Bella recovering well from ?Infectious bronchitis? - update: new pics!

[TXmom]

This is the first time I've seen this thread, and I read it all the way through. I don't have any advice since my first chickens are only 11 weeks old, but I sure hope Bella is on the road to recovery! I'm sorry you've been through so much with her already, but you're a wonderful chicken-mama and she's lucky to have you.

5 good eggs in a row is great news

Best wishes to you, Bella and your BO!

Keep us posted, this thread may help someone else save their beloved chicken, too.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I know you are probably not going to like this, but I would cull her - as in find her another home.

 

[caralouise1974]

Quote:
I understand why some owners would choose to do this, but we can't. She's a pet. We love her. That's not how we work.

If I had a sickly puppy, no-one would be advising me to do away with it. But a chicken, now that seems to be the kind of 'disposable' animal that people don't expect you to get attached to.

I can't get rid of her, despite logic telling me that as 'livestock' she's not ever going to be a decent 'producer', after all her problems. That's not why we got her. We got her so that our new baby (due in 11 weeks) will have some lovely tame hens to hang out in the garden with when he or she is big enough.

We've also had some terrible problems with dominance, feather picking, and pecking order issues in what was originally a flock of four hens. We're now down to just two (Bella and Henrietta) and they are such great friends that I honestly don't know which of them is top hen. When Henrietta's sister Marjorie previously had to be 'found a new home' because of her cannibalistic/feather-eating habits, Henrietta almost starved herself to death pining for her. I can't face doing that to poor Henrietta again.

But, all that said, I understand why you might suggest it. It's simply not the right solution for me.

 

[caralouise1974]

Quote:
My thoughts precisely!

 

[caralouise1974]

Quote:
Will do - I'll keep you all informed of her progress.

 

[caralouise1974]

Quote:
Thanks JJ, and special thanks for your support and info re your special girl Betty and her surgery. I shall never forget about her and BJ and their incredible bond. I don't mind admitting that her story made me cry. xx

 

[jjthink]

Quote:
.

But, all that said, I understand why you might suggest it. It's simply not the right solution for me.

Actually, I don't understand at all why anyone would suggest rehoming her just because she's had/having some problems! I'm with you Cara!

JJ

 

[caralouise1974]

Quote:
I really hope it does. I do sometimes think that maybe I'm just sounding off and attention-seeking, but then I try to remember that if anyone else goes through this sort of thing with their girls, my story might just be of some use to them.

I hope you aren't all simply being polite and are secretly completely bored with me blethering on about it!

 

[caralouise1974]

Quote:
.

But, all that said, I understand why you might suggest it. It's simply not the right solution for me.

Actually, I don't understand at all why anyone would suggest rehoming her just because she's had/having some problems! I'm with you Cara!

JJ

Aw, I knew you'd feel the same way JJ

 

[caralouise1974]

OMG!

I think Bella is truly recovering... look at this whopper she laid today!

Got to be a double-yolker!

And compared to yesterday's egg...

Monster!

DH and I are so relieved that she seems to have recovered so well in such a short space of time

[edited due to my poor grammar!]