Caroline, Sweet Caroline (Update, Post 21, Feb 27)

[speckledhen]

Than you, Speckledhen. Means a lot to me. The same goes for you, in my opinion.

 

[Cetawin]

Wow....I am amazed Amanda did not thunk her. That is so sweet. Caroline and Amanda are both bossy but good girls.

You are right about head hens....you remember Delilah presiding over Leaya as she was dying yet Delilah was very I'll and dying herself. The process is heartwarming and heart breaking to watch butone I would not want to miss for the world.

 

[speckledhen]

Fern went to that Great Roost in the Sky overnight. She would have turned 5 years old in June. She has been going downhill for weeks, but over the last week or so, could not stand up except on her hocks, though she ate and drank and could still deliver a head thunk to someone she considered beneath her. Caroline and Amanda took great care of her. Fern was a real character, raised by a broody bantam Cochin, my first real flier whose wings we actually did clip at one point.

Fern had an indomitable spirit and clung to life tenaciously. She laid an egg nearly every day for years, amazing layer, my very best I've ever had until she turned 4 years old. RIP my sweet, funny, goofy Fern.

Here is a funny story from her first year back in 2009. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/276666/fern

Fern in her younger days. She was the daughter of my Ideal hatchery hen, Ivy, and a generation removed from hatchery BR rooster.
25 weeks old when she laid her very first egg


In 2012 after she moved to the old hens' coop because my Delaware rooster hated her.


We'll miss you, my crazy girl.

 

[chickenneighbor]

She was a beautiful hen. So sorry for your loss.

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you. She was one of a kind, that's for sure.

 

[Cetawin]

What a tough beautiful gal she was...just like her Mama. Her mama made me love the BR enough to consider having them. RIP beautiful Fern. Say Hi to your mama for me and my Suede.

 

[1muttsfan]

Sounds like she had a wonderful life - so hard to say goodbye to old friends.

 

[speckledhen]

I guess with the loss of Barbara and now, Fern, my mass die-off of older hens I've been expecting is beginning. I'm just not sure who will be next at this point. Caroline's crop would have done her in already if not for daily attention. Amanda can barely stand, but she laid an egg yesterday and actually made it into a floor level nest-usually, she just lays in a corner of the coop now since she can't hoist herself up over anything to get into a nest.

My blue Ameraucana, Nora, is 6 years old, and has seemed a bit weaker for awhile. She breathes oddly, not congested, but like she has a difficult time pushing air through so you can hear her breath when you hold her, just like an elderly person in a nursing home. Oddly enough, I have gotten a couple of her small pointy bright blue eggs from her over the last two weeks as well.

I've definitely had better luck with my breeder birds than my hatchery stock, with the exception of Caroline, who is now the only hatchery hen I own. I may get a couple from the feed store in Murphy, NC on March 20 when they get NH and Buff Orp pullets since they changed hatcheries to Mt. Healthy from Ideal and I've never had birds from that hatchery (tell me they don't dropship from Ideal, please. If so, forget it) I have a broody D'Anver who has only one bantam egg growing, due to hatch March 21 but they usually hatch on Day 20 so that would be perfect. Cetawin and I may divide up four pullets between us if Aimee will raise them until she gets here to visit in April. Could be a mistake, if so, someone speak up!

 

[ChickenPeep]

I'm very sorry for the loss of your faithful hens. It's very hard to watch them decline after so many years of health. Hopefully you can get some little fuzzballs to cheer you up.

 

[TwoCrows]

Fern went to that Great Roost in the Sky overnight. She would have turned 5 years old in June. She has been going downhill for weeks, but over the last week or so, could not stand up except on her hocks, though she ate and drank and could still deliver a head thunk to someone she considered beneath her. Caroline and Amanda took great care of her. Fern was a real character, raised by a broody bantam Cochin, my first real flier whose wings we actually did clip at one point.

Fern had an indomitable spirit and clung to life tenaciously. She laid an egg nearly every day for years, amazing layer, my very best I've ever had until she turned 4 years old. RIP my sweet, funny, goofy Fern.

Here is a funny story from her first year back in 2009. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/276666/fern

Fern in her younger days. She was the daughter of my Ideal hatchery hen, Ivy, and a generation removed from hatchery BR rooster.
25 weeks old when she laid her very first egg


In 2012 after she moved to the old hens' coop because my Delaware rooster hated her.


We'll miss you, my crazy girl.

Oh, I am so sorry for the loss of Fern. She was a beautiful hen and provided you with years of love. I hope your heart can heal soon.