Anyone with a small flock and who has a chicken die

[karen+3chickens]

My plymouth rock, Hattie, is not doing well. She has been having ongoing crop problems (for which I have spend hundreds in vet visits and different remedies). I cannot justify spending any more and nothing I do seems to make a big or long term impact. I am so attached to my girls. I got them after I miscarried twins and they became my "babies" while I grieved. I am going on vacation for 5 days and do not think she will make it while we are gone. I'm saying my goodbyes to her tonight, just in case. The coop is going to look so sad and lonely without her, I only have two other chickens. I guess I was just looking for someone to wallow in self-pity with. Thanks.

 

[The Zoo]

My hens are my babies too....
You gave her a good life - sometimes it's best to just let nature take its course. As hard as it is for us.

 

[saddina]

City allows 4 hens, we lost one early April in a freak heat wave, they had shade, but flipped thier waterer over.

 

[Beau coop]

I am sorry hear this. All of our girls are like family and it is so difficult to lose one.

 

[karen+3chickens]

The sad part is that the other two will probably not even notice she is gone. Chickens can be so selfish and self-centered!

 

[joebryant]

I took my hen to the vet today. She had cancer of the eye. The vet put her down. She was two months old, and the eye was extremely large and very much swollen. We had kept her in a cage in the dining room for almost two weeks putting terramycin on it every four hours because we though it was infected; however, it didn't get any better of course. The vet said that she could possibly live another two months, but that the cancer would continue to grow and eventually the tumor would find its way to her brain and be much more painful for her than what it was this morning.

EDIT:
BTW, the vet said that she'd probably gotten something under her third eyelid (whatever/wherever that is), and that bacteria had changed to cancer cells that grew quickly.

 

[Alley]

I am sorry to hear about your Hattie. My heart goes out to you, it really does. (((HUGS))) My girls are my babies too!

 

[JennsPeeps]

I understand.

Our barred rock hen, Dumpling, battled with illnesses for months. We didn't realize that she had not only cocci but also roundworms. In the end she succombed to the combination but not until 3 days of being a very, very sick chicken. It was heart-wrenching to watch her die and she was in my arms when she breathed her last breath.

My heart goes out to you. It's so difficult to lose any beloved pet, and even moreso when an animal has touched us as yours have you.

Let us know how we can support you when you need it. We're here for you.

 

[karen+3chickens]

Hattie made it through the night, but still looks very bad. Her crop did not empty at all, I think it has just stopped working. I tried massaging her this morning but any pressure on her crop caused her to cough and gurgle. I think it is so full that it is starting to spill into her airway. She is coughing now too. I'm so sad that I will be gone while she is this sick. I'll have to put her back outside in a few hours because we will be leaving. This really stinks

 

[vixchix]

This just breaks my heart. Poor dear Hattie. I had one put down a few weeks ago because of crop problems. It's so frustrating not being able to do anything. Lucy had an intestinal tumor that was stopping any food from passing through her system.
I so sympathize with you, but try to find peace of mind in knowing that she was well loved and cared for during her life. . . there are so many chickens out there who live abbreviated life spans in horrifying conditions. She was lucky to have you.