Lost my first girl to an impacted crop today

[Mimi13]

I am sorry for your loss.

Mulch is something my birds dearly love to dig in. I hope this was just a weird occurrence that doesn’t happen again.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Showing loving kindness is never easy. Some cannot know the bond in our hearts we have with these quirky fascinating feathered creatures.
We understand.
If it brings you any peace we know from just reading your words how much you valued and cared for your birds.
Knowing that Sweet Pez had a wonderful life does not lessen the pain. Knowing that you couldn’t of known doesn’t.
Because love IS love
And
Loss is loss
Truly Sorry for your Loss
May your heart find peace.

 

[berkchicks]

So sorry for your loss devastating.

Wondering exactly what kind of mulch and what were other aspects to the situation? Many many chicken keepers use mulch/wood chips/shavings/etc...and it's not common for a bird to gorge on them unto compaction.

Thank you.
It was plain, natural, undyed mulch. My girls are all very well cared for, happy and loved.
She was fine 3 days ago and now she is gone.
The only thing I can think of is that we had our first significant snowfall and I wonder if she inadvertently ate more than she normally would have since she was foraging around in snow drifts.

 

[berkchicks]

I am sorry for your loss.

Mulch is something my birds dearly love to dig in. I hope this was just a weird occurrence that doesn’t happen again.

thank you so much, I really appreciate it. I had no idea that mulch could do this. I truly do hope its just a very strange and rare thing that happened to my girl, for the sake of all of us. <3

 

[berkchicks]

Showing loving kindness is never easy. Some cannot know the bond in our hearts we have with these quirky fascinating feathered creatures.
We understand.
If it brings you any peace we know from just reading your words how much you valued and cared for your birds.
Knowing that Sweet Pez had a wonderful life does not lessen the pain. Knowing that you couldn’t of known doesn’t.
Because love IS love
And
Loss is loss
Truly Sorry for your Loss
May your heart find peace.

thank you so much for such kind words of support. truly means so much to me. my heart is so heavy.

 

[Harley Chick]

I know, I couldn't believe it either. All of our girls are in the mulch all of the time. I always thought mulch was ok. I guess anything that is too big or isn't "food" poses a risk.

I wish I had known.

Thank you. <3

Maybe she just ingested more than what her system could handle. She was a beautiful girl. I have always wanted polish babies, i've heard they have such wonderful personalities. I too just had to say goodbye to one of our girls......rest in peace pretty girl.

 

[ChickNanny13]

So very sorry for your loss Thank you for informing us of the circumstances.

 

[Abriana]

so very sorry for the loss of your girl but you did the right thing for her, and she knew that she was loved.

 

[aart]

Thank you.
It was plain, natural, undyed mulch. My girls are all very well cared for, happy and loved.
She was fine 3 days ago and now she is gone.
The only thing I can think of is that we had our first significant snowfall and I wonder if she inadvertently ate more than she normally would have since she was foraging around in snow drifts.

I certainly did not mean to imply that you didn't love and care well for your birds.
Just wanted folks to know this is not common so there isn't a panic about using mulch.
The snow could have had something to do with it.
When you're feeling a bit better about the whole thing,
it's huge shock that will take some time to fade a bit,
pics of mulch and were it is located might help solve the mystery of why and avoid the situation for others.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I certainly did not mean to imply that you didn't love and care well for your birds.
Just wanted folks to know this is not common so there isn't a panic about using mulch.
The snow could have had something to do with it.
When you're feeling a bit better about the whole thing,
it's huge shock that will take some time to fade a bit,
pics of mulch and were it is located might help solve the mystery of why and avoid the situation for others.

Sometimes chickens get fixated. Mine do from time to time. I’d be checking everyone’s crop. I had a celery plant they never touched it. And then all of a sudden one day with in 1hour they had it pecked and gone! It was like a chicken challenge or something. I’ve had a binge eater w/pendulous crop. I’m thinking something triggered this chicken to fixate on the mulch. Very sad