Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Dear chicken friends

Even though we haven’t met in real life, I wanted to share something with you. I wanted to post something last night but I was just too sad.

I honestly don’t know how much longer Chickie is going to be with us. She had a check-up yesterday as she had finished her antibiotics. Dr Nikki has been away all week so we saw Dr Kevin. He didn’t want to prescribe more antibiotics, saying it would probably cause her harm. He did prescribe Meloxicam, which is a liquid anti-inflammatory. She is seriously under-weight and he thought she was quite unwell, saying she wasn’t as wary of him as she should be. He said to give her half a millilitre each night and call back next week to report how she is.

He said the next suggestion is an ultrasound. This would mean a trip to Sydney (a four-hour round trip) and around $500.The avian specialist suspected enlargement of the oviduct (?) which would probably require surgery. Suffice to say it would probably quite a lot more than what @MaryJanet ’s Dr Hill quoted.

I can’t just justify a $500 ultrasound plus surgery (I don’t think my husband would let me go through with it anyway, plus she may be too unwell to survive it). I have racked up hundreds of dollars already on vet visits, meds and an x-ray. I have to draw a line somewhere.

Every time I looked at her today, she was going about her daily chickeny business. She was having a scratch in the dirt, munching on some grass I had put in there and even inspecting the commercial feed. I reckon if you didn’t know she was unwell, you wouldn’t be able to tell from looking at her. She looks like the size she should be (her moult mustn’t have been too bad). She had a decent go at breakfast and ate most of her dinner. When I picked her up, I swear she felt just that little bit heavier.

If she’s eating, drinking, doesn’t appear to be in pain/discomfort and still seems interested in life, I am going to look after her to the best of my ability. When that changes, I will have to make the hard decision. But not before then.

Sorry to hear that Lozzy .

I think you are doing the right thing though. It can be hard to balance life span and quality of life. How distressing would it be for her (and you) to go through all the medical stuff with no guarantee that she would be any better .

All the hugs to you and your flock

 

[RoyalChick]

If she’s eating, drinking, doesn’t appear to be in pain/discomfort and still seems interested in life, I am going to look after her to the best of my ability. When that changes, I will have to make the hard decision. But not before then.

I am so, so sorry. This is one of the most difficult things in caring for an animal. But also ultimately the biggest gift you can give them. You will know when the time is right. I really feel for you. Cherish the days you have left with her while she is enjoying her chicken-life. Huge hugs from me and the Princesses.

 

[BY Bob]

That Sansa is a lovely looking hen. I hadn't fully appreciated this until I watched the video.

Thank you. I agree that she is quite beautiful. Her voice is more song bird like than a normal chicken. Quite a sweet bird as well.

 

[LozzyR]

I'm sorry @LozzyR. What a difficult time for you. Please give Chickie a treat and some words of love from her friends Sandy, Janet, Mary, Ivy, Peggy and me. And Blossom.

I will, thanks MJ. I hope Sandy is feeling better soon too.

 

[LozzyR]

Sorry to hear that Lozzy .

I think you are doing the right thing though. It can be hard to balance life span and quality of life. How distressing would it be for her (and you) to go through all the medical stuff with no guarantee that she would be any better .

All the hugs to you and your flock

Thanks Chookmum. It can be really hard. Where are these long-life 12+ chooks I keep hearing about?!

 

[LozzyR]

I am so, so sorry. This is one of the most difficult things in caring for an animal. But also ultimately the biggest gift you can give them. You will know when the time is right. I really feel for you. Cherish the days you have left with her while she is enjoying her chicken-life. Huge hugs from me and the Princesses.

Thanks RC. I at least doubled her life-span and she got to be a proper chicken.

 

[BY Bob]

Dear chicken friends

Even though we haven’t met in real life, I wanted to share something with you. I wanted to post something last night but I was just too sad.

I honestly don’t know how much longer Chickie is going to be with us. She had a check-up yesterday as she had finished her antibiotics. Dr Nikki has been away all week so we saw Dr Kevin. He didn’t want to prescribe more antibiotics, saying it would probably cause her harm. He did prescribe Meloxicam, which is a liquid anti-inflammatory. She is seriously under-weight and he thought she was quite unwell, saying she wasn’t as wary of him as she should be. He said to give her half a millilitre each night and call back next week to report how she is.

He said the next suggestion is an ultrasound. This would mean a trip to Sydney (a four-hour round trip) and around $500.The avian specialist suspected enlargement of the oviduct (?) which would probably require surgery. Suffice to say it would probably quite a lot more than what @MaryJanet ’s Dr Hill quoted.

I can’t just justify a $500 ultrasound plus surgery (I don’t think my husband would let me go through with it anyway, plus she may be too unwell to survive it). I have racked up hundreds of dollars already on vet visits, meds and an x-ray. I have to draw a line somewhere.

