Purplemaniacs Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) I know these things happen but at the moment they seem to happen quite regularly. This morning Marshamallow was dead in the nest box, she was a Snowbelle, one of my four newest hybrids. I say new when I checked I got them 2nd May 2010, so she was a good age for a hybrid, the other three are all well, one more Snowbelle and two that lay green/blue eggs. I also have my single surviving ex batt Agnes who we rescued 27th March 2011. Marshmallow had a good life but it is always a shock to find a dead one, not a good start to the weekend. OH is still asleep so I thought I woudl share with all of you as I know you will all understand Chrissie Edited November 9, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Sorry to hear it - it's always a horrid shock. That was really a very good age for a hybrid, unfortunately it often seems to happen that they all start to go at the same time. Hope the weekend gets better for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Oh Chrissie I am so sorry, but what a nice way for her to go, all snuggled in the nest box and not a long drawn out illness......sleep tight little one and chin up Chrissie XxX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 Thank you I am rather shocked at how old they are, time has flown by. That would explain why only two of them regularly lay an egg. I got them from Merrydale and all six hybrids I have had from them have lived a good long life. My Omlet girl Henny Penny was lovely but had a very short life in comparison but in her short life she taught me lots about chicken keeping Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I must admit with my ageing ladies I am nervous at opening the door in case one doesn't come out now. I remember the dread I had when my last big orpie didn't barge everyone out of the way to get her brekkies. So lots of hugs for you and here's hoping the others keep going strong for a long while yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 We got some from Merrydale as well Chrissie. Gracie laid huge green eggs, but died suddenly one night at the age of 18 months. So I guess yours have done extremely well indeed, but it is still a big shock I know and I'm always sorry to hear of this happen. Our Bluebelle never laid a decent egg. The shells were always thin and in the end we got fed up of cleaning out broken egg from the nest box. Daffodil was a dark brown egg layer who developed swollen feet, struggled to walk and so got bullied. We never managed to 'cure' her but just half a small aspirin once seemed to help her override the pain (vet suggestion). She went on to lay again and lived a very happy solitary life to 2 ½ until what looked like kidney failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Sad to hear your news Chrissie but as others have said she had a good life and it's the way most of us would like to go I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 That's a shame . What a good age though. I've never had a hybrid reach 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Sorry to hear about Marshmallow. It's the worst thing about keeping chickens. She obviously had a lovely life and a long one with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 That is a great age for a hybrid, she must have had a wonderful life with you. Still sad when they go though, so sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Sorry to hear this, but as others have said, what a good age Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted October 26, 2014 Author Share Posted October 26, 2014 Thank you I guess you are right she was a good age, I hope I don't loose her three friends soon. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 So sorry to read about Marshmallow and such a lovely name too. RIP Marshmallow xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Sorry to hear about Marshmallow - always sad when one of them dies. But she lived to a ripe old age for a hybrid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 So sorry. That was a lovely age and a fantastic life she had. Be glad she was yours I'm chuffed to have two left of my original chooks who will be 3 early next year as I was beginning to think I had a knack of killing them off from 18wks onwards the last two years here and there! Be proud of any hybrids you have over the age of 2-3. Not long for us but a lifetime to them, and if we can make their little lives as pleasant as a Chook could ask for then..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsatroy Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Sorry to hear you lost a girl. I recently lost 2 within the space of 2 days. It's very hard as you spend your time wondering could you have done something to prevent it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 This morning I have lost my little white silkie girl. Only two and half so no age for a min silkie. She was always smaller than the black one, she never seemed to thrive, was happy I think but always tiny. It seems to be a rough patch at the moment. And my hybrids seem to be making a feather duvet, serious moulting in Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 I'm really sorry to hear that Chrissie. You are having a rough patch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Sorry to read that, it's never easy and we don't get used to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Sorry for your loss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Sorry to hear your news Chrissie; it's the time of year - colder weather and moulting, which always puts a strain on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 So sorry to read about your little silkie. Sending hugs xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 Yes perhaps it is the time of the year. It is not long ago that I had 14, down to 9 now, I think I need to do some moving around, mixing groups together. Thank you all for your kind words. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Chickens tend to have weak hearts, and sometimes the change in temperature can be too much for them as they get older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
