MJ's little flock

[Ribh]

I too would rather know what's going on with Sandy than not ~ & worrying about the silence. I think, as chicken keepers, most of us would rather do the ride with you, than leave you to worry on your own. No need for that!

Can't wait to meet the new additions. They sound like lovely chickens!

 

[BY Bob]

I agree. Please keep sharing. Even from this far away, I'm invested.

 

[MaryJanet]

She's such a brave hen when it's hurting. She gets in her pain posture and keeps very still. An hour later, she takes a few steps and if it feels OK, she takes a few more.

I'll go tell her you are all on her side and sending her your best wishes.

 

[LozzyR]

Every time I think she's done for, she bounces back. I'm delighted, but I'm beginning to think I should keep my fears to myself. There's no need to put you lot through an emotional roller coasrer ride.

Since my last report, I went to put her in the travel basket and she came running like nothing was wrong

She loved the drive again and hopped up on the basket for a better view.

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I had a good chat with Dr Hill who decided to give her one last dose of clavulox as she'd been so weak and in such pain last night.

Hopefully she continues to get stronger.

Next time she gets sick we'll opt for the hysterectomy.

@LozzyR and @BY Bob it's $400 and has a good survival rate. Dr Hill says he's the only one in town who does it, so he gets lots of referrals. Most hens have one op, recuperate and are good to live another day. He usually goes in through the centre line. His worst ever case had a peritonitis that had... I've forgotten the word, but it means sort of hardened ... It prevented him from getting access to the reproductive organs, so he cleaned up the yukky peritonitis, closed up, the chook recuperated, and another op was scheduled to go in through the side. That means through the air sac which can't be healed. He did that, performed the hysterectomy and then found a huge abcess. Closed up again, chook recuperated again, spoke to the owners to explain the abcess had to be removed or when it eventually bursts, the chook would drown because of the opening in the air sac. Three surgeries later the case was closed and the chook lived on. So that's his worst ever case.

So I'll think that's what we'll do next time she gets sick because it'll give her better quality of life in the long run. Fingers crossed she never needs it, but if she does fingers crossed again that we won't find too many surprises inside her.

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She’s so pretty, she looks like my Lucy (who’s an Isa Brown and bred to be a little egg factory). I’m glad your vet is confident that the procedure will go well and I think $400 is very reasonable (I was thinking 1-2K). I will be thinking of you both.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening MJ

I too look forward to the updates.

 

[Grammy60]

Good evening MJ
Yes, Please keep us updated

 

[MaryJanet]

Christmas dinner for the hens?

So I'm planning to make a special salad for the hens on Christmas day.

Watermelon, rocket, strawberries, tuna or salmon. Maybe some cheese.

Is anyone else planning a Christmas treat for the flock?

 

[rjohns39]

Christmas dinner for the hens?

So I'm planning to make a special salad for the hens on Christmas day.

Watermelon, rocket, strawberries, tuna or salmon. Maybe some cheese.

Is anyone else planning a Christmas treat for the flock?

Go with the salmon it's better for them

 

[MaryJanet]

She’s so pretty, she looks like my Lucy (who’s an Isa Brown and bred to be a little egg factory). I’m glad your vet is confident that the procedure will go well and I think $400 is very reasonable (I was thinking 1-2K). I will be thinking of you both.

At present her tail is up and she's relaxed, so I think she's feeling OK for now. She ran out of the coop this morning - a very good sign that her body is not troubling her too much.

Because her pain comes and goes, perhaps it occurs when her body tries to make an egg?

If so, she'll be in pain again this afternoon. I'll keep watch and see what happens.

Now that I'm thinking about it: Has anyone ever tried giving ibuprofen or paracetamol to their hens?

 

[MaryJanet]

We were talking about how Christmas can be crackers in a bad way over on @Ribh 's thread, so I thought it might be a good idea to share our favourite Christmas carols so that we can slow down and enjoy the season.

Here's mine:

The things I love about this particular video is that it's in the chapel of King's College, which is an utterly wonderful place, and that organ and King's Choir is leading a wider congregation in the singing. Many of the King's Choir videos have the choir singing by themselves, but this one has the whole crowd joining in, yet we can still hear the descant - it gives me shivers!

"Hark!" the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn king!" Wonderful.

Oh! And I love the anglican tradition of singing while facing each other. It's not a performance for an audience!