Guest Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 We lost our lovely Special Speckle (Speckled Sussex) last week - she was bottom of the pecking order and in spite of everything we did , she failed to thrive. Time alone, feeding her etc etc etc ....she just fell asleep and that was it! She was barely 6 months old and we are so upset! She was lovely and we were just getting to know her, she was letting us pick her up and I was looking forward to the summer when she would be out more! Then on Sat - Speckle (god knows what - but 57 verieties) - was covered in blood! She had split her bum laying a whopping 77g egg! The poor thing needed 7 stitches! She is now in a dog crate in the shed to keep her warm, away from Chirp and in the dark (ish) in a hope it will slow egg production down a bit to give her time to heal! A very traumatic half term! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Sorry for your loss. Your other poor hen must be very sore. Ouch. One of my hens laid a 100g egg yesterday and I had to check she was all intact - she seemed okay thankfully running around as usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 It was pretty gruesome - blood everywhere - but she wasn't the least bit bothered! The Vet was won over too - he had expected her to be all pecky but she just let him get on with it! He said she had changed his mind about chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Sorry to hear you've had a bad week. With regard to your other hen, feed her rice or anything other than layers pellets or mash. Mixed corn is good or weetabix. That should slow down her laying and give her body a chance to heal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Oh no! What a terrible week Sorry about Speckle . I hope your other poor girl recovers. I agree with Christian, I would give her anything other than layers pellets or mash to slow the laying process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Oh no - what an awful week, so sorry to hear about Speckle. I lost a young hen last year in similar circumstances, she just never seemed to thrive - it's sad to lose an old one, but it seems very unfair when they are so young. Ouch - hope your other chook makes a speedy recovery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 so sorry to hear your sad news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Well I did all I could, I kept her warm, took her back to the vets, was due to go again today..... This morning I bought her inside to have a warm-up and give her her medicine and she had a massive fit! I just held her for about half an hour and she went to sleep! She was healing very well and the stitches were due to come out on saturday! It just seems so unfair to lose 2 girls so young within a week! I spent the morning gving the Eglu and run a good clean - whilst Chirp pottered around the garden oblivious - she was more interested in worm hunting! So now I'm back to one hen again! I just don't know what to do for the best! I know she shouldn't be alone - but can't bear the thought of going through all of this again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I'm so sorry - it sounds as though you nursed the other girl very well. As for you lone hen I would just say don't make a decision yet. As long as she has your company she should be fine on her own for a couple of weeks - you may have a clearer idea of what you want to do then. I think you have just been very unlucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poached Egg Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Sorry to hear your news. I would agree not to rush if Chirp isnt obviously distressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 It's funny - I never thought i'd feel this way about a chicken - but they are such lovely funny things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Oh no - and it all sounded as if it was going well. So sorry. It is hard, but I think you've been really unlucky - give it a week or so, Chirp will be ok in the short term, and I bet you will feel more like thinking of other hens by then. You've lost two in a week but I went for two years without losing a hen when I started out - it's luck of the draw, but chances are if you get some POL pulllets now, they will have a long life ahead. I feel a particular connection since your was preloved by me and was my very first Eglu, I remember you coming to collect it and how excited your DS was about getting hens! He must be upset, hope he can come to terms with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Thanks Olly! Yes - I was just thinking today funnily enough of my trip to you to collect it - we were so excited! Chirp is my last original one left now! Harry takes it hard - he loves his girls and is looking for answers as to what happened and why? I'll give it a few days and decide what to do! The thing is - I think it would be easier to just get one more - but then I may be left with the same dilema of being left with just one again - so what to do? But I found 3 in my small garden a bit much - 2 seem right somehow! The highs are great - the lows are just awful!!!! Louise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammiboo Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 how awful. i am really sorry I would be heartbroken if anything happened to any of mine. you do get attached to pets and its so devastasting when something happens. i know i have shed more tears for my pets than i have over some people. have you thought about getting an ex batt? It may be something positive to focus on in all the gloom. Good luck with what you decide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 An ex-batt would be lovely - but I can't afford any more vets bills just now and if she became sick I couldn't afford to get her help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 so sorry for your losses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 how awful. i am really sorry I would be heartbroken if anything happened to any of mine. you do get attached to pets and its so devastasting when something happens. i know i have shed more tears for my pets than i have over some people. have you thought about getting an ex batt? It may be something positive to focus on in all the gloom. Good luck with what you decide i have also shed more tears for my pets than people, its funny how much you bond with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
