MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

If I find a bird with lice they go on the watchlist. I have found that the lice are symptomatic of other health problems rather than being the problem.

Yes, I remembered that detail and have been watching her carefully. She may have a heavier lice burden from sleeping beside Edie for so long.

 

[Shadrach]

My experience with Edie has taught me to push back at excessive veterinary intervention. Pain relief, yes. Antibiotics as necessary, yes. Timely euthanasia, yes. No surgeries. No running back and forth to the vet. No diagnostic certainty. It helps that I'm more experienced now and can begin to trust my observations.

It's easy to get to the point where one feels not only despondent but helpless because no matter what one has done the chicken has died.
I think many keepers learn how to find a degree of detachment. This doesn't mean with the good chicken keepers that they care any less; it's just that the reality of chicken keeping has sunk in and one realises that every chicken that one keeps is likely to break ones heart at some point in time.
Having a list of what one is and what isn't prepared to do at the outset helps but of course this usaully comes from experience.
It seems to me that you've done far more than most to keep your chickens healthy.

 

[LozzyR]

It's easy to get to the point where one feels not only despondent but helpless because no matter what one has done the chicken has died.
I think many keepers learn how to find a degree of detachment. This doesn't mean with the good chicken keepers that they care any less; it's just that the reality of chicken keeping has sunk in and one realises that every chicken that one keeps is likely to break ones heart at some point in time.
Having a list of what one is and what isn't prepared to do at the outset helps but of course this usaully comes from experience.
It seems to me that you've done far more than most to keep your chickens healthy.

I think that's my issue; I can't find that degree of detachment.

 

[MaryJanet]

It's easy to get to the point where one feels not only despondent but helpless because no matter what one has done the chicken has died.
I think many keepers learn how to find a degree of detachment. This doesn't mean with the good chicken keepers that they care any less; it's just that the reality of chicken keeping has sunk in and one realises that every chicken that one keeps is likely to break ones heart at some point in time.
Having a list of what one is and what isn't prepared to do at the outset helps but of course this usaully comes from experience.
It seems to me that you've done far more than most to keep your chickens healthy.

I have genuinely done my best, but I almost always fail to intervene on time. I now realise chickens are better at hiding sickness than I am at observing it.

So it's come down to managing end of life so that the bird is supported and free from pain as she dies. Unless I've caught something soon enough for interventions to be effective.

Thanks for seeing that I try.

 

[MaryJanet]

I think that's my issue; I can't find that degree of detachment.

It's not easy! They're so very endearing.

 

[ManueB]

It's not easy! They're so very endearing.

And we are all different people, coping differently.

I try to remember that it doesn't make any difference for the chicken whether we are very emotional or more peaceful about it's illness and eventual death. What's important is keeping a sufficiently clear mind when needed to take the more appropriate steps of action.

I agree that giving it careful thought before and after an issue comes up, helps to deal better when one is in the midst of it.

I'm always grateful about these discussions because they have been and still are very helpful for me.

 

[LozzyR]

It's not easy! They're so very endearing.

I love all my girls (and boys!) When Angel goes, I'm going to have live vicariously through my chicken friends.

 

[MaryJanet]

I love all my girls (and boys!) When Angel goes, I'm going to have live vicariously through my chicken friends.

Fair call. I get it.

 

[MaryJanet]

Erica and I had a bonding moment.

I was in two minds about sharing this video. For one thing, it's in portrait and for another the baby talk is awful it didn't feel awful at the time, I swear!

She ended up taking a nap and not pooping! So I was extremely lucky.

 

[MaryJanet]

I try to remember that it doesn't make any difference for the chicken whether we are very emotional or more peaceful about it's illness and eventual death.

That's a really good point.