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I think the thunderstorm killed one of my chickens

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All of my chickens have been fine all day.

They've made their usual racket and had treats.

Then came a big thunderstorm and a huge amount of rain this evening.

My garden filled with rain but the chicken run was ok.

I went out about 20 mins ago to see how wet everything was and if they were ok, to see Melody lying down on the floor, dead.

She had been absolutely fine. This was their first ever big thunderstorm. I should have gone and checked on them sooner.

 

I think poor little Melody died of shock.

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Oh what a horrid thing to happen, what a shock for you.

 

I hope Myrtle is ok.

 

I have one ex batt left from my original 3 ex batts, she lives in an eglu classic on her own in one end of the WIR. She sleeps on her own but in the day can see the other hybrids. She seems quite happy.

 

Chrissie

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I have one ex batt left from my original 3 ex batts, she lives in an eglu classic on her own in one end of the WIR. She sleeps on her own but in the day can see the other hybrids. She seems quite happy.

 

Chrissie

 

I'm glad you have said this, as this will be exactly the same situation Myrtle will be in, from tomorrow.

 

 

Thanks for your wishes everyone. It still hasn't really sunk in and I keep thinking I should have checked sooner.

I will take her to the vets tomorrow so they can send her for cremation - no girlie deserves to go in the bin.

I'm really feeling quite sad about it.

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Oh no......so sad to read this :( Sending you a hug :cry:

 

I have also heard of thunderstorms causing sudden death :( I guess we just can't protect against that??? She might have had a weak heart or something? Sometimes it feels like one thing after another doesn't it?!

 

RIP Melody

 

I suppose just see how Myrtle goes.....could she maybe be integrated with your "little" girls?? Or perhaps sometime later she could get a companion?

 

Let us know how you get on? :)

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Sorry to read your news Chrissie, it's always such a shock losing a pet, especially so unexpectedly... :(

 

We also have just one chook left, our Fern, she's no spring chicken, as she's around 3, and we lost her two companions within 24 hours or each other a couple of months ago, we never knew what happened, and we took Fern to the vet then as a precaution but as she was healthy the vet couldn't do or say anything except keep a close eye on her.

 

She's been fine health-wise but we also worried about her being on her own. We didn't want to rehome her as she'd only just come to us from a friend a few months before, and we get quite attached to all our animals. We also are not planning to take on more chickens at the moment, as we are switching over to ducks (and there's a limit to how many animals I can keep in the garden). She has been perfectly fine on her own though, she has a separate little coop near the ducks WIR, so she can see and listen to them all day, the dog keeps her company and she enjoys free-ranging with him. She seems quite chilled and I don't think she's particularly unhappy.

 

I hope your Myrtle is ok too, once she's used to being on her own.

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Thanks everyone.

I took her to the vets to be creamted later. It only costs £2.09 to get it done.

Melody was very heavy, about 2kg.

 

I watched Myrtle yesterday. She seemed ok on her own. She pottered about, sat on the bench and then sat on the rung of the dirt pit watching the others through the wire.

If she starts to look really sad then I will ask hubby if we can get her a friend.

 

I can't let her free range because we have some very persistent cats and foxy does come too.

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Was sorry to read this and had no idea the shock of thunder could do this to a chicken. Horrible to lose one no matter how many you have or how little as they are all special in their own little way. Thankfully chickens have a short memory span as regards trauma (so I'm told?) and the one little one left will soon be fine and hope you manage to get her a new friend....hubby can be persuaded??? :wink:

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hope you manage to get her a new friend....hubby can be persuaded??? :wink:

 

Er, well, I mentioned it to him, that if after a week or so she wasn't happy we should get her a friend. But he said after our first dealing with introductions it would not be a good idea as she was really quite spiteful to the pekins and what would we do with a chicken she might not get on with.

He does have a point :( and I don't have enough space to separate any more squabblers, or money to get any more houses.

So, I'll just have to see how she goes for now.

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Today, Myrtle has had a lovely day.

I cleaned both houses and whilst doing so shut the babies in the omlet run. This meant Myrtle could play in their end.

Even though it was boiling hot, I managed to sift some of the stones and sharp stuff out of the soil (for the babies and their bumble feet). Myrtle watched me and spied on the others, and then when I went to cook tea she was having a whale of a time in my fresh pile of soil - she loved it :D

She doesn't appear too lonely at the moment, so I am keeping my fingers crossed :D

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