Every time I looked at her today, she was going about her daily chickeny business. She was having a scratch in the dirt, munching on some grass I had put in there and even inspecting the commercial feed. I reckon if you didn’t know she was unwell, you wouldn’t be able to tell from looking at her. She looks like the size she should be (her moult mustn’t have been too bad). She had a decent go at breakfast and ate most of her dinner. When I picked her up, I swear she felt just that little bit heavier.

If she’s eating, drinking, doesn’t appear to be in pain/discomfort and still seems interested in life, I am going to look after her to the best of my ability. When that changes, I will have to make the hard decision. But not before then.

This is hard, we all know the struggle.

Sometimes I wonder, would I have paid the money and put Daisy, the greatest hen ever, through surgery to save her life. With no guarantee. I'll never be able to answer that.

With Patsy it was about her being a chicken. As long as she was being a chicken, I let her be. It was tough but she was a happy chicken right up to the end.

All I can say is that whatever you do there will be no second guessing here. You know her best and all you can do is what you think is right for her.

I do know that both Daisy and Patsy had the support of their flock right to the end. I do believe with all my heart that the flock supports them and cares about them.
As long as she is not infectious I would let her be with the flock.


She is lucky to have you.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Dear chicken friends

Even though we haven’t met in real life, I wanted to share something with you. I wanted to post something last night but I was just too sad.

I honestly don’t know how much longer Chickie is going to be with us. She had a check-up yesterday as she had finished her antibiotics. Dr Nikki has been away all week so we saw Dr Kevin. He didn’t want to prescribe more antibiotics, saying it would probably cause her harm. He did prescribe Meloxicam, which is a liquid anti-inflammatory. She is seriously under-weight and he thought she was quite unwell, saying she wasn’t as wary of him as she should be. He said to give her half a millilitre each night and call back next week to report how she is.

He said the next suggestion is an ultrasound. This would mean a trip to Sydney (a four-hour round trip) and around $500.The avian specialist suspected enlargement of the oviduct (?) which would probably require surgery. Suffice to say it would probably quite a lot more than what @MaryJanet ’s Dr Hill quoted.

I just can’t justify a $500 ultrasound plus surgery (I don’t think my husband would let me go through with it anyway, plus she may be too unwell to survive it). I have racked up hundreds of dollars already on vet visits, meds and an x-ray. I have to draw a line somewhere.

Every time I looked at her today, she was going about her daily chickeny business. She was having a scratch in the dirt, munching on some grass I had put in there and even inspecting the commercial feed. I reckon if you didn’t know she was unwell, you wouldn’t be able to tell from looking at her. She looks like the size she should be (her moult mustn’t have been too bad). She had a decent go at breakfast and ate most of her dinner. When I picked her up, I swear she felt just that little bit heavier.

If she’s eating, drinking, doesn’t appear to be in pain/discomfort and still seems interested in life, I am going to look after her to the best of my ability. When that changes, I will have to make the hard decision. But not before then.

.... I too believe you are doing the right thing... you have to do what you feel is best for your family, yourself, and your gal

 

[BY Bob]

Phyllis Update

@LozzyR asked how Phyllis was doing yesterday. Here she is with Aurora and Lilly, keeping a healthy distance from those peckers but still hanging with them.

 

[ValerieJ]

Dear chicken friends

Even though we haven’t met in real life, I wanted to share something with you. I wanted to post something last night but I was just too sad.

I honestly don’t know how much longer Chickie is going to be with us. She had a check-up yesterday as she had finished her antibiotics. Dr Nikki has been away all week so we saw Dr Kevin. He didn’t want to prescribe more antibiotics, saying it would probably cause her harm. He did prescribe Meloxicam, which is a liquid anti-inflammatory. She is seriously under-weight and he thought she was quite unwell, saying she wasn’t as wary of him as she should be. He said to give her half a millilitre each night and call back next week to report how she is.

He said the next suggestion is an ultrasound. This would mean a trip to Sydney (a four-hour round trip) and around $500.The avian specialist suspected enlargement of the oviduct (?) which would probably require surgery. Suffice to say it would probably quite a lot more than what @MaryJanet ’s Dr Hill quoted.

I just can’t justify a $500 ultrasound plus surgery (I don’t think my husband would let me go through with it anyway, plus she may be too unwell to survive it). I have racked up hundreds of dollars already on vet visits, meds and an x-ray. I have to draw a line somewhere.

Every time I looked at her today, she was going about her daily chickeny business. She was having a scratch in the dirt, munching on some grass I had put in there and even inspecting the commercial feed. I reckon if you didn’t know she was unwell, you wouldn’t be able to tell from looking at her. She looks like the size she should be (her moult mustn’t have been too bad). She had a decent go at breakfast and ate most of her dinner. When I picked her up, I swear she felt just that little bit heavier.

If she’s eating, drinking, doesn’t appear to be in pain/discomfort and still seems interested in life, I am going to look after her to the best of my ability. When that changes, I will have to make the hard decision. But not before then.

I'm so sorry to hear about Chickie. It is never easy to get to this place with one of our beloved hens. I would have made the same decision.