BYC Café

[DobieLover]

Thanks for the coffee Perris. And the support this morning.

@DobieLover That picture of Seneca's vent almost looks more relaxed/elastic. How is she doing this morning ?

It does look much better. But she still couldn't pass the egg. It took five attempts for me to finally get it out and I could tell it was hurting her much more than the first two times.
After she recovered a bit from her latest ordeal I put her back with the flock and she is happy to be there.
The saddest part about this is she acts her normal self once I clear her obstructions. But it's taking too much of a toll on both of us to continue and I can't stop the eggs.
I did finally get a reply from the local avian vet and they said they did not offer the Suprelorin implant. And even if they did, I've had to clear her twice because she couldn't evacuate her rectum. As @aart suggested, the problem is further up the plumbing.
So I have come to the sad conclusion that I must let her go.
The neighbor will shoot her tonight, like he did for Wynonna and Lucy.

 

[Perris]

 

[LaFleche]

We are both at similar stages of shagginess. Princess says that she is cute but that my beard is not.

But what does she expect permanently broody magician to look like?

 

[LaFleche]

So I have come to the sad conclusion that I must let her go.

Same is to happen here tonight, as she only hides under the poop board and would not eat or drink when out with the other chickens. I have to take her in to forcefeed her at least twice a day for several hours. Although the ACV flush followed by medical charcoal worked well, she is pooping normally again. But I will not have a chicken in the kitchen forcefeeding her etc. for unlimited time and I do not want her to starve to death either.

 

[DobieLover]

In trying to find a silver lining to the gigantic dark cloud that is hanging over my life, I spent a little extra time in the coop with the flock this morning. I do believe all my little bantam girls are laying. It is the cutest thing to watch Tonk fly up to the poop board edge, where many of the girls do to announce that they will soon lay an egg. Napoleon flew up there with her and joined in. Cute tiny little chicken voices belting out that obnoxious tune!

And big daddy Fabio is starting to feel his oats. But he remains very tolerant of me and continues to allow me to stroke his back several times as he walks past me without panicking and jumping away. And still eats the most gently from my hand when I feed the raisins each morning. Hell, I'll be a blithering mess when I loose him.

 

[DobieLover]

Same is to happen here tonight, as she only hides under the poop board and would not eat or drink when out with the other chickens. I have to take her in to forcefeed her at least twice a day for several hours. Although the ACV flush followed by medical charcoal worked well, she is pooping normally again. But I will not have a chicken in the kitchen forcefeeding her etc. for unlimited time and I do not want her to starve to death either.

I'm so sorry. But thinking along these lines is the best option when making a hard decision. Neither of us want our birds to suffer any longer.

 

[LaFleche]

I'm so sorry. But thinking along these lines is the best option when making a hard decision. Neither of us want our birds to suffer any longer.

Yes, that is the only way to go, because I really love this little obnoxious bird.

With her gone, there will only be two pet hens left. All the others are rather lifestock.

 

[LaFleche]

Hell, I'll be a blithering mess when I loose him.

Don't think about it, just enjoy as long as you can.

 

[aart]

I've had to put down a few suffering birds.
Tried to save the first one, it was excruciating.
Even tho my birds are not 'pets', there are/were a few special ones.
Sometimes the best decisions are the hardest ones.
to @DobieLover and @LaFleche

 

[DobieLover]

Even tho my birds are not 'pets', there are/were a few special ones.

I feel the same way.
But the more I work with a bird trying to save it, the more attached I get. And they become more attached to you and start to show more of their personality. That's what makes it hard.
When I found Rhoda dead, I felt bad for her but it didn't hurt. She hadn't been suffering and being HBIC, certainly wasn't one to cozy up to me.
Peanut will be the next to go. She is my last WLH, has ascites and has not resumed laying after her molt. I cannot cure her. I will just monitor her for when she does not appear to be enjoying normal chicken activities any longer then I'll let her go.