kannie Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been around much recently, but I've been trying to cope with my final submissions for my (jewellery design) degree. Everything has finally gone in today, but instead of feeling happy I feel awful, because we also had to have Matilda put down today. She's been going downhill for some weeks, and rapidly so the last few days. We've had her to the vets a couple of times, and today she went in for an xray and ... can't remember the name of the thing when they look down the throat into the digestive system. Anyway, they found she had a lump in her abdomen and lots of fluid there, caused by either a tumour or egg peritonitis (whatever that is - haven't had a chance to look it up yet). They said the kindest thing was to put her to sleep. She was certainly in discomfort, if not pain, and would otherwise gradually starve to death (as she'd virtually stopped eating). I feel awful about not saying goodbye to her better: I had to send her in by animal ambulance as I just had too much to do, and I thought I'd be collecting her later on. I feel so upset. So's Maisy: she's quite lost. I think I should get 2 new chickens to keep Maisy company as soon as I can, so I need to read up about this as I havent introduced extra chickens before. Our supplier has: white star, rhode star, sussex line, bluebells, and silver nicks Oooh - that was nice to use an emoticon after being away so long! Glad to get back to you folks now, anyway! But I notice there are 7 pages of posts I've missed!! How will I cope?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 SO sorry to hear about Matilda. Sounded like you did exactly the right thing though and let her go before her quality of life suffered and you had to make the decision then. Take comfort in that she had a lovely life. I would personally get 2 more if I lost one of mine....I hope they settle in well...im sure they will. Welcome back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Just want to say how very sorry I am too Kannie. As you've probably read, I lost my Marigold today too, after a few months of similar symptoms to Matilda. We do think in the end it was peritonitis, and the antibiotics only kept her going for another couple of months, even though she did recover enough to lay a couple of eggs and lead a decent quality of life. It is so very sad. I think you are doing the right thing by possibly introducing two more. I was told by my supplier that it is ok to intro two new birds to one already established one, as they will stick together and maybe not get pecked as much. Anyway, my two new ones did settle in very quickly, and of course, now that Marigold is gone, they've still got each other. I wish you the best of luck. I'm having myself a big glass of wine and remembering the lovely days I spent with Marigold ... maybe you could do the same and think of your Matilda?! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 to hear your new - life really is a b*tch sometimes Good luck with your newbies though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Sorry to hear about your loss today. Definately get 2 newbies. I've just got an Amber Star hybrid last week from a Meadowsweet agent. She's very, very, very docile and really different in character from my Gingernuts and Miss Pepperpot. I could only add 1 as up to max capacity on the eglu, but felt she was really picked on by the other 3 girls. 2 would have been easier if I'd had the room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted May 22, 2007 Author Share Posted May 22, 2007 Thanks! I hadnt read about Marigold at that point Lindsay, but it does sound very similar. At least we know it wasn't anything infectious, and its OK to add new chickens. I hope they're hungry ones and Maisy's appetite perks up a bit with the competition - shes eaten so very little recently, with Matilda being off her food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Oh Christine im so sorry to hear the sad news about Matilda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Sorry to hear about Matilda Kannie karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 That's so sad Christine, big hugs to you, and the best of luck for the new introductions and your course work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Oh I'm sorry to hear about Matilda - the life of a chicken-keeper can certainly be a sad one sometimes - console yourself with the fact she has has a good and happy life and has been well loved Re: introductions - I'd definately introduce 2 - we did that when we lost Edna - you will probably worry about introducing two - I know that I was worried that it would be a big 2 against 1 s"Ooops, word censored!" and that my existing hen (who was already feeling sorry for herself without her old friend edna) would be disadvantaged - but your existing hen will have the power of TERRITORY - so they will have the power of numbers and she will have the power of familiarity. We found it worked very well - no real pecking - just a few polite "beak nudges" to establish who was the new boss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Sorry to hear about Matilda Christine She had a good life when she was with you Best of luck introducing your new girls. Something we shall also be doing in the next few days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy C Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Sorry to hear about Matilda. Its hard to put a loved pet to sleep Kammi, but at least you know from Lindsay's reply that you saved her from having the condition drag on, which is a comfort. All the best with the newbies, looking forward to the photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted May 25, 2007 Author Share Posted May 25, 2007 Thanks for all the replies! I'm not sure if things are getting better or worse... Good news: we got 2 lovely new hens. Lily - a silver nick - small, sweet and quite smart I think. Lottie - a large, not very smart, panicky but maybe quite soppy Bluebelle. They're gorgeous - very pretty and quite characters. Bad news: Maisy's being really nasty to the newbies, really misses Matilda (wailed for ages yesterday morning), and worst of all I had to take her to the vet today because now she has the same lumps in the crop that Matilda had, and she laid a shell-less egg - I had to pull bits of rubbery shell from her vent - and she was wheezing badly. The vet was really helpful over the phone and during the long consultation. He managed to do an endoscopy and flush her crop without anaesthetic (she was incredibly well behaved), but the bits in her crop aren't budging and we don't know what they are. So maybe her low appetite has some organic basis. I'm really upset as I don't want to lose her too. Are your chickens crops completely empty in the mornings, or do some hard bits remain? If so, how big are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted May 26, 2007 Share Posted May 26, 2007 If the chickens are not allowed food before I check it should be completely empty I'm sorry things aren't going well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riane Posted May 26, 2007 Share Posted May 26, 2007 poor you - hope things are better soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted May 27, 2007 Share Posted May 27, 2007 How are things today Christine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
