Chicken bald back

[Chickabee]

I'm afraid that today I'm going to have to PTS my last exbat. She's been 2 years free and I'd like to think has had a wonderful 2nd half of her life. Until very recently she was in fine fettle. Well feathered heavy, good appetite. I just noticed over the past week or so, her feathers are ruffled and her comb is pale. Today she didn't come out of the coop and it's the first day she's not eating or drinking. She's hunched up and very sad looking. I don't like the job in hand, but I also can't stand to see her suffering. She has been a very fine bird indeed.

[Daphne]

Assuming you have checked her over for lice/mites and redmite in the coop (this can explain a pale comb in particular), and there is nothing else obvious like rattly breathing to explain her decline, and if she won't eat/drink even if you try to feed/water her on a one to one basis, then yes you are doing the right thing, and we applaud you for taking prompt action. Be thinking of you.

[Chickabee]

Of course she will get a thorough inspection

[mullethunter]

Of course you are doing the right thing. You know her and wouldn't be thinking about it unless you knew it was the only fair option.

[Chickabee]

She's gone now. She was still quite weighty so had only just given up on food. No lice or mite. She actually died before I got to her, so it was nice not to have to actually end her life. I don't think she suffered very long though. Think the cold was probably the last straw

[Hippie Chick]

I'm so sorry to hear this, poor girl.

[Lewis]

Sorry to hear it, it sounds like she was very well looked after and had a happy two years with you.

[redsunset]

Two whole years.....after a cage was an amazing life for an ex-batt. You should be so proud that she had that lovely long life with you and also passed away naturally, also with you. That is lovely. Am sorry you lost her, but if chickens could talk she would say, 'I was the lucky one'....