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- #21
Update on our Caroline. She seems to be doing somewhat better, due to daily multiple crop massages, but the main update is to let you know what an amazing head hen she is. This morning she proved that to us yet again.
Poor old Amanda's arthritis has gotten much worse this winter, so much so that she rarely goes outside the coop anymore. She can barely stand to eat and drink, but she's still plugging along, even started laying again day before yesterday. Caroline has not resumed her supervision of Amanda, however, because she is tending to Fern, my 4 1/2 yr old BR hen who is dying. Fern has only a few days, at best. In fact, we may end up euthanizing her in the next day or so. She weighs no more than an 8 week old chick and her comb is shrunken and blackish. She was my very best layer for almost 4 years, then suddenly, she bloated up and the downward spiral began. We did penicillin once, but though she seemed to rally for a time, it wasn't working in the end.
Today, my DH took Fern the rest of his breakfast, one of her favorites, grits mixed with fried eggs. He separated her so she could eat if she wanted to do so. She has little to no appetite now and though it won't help her to eat, he wants to make her more comfortable. She picked at it and turned away so he sat the bowl in front of Amanda and Caroline, who both began eating. They love this concoction, too, like most of my birds.
Fern then walked slowly over to them, between them and began eating. Now, usually this would have been met with a thunk on the head from both of them, since Fern is way down in the hierarchy of that coop, but neither turned her away. Both allowed her to eat out of the same bowl. Then, Caroline looked deeply into Fern's face and backed away from the bowl, giving her portion to Fern, watching her eat.
You may say Caroline had eaten all she wanted (never likely with Caroline), but you'd be wrong. I've seen Caroline perform this same act once before, a year and a half ago, when her Light Brahma "sister", Miranda, was dying of cancer. DH had taken a plate of eggs to the two Brahmas to eat alone. Miranda's appetite had waned as she got weaker, but she began eating. Caroline backed away from the plate and circled Miranda. She'd walk one complete circle, look at Miranda's face, then if Miranda was still eating, she walk around her another time. She did this four or five times. Not until Miranda had quit eating and walked away from the plate, did Caroline go to the plate and start eating herself. I am always impressed by acts I've seen performed by head hens as others in the flock are dying.
I've watched second-in-command hens preside over the passing of the head hen, then go on to become the next head hen, then have that same process repeated when they themselves are dying. I've watched the head hen do as Caroline is doing now, even when they themselves are not well. Chickens are not stupid animals. They are dignified and intelligent and they do show emotion, if you care to see it.
Poor old Amanda's arthritis has gotten much worse this winter, so much so that she rarely goes outside the coop anymore. She can barely stand to eat and drink, but she's still plugging along, even started laying again day before yesterday. Caroline has not resumed her supervision of Amanda, however, because she is tending to Fern, my 4 1/2 yr old BR hen who is dying. Fern has only a few days, at best. In fact, we may end up euthanizing her in the next day or so. She weighs no more than an 8 week old chick and her comb is shrunken and blackish. She was my very best layer for almost 4 years, then suddenly, she bloated up and the downward spiral began. We did penicillin once, but though she seemed to rally for a time, it wasn't working in the end.
Today, my DH took Fern the rest of his breakfast, one of her favorites, grits mixed with fried eggs. He separated her so she could eat if she wanted to do so. She has little to no appetite now and though it won't help her to eat, he wants to make her more comfortable. She picked at it and turned away so he sat the bowl in front of Amanda and Caroline, who both began eating. They love this concoction, too, like most of my birds.
Fern then walked slowly over to them, between them and began eating. Now, usually this would have been met with a thunk on the head from both of them, since Fern is way down in the hierarchy of that coop, but neither turned her away. Both allowed her to eat out of the same bowl. Then, Caroline looked deeply into Fern's face and backed away from the bowl, giving her portion to Fern, watching her eat.
You may say Caroline had eaten all she wanted (never likely with Caroline), but you'd be wrong. I've seen Caroline perform this same act once before, a year and a half ago, when her Light Brahma "sister", Miranda, was dying of cancer. DH had taken a plate of eggs to the two Brahmas to eat alone. Miranda's appetite had waned as she got weaker, but she began eating. Caroline backed away from the plate and circled Miranda. She'd walk one complete circle, look at Miranda's face, then if Miranda was still eating, she walk around her another time. She did this four or five times. Not until Miranda had quit eating and walked away from the plate, did Caroline go to the plate and start eating herself. I am always impressed by acts I've seen performed by head hens as others in the flock are dying.
I've watched second-in-command hens preside over the passing of the head hen, then go on to become the next head hen, then have that same process repeated when they themselves are dying. I've watched the head hen do as Caroline is doing now, even when they themselves are not well. Chickens are not stupid animals. They are dignified and intelligent and they do show emotion, if you care to see it.
