Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

I am just stopping in briefly to thank all of you who have sent words of support and encouragement both in the thread and through PM. These messages really help.
I also wanted to let you all know what I have decided to do.
I went to sleep last night thinking I would submit Lulu’s body into the state lab for necropsy and would hold my breath on what they found.
This morning I figured that there was not much I would actually be able to do with a necropsy report. I have done what I can in removing the feed, and if it was a one off thing, then it is a one off thing.
I also spoke to the lab this morning and they said if it was poison in the food they would not be able to tell that.
So, I have decided not to necropsy. My desire for closure is not enough of a reason. I will send in swabs for PCR testing which may or may not shed some light.
The real decision point will come when I want to add to the flock. I need to be sure that any additions will be safe. So for now I will wait and see and hope for the best for my ladies.
I will of course have to add (unless I rehome) because three is a precariously small number, particularly when two of them are technically ‘elderly’ and have known reproductive issues. But I will face that when I have to.
For now we take one day at a time. Me and my three Princesses.

Bernadette looked for Lulu a few times today which made me sad, but I think she understood before I did that Lulu was leaving us. If I look back at the canera recordings from yesterday she was already spending more time with Diana and Maggie and checking in on Lulu periodically.
As I sit here in my chair in the chicken run, I miss Lulu’s visits, Bella’s cuddles, and the sheer insanity of the Roadrunners, terribly. But I will get through it.

The lost Princesses:
View attachment 3241674View attachment 3241675View attachment 3241676View attachment 3241677

I have no words.

 

[lightm]

I am just stopping in briefly to thank all of you who have sent words of support and encouragement both in the thread and through PM. These messages really help.
I also wanted to let you all know what I have decided to do.
I went to sleep last night thinking I would submit Lulu’s body into the state lab for necropsy and would hold my breath on what they found.
This morning I figured that there was not much I would actually be able to do with a necropsy report. I have done what I can in removing the feed, and if it was a one off thing, then it is a one off thing.
I also spoke to the lab this morning and they said if it was poison in the food they would not be able to tell that.
So, I have decided not to necropsy. My desire for closure is not enough of a reason. I will send in swabs for PCR testing which may or may not shed some light.
The real decision point will come when I want to add to the flock. I need to be sure that any additions will be safe. So for now I will wait and see and hope for the best for my ladies.
I will of course have to add (unless I rehome) because three is a precariously small number, particularly when two of them are technically ‘elderly’ and have known reproductive issues. But I will face that when I have to.
For now we take one day at a time. Me and my three Princesses.

Bernadette looked for Lulu a few times today which made me sad, but I think she understood before I did that Lulu was leaving us. If I look back at the canera recordings from yesterday she was already spending more time with Diana and Maggie and checking in on Lulu periodically.
As I sit here in my chair in the chicken run, I miss Lulu’s visits, Bella’s cuddles, and the sheer insanity of the Roadrunners, terribly. But I will get through it.

The lost Princesses:
View attachment 3241674View attachment 3241675View attachment 3241676View attachment 3241677

This made me cry. Wish I could give you a hug. God hasn't been fair to you. I suppose this is why I consider myself agnostic or a deist...

Can I ask what is the PCR test(s) for?

 

[ValarieF]

Sleep is good!

yea I was up at 1 am and all morning lol.

 

[RoyalChick]

This made me cry. Wish I could give you a hug. God hasn't been fair to you. I suppose this is why I consider myself agnostic or a deist...

Can I ask what is the PCR test(s) for?

You are very kind. I don't know that it is fair or unfair, it just is, and I have to bear it.
But it makes me very, very sad.

I will test for the virus that Bella had (but Minnie did not), I will test for Marek's and I will test for a couple of other things on the offchance that she had one of those. Clinically she didn't really have any of those - but they can behave oddly, and the feed theory doesn't totally stack up for Lulu as I had removed the feed some days before. Could be some spilled, could take a while to impact her, but none of it is clear-cut.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

I know I speak for all here when I say, we will all miss their stories. In many ways they feel like family members, distant cousins, and we will all feel their loss in the stories that will not be told.

You have been through a lot. Something that I pray no one else here ever has to experience. We are all here for you and mourn with you.

I'm so very very sorry my friend.



Let me share a little poem I wrote a while back when I was particularly feeling all of the losses which I suffered through. Maybe it will help.


They enter into our lives
Full of life Full of hope
For what they could be

They enter into our hearts
Full of joy Full of warmth
Giving us love

They depart us far too soon
Full of sadness Full of tears
Leaving heartbreak

They want us to remember
All the happiness All the cheer
They brought to us

This poem describes exactly how I feel about my flock members, past and present.
I was so naive when I bought my first chicks. I was going to raise these chicks and have a little flock of hens and get fresh eggs and live happily ever after. I never realized how fragile chickens are, compared to other pets like dogs and cats.
When I lost four pullets to a predator I was devastated. That was only the beginning. I lost Blanche, my favorite girl, and as time went on, a few more.
At this point I think I try to be less attached, but you can’t avoid the feelings of sadness and loss. And that feeling like you aren’t being a good chicken keeper.
I am just trying to enjoy each day as it comes, and enjoy their presence.

 

[featherhead007]

A little experiment. I took out a can of salt free corn , and feeding the chooks by hand. They were happy about that, but when I put the rest in a dish, they weren’t even interested in eating it. Point is, they prefer my company and attention. The corn consumption was only gratuitous!

 

[BY Bob]

A little experiment. I took out a can of salt free corn , and feeding the chooks by hand. They were happy about that, but when I put the rest in a dish, they weren’t even interested in eating it. Point is, they prefer my company and attention. The corn consumption was only gratuitous!

Interesting. Feels good I bet.

 

[BY Bob]

This poem describes exactly how I feel about my flock members, past and present.
I was so naive when I bought my first chicks. I was going to raise these chicks and have a little flock of hens and get fresh eggs and live happily ever after. I never realized how fragile chickens are, compared to other pets like dogs and cats.
When I lost four pullets to a predator I was devastated. That was only the beginning. I lost Blanche, my favorite girl, and as time went on, a few more.
At this point I think I try to be less attached, but you can’t avoid the feelings of sadness and loss. And that feeling like you aren’t being a good chicken keeper.
I am just trying to enjoy each day as it comes, and enjoy their presence.

I'm very glad it spoke to you.

 

[RoyalChick]

I know I speak for all here when I say, we will all miss their stories. In many ways they feel like family members, distant cousins, and we will all feel their loss in the stories that will not be told.

You have been through a lot. Something that I pray no one else here ever has to experience. We are all here for you and mourn with you.

I'm so very very sorry my friend.



Let me share a little poem I wrote a while back when I was particularly feeling all of the losses which I suffered through. Maybe it will help.


They enter into our lives
Full of life Full of hope
For what they could be

They enter into our hearts
Full of joy Full of warmth
Giving us love

They depart us far too soon
Full of sadness Full of tears
Leaving heartbreak

They want us to remember
All the happiness All the cheer
They brought to us

Thank you for that Bob (and for so much more). The poem is exactly right and I will certainly try and remember the happiness.

 

[BY Bob]

Thank you for that Bob (and for so much more). The poem is exactly right and I will certainly try and remember the happiness.