HELP aggressive chicken

[Stedic]

Hello everyone,

 

I've not posted on here for quite a while, as all 8 girls have been behaving themselves!

 

Unfortunately, its been a truly rubbish fortnight chicken-keeping wise! First I found our ex-batt Twiggy dead in the run - she was the weakest of all the birds rescued about 3 months ago and it seemed like it was all a bit too much for her. Two days later I found her sister, Tatty, from the same rescue, sneezing and coughing. She was given full TLC but later made her way to the vets to be PTS. THe other 6 have been on anti-biotics for a week and were all fully healthly.

 

Then on Friday we noticed that Violet, who was rescued a year ago in July was really starting to struggle. She's always been a big chicken but has been noticeably less mobile for the past few months - not swollen anywhere, just a bit doddery. This weekend she'd started to struggle to get over even low obstacles. This morning I found her in the run, unable to walk more than a few steps. Because of the rain her feathers were muddy. I popped her into our hospital/dog crate/penthouse and hoped she'd rally but made a vets appointment for tomorrow (earliest they had).

 

But, I realised after watching her and talking to her that while she would eat and drink, she wasn't walking at all and even her wings were starting to droop. I thought she'd have passed away this morning but it became obvious to me that this would last until the vets - and that was cruel. I did some research for a couple of hours on humane despatch, hoping she'd die beforehand. In the end though, I had to intervene, I thought it was cruel to make her suffer for another 36 hours just because I felt uneasy. I used the neck dislocation method to ease her pain - she was as good as gold. I talked to her for a while and told her I was sorry that she'd been in the battery farm, but hoped she'd enjoyed eating everything in our garden. The actual 'event' wasn't traumatic for either of us.

 

So that leaves us with 5. I want to make sure that the virus that got Tatty is well and truly gone, and that the others are all healthy as we go into the winter. Then I'll make a few improvements to the run - extending the covered area for a start and changing the way the food and water is held up.

 

We'll look at getting some new girls soon - but only once we've made sure the others are OK and the run is improved.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear that, what a lot to cope with all at once . Sounds like you've been very caring towards them all in their hour of need .

[Tweety]

Sorry to hear that you have been having such an awful time, but you have clearly been doing everything you can for your lucky girls - including being brave enough to put poor Violet out of her misery. Your little conversation with her brought a tear to my eye

I hope that all your other girls are ok - I have got a Tatty too, the most bedraggled of my ex batts who is finally starting to get some feathers after 9 months of TLC! Good luck with your run improvements

[peachachecha]

So sorry that you and the girls had to endure all that.

[Daphne]

Sorry to hear all your news, but very well done on being such a proactive and a caring keeper, its the best any of us can do for our flocks. RIP Twiggy, Tatty and Violet

[Space Chick]

So sorry I have also assisted some of my girls to the great flock in the sky as I felt it was best to ease their suffering, so I know what a hard, but ultimately kind thing it is to do

[Chucky Mama]

What a totally rubbish time you have had Hopefully things will improve for you soon. I take my hat off to you for doing the right thing by Violet, it's not an easy thing to do.

[Alis girls]

That is an awful week - I admire you for helping her out of her suffering - I couldnt do it - hope the others are ok. Love Ali x

[blueandwhite]

How sad and traumatic for you. Fingers crossed the others remain healthy.

[Plum]

Hello, good to hear from you again but not in such sad circumstances. You are brave and hope things improve for you and your girls now.