Luvachicken Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Oh bless her and you ( I have heard a few cases of this since the storms, someone lost 5 hens and was sure it was the thunder. So sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 29, 2013 Author Share Posted July 29, 2013 The sad thing is that Myrtle will be on her own in the house now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickchock Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Oh I am so sorry. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Oh dear, we only have two now and i dread the day one is left alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 29, 2013 Author Share Posted July 29, 2013 I just went to tuck them all in and opened the egg port door to see how Myrtle was. She looked lost in the classic bedroom. I always gave them a stroke before bedtime but tonight she looked a little scared without her friend to cuddle up to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Oh thats so sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Oh that's so sad, poor little Melody and what a shock for you. I hope Myrtle will be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 29, 2013 Author Share Posted July 29, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 You are bound to feel sad but even if you had checked sooner I very much doubt the outcome would have been any different as I'm sure it would have been quick. Easy to say I know but long term I think it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Oh no......so sad to read this Sending you a hug 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Oh no, poor you luvachicken... You are having a bit of a rough time of it. hugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Oh I am so sorry to hear about this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 How awful, you poor thing. I would try to get her a companion, something nice and calm. Also try to let her free range, she'll probably stay near your other chooks. Even if you can't put them in together it will be a comfort to her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 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??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 hope you manage to get her a new friend....hubby can be persuaded??? 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I understand. You cannot always tell how intro's will go and if I remember rightly you had a problem a while back with squabbling chickens? No doubt she will have plenty attention and do just fine on her own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 My ex batt Agnes is quite happy. I think that as she is in sight of the other chickens she is happy, they are in the other end of the WIR. If she was on her own completely with no chicken company I think it would be very different. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 So sorry poor you. I frightened one of mine to death by opening up a cloth. You just never know and you couldn't have stopped the thunder. Would it be a good time to try slowly introducing her to the others again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 I'm so sorry to hear this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 I scared all my chooks this evening. I pushed the pram with GD in it past their run, they went mad Baby was hot and grumpy, garden was cooler. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 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 She doesn't appear too lonely at the moment, so I am keeping my fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
