tropicalpalmtree
Hatching
- Mar 5, 2022
- 5
- 5
- 9
We're going through an awful patch with our small flock lately, 2 have died recently and one is displaying the same symptoms as the other two, in seemingly mysterious/coincidental circumstances.
Back in september 2020 we rescued 4 intensive farming hens (two white leghorn, two isa brown type breeds). Little did we know what a huge impact they would have on us and our household. They are/were part of the family and we would have them wandering around the house all the time. We lost a white leghorn in october last year which was incredibly painful and upsetting.
Starting a month ago we lost our other white leghorn henrietta. Again it was extremely sad but we hoped our other two (being they were extremely active and happy) would not bare us any heartbreak. Literally the day after losing henrietta, our hen 'marge' started to slowly go the same way. Very lethargic, eventually we had to force feed her but to no avail. We thought maybe she was going through bereavement because her and henrietta were close in the flock but despite trips to the vets and finding nothing out of the ordinary but a 'hard lump', she died last week. We saw her go from happy chicken to unable to walk over about 10 days and it was just utterly heartbreaking and depressing, we put it down to them being battery hens and having a usual life span of about 3 years (they are 3 now). Now our last chicken of the original flock is going the same way, lethargic and wont eat or drink but is keeping her eyes open atleast. There is just a seriously dark cloud in our house right now, i think about them all a lot and we do get really upset about it, especially my mum.
We are getting 4 more rescues in the rehoming in april. We know its for the best and that whatever happens, they will have a happy life with us and our garden, the others definitely liked it. Can anyone chime in if you become hardened to losing the chickens? It's a little frightening having gone through this. The way we have reacted feels like no different than losing a dog, and to lose 2 hens weeks after one another and our last of the flock also looking ill is really horrible.
Back in september 2020 we rescued 4 intensive farming hens (two white leghorn, two isa brown type breeds). Little did we know what a huge impact they would have on us and our household. They are/were part of the family and we would have them wandering around the house all the time. We lost a white leghorn in october last year which was incredibly painful and upsetting.
Starting a month ago we lost our other white leghorn henrietta. Again it was extremely sad but we hoped our other two (being they were extremely active and happy) would not bare us any heartbreak. Literally the day after losing henrietta, our hen 'marge' started to slowly go the same way. Very lethargic, eventually we had to force feed her but to no avail. We thought maybe she was going through bereavement because her and henrietta were close in the flock but despite trips to the vets and finding nothing out of the ordinary but a 'hard lump', she died last week. We saw her go from happy chicken to unable to walk over about 10 days and it was just utterly heartbreaking and depressing, we put it down to them being battery hens and having a usual life span of about 3 years (they are 3 now). Now our last chicken of the original flock is going the same way, lethargic and wont eat or drink but is keeping her eyes open atleast. There is just a seriously dark cloud in our house right now, i think about them all a lot and we do get really upset about it, especially my mum.
We are getting 4 more rescues in the rehoming in april. We know its for the best and that whatever happens, they will have a happy life with us and our garden, the others definitely liked it. Can anyone chime in if you become hardened to losing the chickens? It's a little frightening having gone through this. The way we have reacted feels like no different than losing a dog, and to lose 2 hens weeks after one another and our last of the flock also looking ill is really horrible.
The sad thing is that high production birds which rescues generally are have a limited lifespan. It's great that you can give them the chance to live like 'real chickens'. Use that knowledge to lessen the pain of their deaths.
i'm praying we can nurse our last isa brown back to health
