Hardest decision ever :-( - UPDATE post 69!!!!!

[bargain]

Bless you and thanks for caring so!

 

[kbarrett]

I'm not exactly sure, I think she had a heart attack while laying. She was listed on freecycle by a young couple who found her on the street. I guessed she was about 4-5 weeks old when I got her over the summer. She ended up being a colored broiler and boy did she eat lol. She was really pretty, black feathers with a few white on her head and pretty green eyes. Just in the last month she was fully part of the flock, she got the hang of free range time and also spent lots of time in the run with the other girls instead of being glued to the feeder. Though she was 3 times the size of the others it took several months for her to be accepted, especially outside. She laid her 1st egg the day after Christmas, it was a nice sized brown egg ( I have white egg layers) and she seemed really proud of herself! She was fine this AM when I watered/ fed and when I went out after lunch she was dead and there was a bloody brown egg beside her

I know from researching here broilers can tend to have more health issues so I kinda expected something could happen but it was a shock to see her laying there. It's just sad because she was fitting in so well and wasn't scared of me a bit, I had to step over her to get in the coop.

Hugs for you for making the tough decision. Sometimes the right decision is the hardest one.

 

[b.hromada]

Just remind yourself that you took him out of the terrible life he was living, and the last months were heavenly, especially from where he came from. My heart goes out to you.

 

[technodoll]

kbarrett, that is so heartbreaking... why do these birds touch our hearts so much?

Tonight I sleep with a heavy heart, I feel sick to my stomach.

I will post an update tomorrow.

Thank you all for your tremendous support, it doesn't alleviate the guilt and the pain but it does help me focus on what's best for Sunshine... to give him peace.

 

[technodoll]

I couldn't go through with it.

Could. Not.

I had a dream last night, where Sunshine was gobbling up his warm oatmeal and telling me he was going to be all right, if I only fought for him more. He said miracles do happen and to just have FAITH.

Well, it's New Year's weekend, everything is closed...

I placed a last-resort call at the farm vet that gave me the antibiotics for Antoinette last time, the dispatcher said she would page the vet on call - riiight, last time I called for such a consult, I never received any call-back at all.

The phone rang 10 minutes later.

The vet was very nice, he listened, he said he was in the clinic just passing by to get something (as they were closed) but would wait for me if I could come right away, there was one other antibiotic that might help flush out the lung and throat mucus.

Is there such a thing as a miracle?

So I jump in the car and face the snow-storm, still wearing half-pyjamas and with no breakfast in my tummy - 90 minutes later I'm back with a penicillin-based antibiotic, if it doesn't work there is the Tylan-50 to try in a week, he had none in stock but would place an order for me.

I can't give up, I just can't.

My mother always said I had a head full of bricks...

So here is my bathroom:

And Mister Sunshine, the one who won't let go of my heart:

Miss Rosie, who has the same affliction as Sunshine - she's being treated as well (and laying a nice dark brown egg EVERY DAY!):

The rest of the flock is healthy, I have checked each and every one to make sure - so we're probably NOT dealing with anything viral or contagious, as the two sick birds were in direct contact with the flock for about a week before I brought them in the house (I have since learned to segregate anyone the SECOND I notice something isn't right).

I have to believe that those four chicks who didn't make it on Dec 23rd, who died in the shell a few days before hatching, they gave their lives so that I could concentrate on bringing Sunshine and Rosie back to health - I simply do NOT have the space for two sick birds AND chicks in the house.

Point at me, laugh, call me weak and stupid...

But my heart said this was the only thing to do so I could still live with my conscience.

Praying, praying, praying...

 

[squeakyballs]

Thank you for rescuing them *hugs*

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Lord, I also believe in miracles and pray for the life & health of these chickens!

Technodoll, no one here is going to ridicule you for the decisions you make for your chickens. It's great that you have these options available to you and I hope & pray for success. It certainly isn't going to bother these birds to give these new methods a try. I pray that your dream will come true.

And I don't think anyone here would fault you if you had decided to go ahead with your original plan. Each of us has our personal limits on the resources we're able & willing to use in caring for our ill or injured chickens. The main thing is to know where your limit is & what resources are available if necessary. And it's best to consider your options long before you ever may have need of them, so you're not making decisions that may be unwise for your situation, and trying to make them when emotionally distraught over a feathered friend in need.

Please keep us updated on your birds' progress.

 

[bargain]

Ditto for the above post.....Follow your heart and soul and you'll be just fine.

God bless you and Happy New Year!

 

[easttxchick]

I admire you for refusing to give up on your babies! You're AWESOME!

 

[AmyBella]

Good luck, Technodoll! I really hope they pull through.