I have six hens. All are 1.5 years old.
I haven’t had that many issues with them. Our coop is incredibly fortified, but stuff could happen while they’re in their run.
I’ve just been having a lot of terror, really, about them. I care for each one as a pet and a family member. I love them.
And I have done my very best to educate myself on all the issues they could possibly come down with. Ascites, fowl pox, worms…
And it’s worked. This summer I saved an egg bound hen quickly enough that there was no prolapse or lasting effect.
But the more I learn, the worse my fear gets.
I dread the day one of my hens becomes sick. Like, really sick. A tumor or fatty liver or infection or really bad egg binding.
There’s so many things that could happen to them. And I know that someday every single one of them is gonna die on me.
And it’s too late to back out. It’s too late to stop. I am responsible for these small lives and I don’t know what to do.
Don’t get me wrong, I am an expert. I know all things chicken.
But I am so, so squeamish. I feel like throwing up when I get a knife cut or my dog vomits. I cannot handle blood. I love Grey’s Anatomy but shut it off after 3 episodes and haven’t seen any since because it made me sick to my stomach.
I don’t do blood or guts.
I saved my egg-bound hen, but it wasn’t extensive. I stuck her in a steamy bathroom and gave her some meds. That’s all I’ve had to do. I’ve watched some amazing videos of people savings hens who are incredibly screwed over in terms of health. And I am 100% certain if someone told me to help a prolapsed hen that I would shut my eyes and feel sick to my stomach and not be able to do squat for her.
Someone very wise once told me this when I mentioned my unease with blood and guts to them:
If you want to own chickens, you’re gonna have to get over that real quick.
But it’s so, so bad. I have a hen with mild bumblefoot who I’ve been putting off her surgery for months. Just because I can’t do it.
I’ve been going through hard stuff lately. My father was diagnosed with cancer. I’ve been working hard in other things. I have little time with my girls. (Not that they’re not okay with that - they’re perfectly fine only seeing me once a day. They have a large run and fortified coop.
But I feel like I am failing them.
I feel like I want to back out of this. I love my hens so much but I feel like I can’t do this.
But I also can’t and won’t do that. They are my responsibility and whatever they need, it is my responsibility to do. I owe them that.
But this is why I can’t sleep at night. This deep horrible unease in the pit of my stomach that is asking me, “How on earth are you gonna do this?”
And I don’t know.
I am scared that when it comes down to it, I will not be able to do what it takes to save them.
I am scared that even if I try my best I might lose a hen.
And I don’t know if I can handle that.
I haven’t had that many issues with them. Our coop is incredibly fortified, but stuff could happen while they’re in their run.
I’ve just been having a lot of terror, really, about them. I care for each one as a pet and a family member. I love them.
And I have done my very best to educate myself on all the issues they could possibly come down with. Ascites, fowl pox, worms…
And it’s worked. This summer I saved an egg bound hen quickly enough that there was no prolapse or lasting effect.
But the more I learn, the worse my fear gets.
I dread the day one of my hens becomes sick. Like, really sick. A tumor or fatty liver or infection or really bad egg binding.
There’s so many things that could happen to them. And I know that someday every single one of them is gonna die on me.
And it’s too late to back out. It’s too late to stop. I am responsible for these small lives and I don’t know what to do.
Don’t get me wrong, I am an expert. I know all things chicken.
But I am so, so squeamish. I feel like throwing up when I get a knife cut or my dog vomits. I cannot handle blood. I love Grey’s Anatomy but shut it off after 3 episodes and haven’t seen any since because it made me sick to my stomach.
I don’t do blood or guts.
I saved my egg-bound hen, but it wasn’t extensive. I stuck her in a steamy bathroom and gave her some meds. That’s all I’ve had to do. I’ve watched some amazing videos of people savings hens who are incredibly screwed over in terms of health. And I am 100% certain if someone told me to help a prolapsed hen that I would shut my eyes and feel sick to my stomach and not be able to do squat for her.
Someone very wise once told me this when I mentioned my unease with blood and guts to them:
If you want to own chickens, you’re gonna have to get over that real quick.
But it’s so, so bad. I have a hen with mild bumblefoot who I’ve been putting off her surgery for months. Just because I can’t do it.
I’ve been going through hard stuff lately. My father was diagnosed with cancer. I’ve been working hard in other things. I have little time with my girls. (Not that they’re not okay with that - they’re perfectly fine only seeing me once a day. They have a large run and fortified coop.
But I feel like I am failing them.
I feel like I want to back out of this. I love my hens so much but I feel like I can’t do this.
But I also can’t and won’t do that. They are my responsibility and whatever they need, it is my responsibility to do. I owe them that.
But this is why I can’t sleep at night. This deep horrible unease in the pit of my stomach that is asking me, “How on earth are you gonna do this?”
And I don’t know.
I am scared that when it comes down to it, I will not be able to do what it takes to save them.
I am scared that even if I try my best I might lose a hen.
And I don’t know if I can handle that.
Last edited:
