friends as she will be lonely. Thank you Scarlett Dottie was looking at Cottie, bless her in the Eglu it's just so blooming sad isn't it. Yes they're all Omlet chickens. We've had terribly bad luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 I'm so very sorry to hear about Cottie, that is just terrible and very sad. I worry all the time about my girls as it seems they so often appear perfectly fine and then something like this happens Scarlett is right in saying it's good to get some new friends for your single hen as she will be very lonely on her own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 9, 2010 Author Share Posted October 9, 2010 Thank you Mercedes We've just lifted Cottie out of the Eglu to get ready for the vet and the only thing we can see that's possibly different is that there was a slug in the Eglu. But don't they eat slugs anyway? Will let you know how we get on at the vet, going to ask him to look over Dottie as well - although touch wood she seems absolutely fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Let us know how you get on at the vet. Where do you live ? Perhaps someone can recommend a good place to get some new ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 I do hope the vet manages to give you some reassurance. The hard thing about hens is that like all prey animals they hide illness very well, which is why they seem to be okay and then quickly go downhill. I wouldn't have thought that a slug could have harmed Cottie as like you say they do eat them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy-Deb Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Oh no Bev, I am so sorry to read whats happened. I am at a loss for words but feel your pain and anguish. I hope the vet can shed some light on whats happened. My thoughts are with you. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 9, 2010 Author Share Posted October 9, 2010 Let us know how you get on at the vet. Where do you live ? Perhaps someone can recommend a good place to get some new ones Thank you Scarlett - will let you know what our vet says. He was very good about Lottie when she went too. I guess we'll have to get another little one to keep Dottie company, but at the moment just feel at a bit of a loss Don't know whether to get another one from Omlet or somewhere else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 9, 2010 Author Share Posted October 9, 2010 I do hope the vet manages to give you some reassurance. The hard thing about hens is that like all prey animals they hide illness very well, which is why they seem to be okay and then quickly go downhill. I wouldn't have thought that a slug could have harmed Cottie as like you say they do eat them. Yes it seems that way doesn't it Mercedes. I can't think what I may have done to have harmed her - she seemed grand yesterday, nothing untoward at all. The other week she laid a few softies but she got back on track and was fine, laying every day and her usual self. Will let you know what our vet says xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 9, 2010 Author Share Posted October 9, 2010 Oh no Bev, I am so sorry to read whats happened. I am at a loss for words but feel your pain and anguish. I hope the vet can shed some light on whats happened. My thoughts are with you. xx Thank you so much dear Deb. We're just very shocked at the moment and wish we knew what we've done wrong Will let you know how we get along with the vet xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 I would get 2 and from a reputable breeder/farm - 2 will be more able to stand upto one single hen (and if anything happened to one you would be back in the same situation ). You will have to wait as well if you get them from Omlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 9, 2010 Author Share Posted October 9, 2010 I would get 2 and from a reputable breeder/farm - 2 will be more able to stand upto one single hen (and if anything happened to one you would be back in the same situation ). You will have to wait as well if you get them from Omlet. Okay thank you Scarlett - do you know of any reputable places in the Beds/Herts/Bucks area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 A friend of mine got 6 lovely girls from Thornes in Letchworth (google thornes poultry) and I know lots of other members on here use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Please don't think it is anything you have done wrong. It is a natural reaction to question our own actions, but sometimes we are just unlucky with a batch of hens. I hope your vet is able to reassure you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalia Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Oh Bev, I was so sorry to hear that you'd lost Cottie. It really is terrible to lose one with no warning, but it does seem to happen with chickens. I'm sure there was nothing that you could have done, and you've just been terribly unlucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 So sorry to hear about Cottie, I know exactly how you feel. its very easy to blame yourself and think its something you have done but as said chickens can go down hill very quickly. Good luck with your search for some new girls and hopfully everything will go well for you now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 So sorry Bev. You have had a really bad run of luck. I hope the vet can give you some reassurance. I'd go back to basics and look at the food and plants they have access to. If there is nothing dodgy there and the house is clean then feel reassured that it was just one of those things and that you are doing as good as job as anyone could do. {{hugs}} Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 If there were no symptoms with this one then its probably just a horrible co-incidence that you've lost two - Sometimes a hen will just die for no apparent reason If you are worried then maybe have a post mortem done.. I'd leave the remaining one on her own for a week just in case it is something they picked up as a batch and if she still seems fine get another two (keep those separate for a week in case they have anything) then slowly introduce them all 'Omlet' chickens are bog standard hybrids so there is no real benefit going back to them for chickens, going somewhere and being able to pick your own is far nicer Thornes are very good as someone has already mentioned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 I'd leave the remaining one on her own for a week just in case it is something they picked up as a batch and if she still seems fine get another two (keep those separate for a week in case they have anything) then slowly introduce them all I agree with this advice from Redwing. I'd also check the feed to make sure it is still within its useby date and hasn't gone stale, ensure any free ranging doesn't include the compost heap, even though they generally love it. Also make sure that there isn't any stagnant water from which they might be drinking. They do tend to prefer this to freshly drawn tap water, but it can be heaving with nasties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Like the others, I share your sadness, what a terrible shock. Please don't think that chickenkeeping isn't for you, it's just bad luck that you've had this happen early on. There is some excellent advice in the last three posts. Thinking of you, and watching to see what the vet says. Best wishes for better times ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 I'm so sorry to hear about poor Cottie . Like the others have said, it's nothing you've done wrong, it just sounds like really bad luck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 9, 2010 Author Share Posted October 9, 2010 Hello everyone and thank you for your messages and advice. First of all, the vet gave Dottie a thorough check up and she's absolutely fine. She's also laid an egg for us this morning too. She does seem her usual self, eating, drinking, chattering and all. He thinks that Cottie picked some kind of poison from the garden they have been scratching around the periphery of the garden behind some very old bushes where nothing has been in the three years we've been living here. It's possible the previous owners may have put something down that she's picked up, rat poison perhaps? He's advised us not to let Dottie out of the run into the garden again to be on the safe side and also to get her some friends as soon as we can, given that she's in good health. I don't know whether to get an Omlet girl or another one. Lovely Barbara from Omlet has been really helpful and is sending me a list of recommended suppliers. I'll also look up the one in Letchworth which you've mentioned here. I think, but I'm not sure there was something mentioned here on the forum about an ex-battery hen event in Northampton tomorrow. Maybe that's something to think about? I'll have to do my research I've just given the Eglu a thorough clean out and moved it all onto a fresh patch of grass. I keep the grub and glug regularly cleaned and maintained, changing the water daily. We don't have a compost heap, but they have enjoyed digging in a border next to the house and the pots as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Regardless of what the vet has said its worth being prudent and keeping an eye on the remaining hen for a week or so as you have had so much bad luck it would be awful if things went more pear shaped for you The ex battery rescue is on the 17th and is in Brackley Ex batts wouldnt be able to go in with your hen for some time though which may be a pain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 If you pm Falkor she will tell you more about the ex-batt rescue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
