staceychristie Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Our exbatt Gladys died suddenly last night. She'd been a bit slow around the garden. Poos and feeding and wormed ok. We put her in our emergency hen box in the downstairs loo, and when we checked her at 2am this morning, she was panting rapidly. We knew the vet was the next thing to do, but sadly by 5am, she'd died (must have been shortly after 2am, as she was cold and stiff. Would you let the others see her? To let them know she's gone? Thanks Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 TBH I don't think they will feel a loss in the same way that a human would, especially as is more than one remaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 Fair enough. Others we've had have gone to the vet to be PTS, and only after an illness of a few days. This was so sudden. Our vets good, and going to do PM on Monday. Thanks for your help Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I've always let mine see the body just so they know. Mine tend to go quiet for a week or so following a death in the flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share Posted May 15, 2012 Thanks gongladosh, She's gone to be cremated now ;-( The others haven't quite seemed ok, and they tend to be looking everywhere. Found them all in the downstairs loo where the 'emergency hen box' is, just clucking (like a very very quiet alarm call). Gladys wasn't dead for long when we found her, could only have been 3 hours when we'd gone to bed. When we woke up, she'd gone, and was already cold and stiff Not too sad, as she went quickly.....worse when they have to be pts. Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Chuck Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 When my last hen Bella, was pts I brought her body back to show the other hens before burying her. They pecked at her body a bit but it was only at bedtime that panic set in with my top hen, Connie (Light Sussex). She searched for her everywhere in the garden and demanded to come into the house to look there as well. She kept up the scheeching, calling and searching for 4 days before she finally accepted that her flock mate had gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Poor things. They come around in the end but they certainly notice the difference. Personally, I still reckon they grieve in their own henny way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I think they do grieve, some for longer than others, but I have always let them see their friend. Mrs Potts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
