Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[FosPet]

Hi, I've got a poorly hen. Maisy is 2 years old and although she has had the odd day where she has been 'under the weather' she has now been poorly for 3 days. She is not really eating, and has her eyes shut most of the time, she will come out of the run into the garden and she walks okay but just seems to want go to sleep. She has been drinking water but her poo is all watery and white. I always said I wouldn't take the girls to the vet if they got sick due to the cost, but I can't stand to think that she is in distress.

I'm away from home for the beginning of this week, so my neighbour is in charge, any ideas on what I can do?

[Olly]

She either needs to see a vet, or to be humanely dispatched if you take the view that at two she's had a full life and may not recover anyway - an entirely valid point of view, but if you opt for the latter, it's not something to undertake unless you know how to do it. I'd get her to the vets and you can decide then. If she has been looking ill for three days then she is pretty poorly.

[Chucky Mama]

I am afraid that she is not going to improve herself without any medication. If taking her to the vet is not an option for you she should be humanely dispatched.

[FosPet]

Thanks, I'd decided by bedtime last night that if she was the same today, I'd take her to see the vet, as I couldn't bear to think of her in distress and I couldn't 'dispatch' her myself.

I'm sorry to report that she didn't make it through the night. I can't believe how upset I am, I never thought I would get that attached to a chicken. RIP Maisy x

[LunaKiw1]

How awful for you but sounds as if she went quietly. We live near you - Bassett, at the end of the M3. If you do need a vet we use CFVS (Davies & Aylott) on Bournemouth Rd, C/F. There are a few of the vets there who keep chickens themselves and one as very good when 2 of ours had to be PTS recently after peritonitis.

[FosPet]

Thanks LunaKiw1, I did some research last night and that's the practice I came up with. It's good to know someone recommends them.

Need to think about getting some more company for Gertie now ......

[Peaches]

Sorry to hear your news, FosPet. I was devastated when my first chicken died. I am glad to hear that you have found a good vet, however. It will really make a difference. I haven't been able to find anyone locally with experience and it makes life a lot harder. Fiona

[LunaKiw1]

We went to Cotswold Chickens - half way between Oxford and Banbury. A bit of a trek but nice chooks there. We got a Goldline (like a Gingernut Ranger) and a Bluebelle and a Speckledy. Hope you get a companion hen(s) soon! Our new ones have such different characters that it doesn't feel as if we have betrayed Ginger and Pepper somehow.

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Really feel with you.

 

We had Koukoula PTS last night and I filled up at the vets although I went resigned that she had to be PTS.

 

When Miso (our first) died we had kept her overnight and she died in the night - eggbound. We decided that we'd never let it get to that point again. When Kilo was unwell & we rang the vet to make an appointment she died 5 minutes before we left while in the travel box. There was nothing we could do.

 

That's why we were quicker with Krasi & Koukoula. We take the view that they have a good life and it's important that they suffer as little as possible. However, that's a great ideal and sometimes circumstances beat us. Chickens can deteriorate so quickly.

 

Take heart in the fact she had a lovely life while alive- much better than some have - and that there was someone who cared for her and protected her. You couldn't have offered her better than this.

 

Feathers

 

We take the view that the sadness is a sign of the affection we have for our chickens. This is not a bad thing.