Illinois...

[Justso]

Fortunate or unfortunate that I came across posts about lice. Made me have a look-see and sure enough today was delousing and cleanout day.
And a shower that equaled silkwood.

 

[Faraday40]

Yesterday I lost my fav 6-yr-old hen: Precious.

Unlike most of our hens, Precious was a barnyard mix. She was beautiful, intelligent, chatty, loyal, and one-of-kind. She laid her last egg back in March. Her abdomen was swollen, so I suspected water belly & drained her a few times. It gave her some relief, but I knew it was not a cure.

Yesterday my poor Precious was having much difficulty walking. (Obvious penguin stance from a severely swollen abdomen but she also used her wings to steady herself while walking.) I knew beyond a doubt that she needed to be put down. I placed her in her fav spot - by the food bowl. She loved her treats & was always 1st to greet me. As top hen & the flock elder, none dared to ever challenge her. She never lost her appetite, but her breast felt thin while her belly was swollen & firm. She never had any problems breathing but watching her struggle as she walked was painful for everyone.

After breakfast we processed 2 cockerels & then I went out back to see Precious. She had already died. Before burying her, I decided to do an autopsy & saw her abdomen packed with eggs (or cysts - could have been a type of cancer. I'm guessing the build up of eggs pushed the organs out of place. Precious loved her treats, but surprisingly I did not see a lot of fat which I had expected.

This is how I will always remember my dear, sweet Precious:

I miss her following me around the coop/run as I cleaned. She would always make the same sound:
BWWWWAAAAAAAWWWWWWWK bawk bawk bawk bawk bawk.
I always assumed it was her saying: "TREATS please please please please please" However, after a few years, we realized that she (& the other hens / her followers) only made this sequence of noises when I was present. My kids & husband never heard it when I wasn't around. Now I think it may have been my chicken name given to me by my beloved Precious. RIP my good friend.

some baby pics

a good friend to all


Precious loved the camera and was always willing to strike a glamorous pose - even when molting!

In fact she got jealous any time I took out the camera and attempted to photograph other chickens. Her expression said it all.
Precious was the ultimate photobomber.

 

[Faraday40]

Thanks for such an adorable story!
Made me smile !
Gotta have my chicken therapy daily
Can't wait to hear more of silly Tillie adventures.

Well, you don't have to wait long....
I'm still very sad about Precious, but Tillie did her best to keep me occupied today.

She somehow hopped the chicken fence or sneaked through an open door. Around 11am I heard the egg song coming from our screened room & saw Tillie walking out. I put her back & went to "her" cardboard box from yesterday.


It was empty. Since a few hens sing the egg song BEFORE laying an egg, I didn't worry much. By 3pm, there was still no Tillie egg in the coop. DH & I decided to clear out some of the junk in there. You guessed it. We found her egg!

DH shouted: I found it! I win! The egg was in a back corner on the bottom shelf. 1.) Why does Tillie insist on hopping the fence to explore our screened room, and 2.) why did she decide that's a good place to lay her eggs?

I again really needed the distraction. Besides Precious, our 11 yr old Great Dane/ Lab mix is failing. He can no longer stand up without assistance and is having multiple accidents daily. The kids have known the dog as a family member for as long as they can remember. He'll be going to the vet Mon or Tues. I can't imagine our house without him.

 

[cavemanrich]

Faraday. I know these losses are difficult to get thru.

 

[NotAFarm]

 

[Molpet]

 

[Justso]

Really very sorry Faraday!!

 

[Faraday40]

Thank you everyone for your comforting thoughts. At the moment our problems feel like they're never-ending. I know life will return to a new normal at some point. For multiple reasons, we had to wait until Thurs for the dog's appointment. I managed to buy a few pain pills to get him through until then.

 

[Feathers Brady]

Very sorry for your loss, and the grief you must feel letting go of your beloved animals. ((Hug))
Hang in there Faraday.
Sending ALL good vibes your way! Tillie may be just what gets you through.
She must feel like it's the safest spot for her. Also entertaining!

 

[Faraday40]

We have a Tillie-Time-Out today. I actually thought clipping her wing would help contain her. Nope! This morning I witnessed her hop onto a lawn chair, then to the top of the gate & over the fence. I scooped her up & told her to stay in the backyard.

I spent some time fall-cleaning, washing roost bars, wiping spider webs, putting away the fans, etc. DH came home for lunch & handed Tillie to me. He said she was in our screened room AGAIN! I had moved the chair, and I didn't see how & when she got back over the fence. I locked her up in a dog crate for a while (where she laid her egg) and when I was done cleaning, I put her with the "useless bantams" for the rest of day.

I hope she learns to stay in the backyard. I like how well she forages, so I'd prefer not to lock her up. DH believes that she may not be worth trouble of keeping. I reminded him that she's laying an egg a day, so she can stay - for now.