My Ivy.. Latest Relapse...She's Gone

[speckledhen]

Well, looks like Dad just has a urinary tract infection and he's in the hospital for a day or two to get rehydrated and watched. At least, for the moment, I don't have to go anywhere. Thank you all so much for caring about one little hen (and her mama).

 

[WriterofWords]

Well I'm glad some of your news is looking up!!

 

[jjthink]

Whew - good news!
Sending hope/energy/peace/something/anything/good to Ivy.
JJ

 

[speckledhen]

Violet, my last remaining SLW hen, who is one of the originals, is going downhill. I found her sitting today by the fenced compost pile. I've been noticing that her eyes look tired and today, her color is that dark purplish-red that usually means a heart insufficiency. Obviously, in this case, it's brought on by all the "stuff" that is filling up her abdomen, not really palpable earlier. She has started the weight loss part, so she and Ivy may be gone not too far in time from each other. I think the only reason poor Violet lived longer than her two sisters is that for months, we fought bumblefoot with her and gave her several courses of antibiotics, which probably kept any infection under control (though it did almost nothing for bumblefoot and I no longer do oral antibiotics for that)
I suppose that I'll have to deal with this over and over till every one of my hatchery girls from that year has passed away.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Cynthia, I'm so sorry!

 

[jjthink]

JJ

 

[Lunachick]

Oh gosh, I don't know what to say, that kind of constant heartache would just about kill me. I don't know how you're hanging on....It HAS to get better.....

 

[EweSheep]

It looks like more detective work is needed to be done in why your birds are dying like that. It would be true magic if someone from the lab would help to do some free tests for you!

Jeez, my thoughts keep saying genetics but what about feed? Almost like humans, we eat bad food and suffered the conquences of our eating habits.

Yes it may be all you have left are the hatchery birds to live their lives out in a very happy home! You are a very good chicken mommy!

 

[vnploveschickens]

Oh Cynthia, I feel awful for you that Ivy and Violet are going downhill. No matter what happens, they know you love them so much. Its too bad that this internal laying problem keeps happening to you over and over. I am so sorry and sending you lots of hugs.

I am glad to hear that your Father is doing better.

Val

 

[speckledhen]

Actually, someone who bought birds from me awhile back had them tested when she became NPIP certified. She said there were no viruses, no myco-somethings, no cocci, no anything at all wrong with them. The youngsters she got from me came from my Barred Rocks, my BBS Orps and one was my Meg's daughter. That made me feel really great, I can tell you. Obviously, it was not my older birds tested, but since many awful diseases can be passed through the egg, I was very happy that the birds who are leaving my place seem to be completely disease-free, as I have always thought they were.

I do not believe it's feed. I feed mine excellent quality feeds from the co-op. They are fresh-smelling and not dusty at all. I'm quite pleased with them, really. The birds look great, good feather quality, bright eyes, etc. If it was the feed, then I'd have issues across the board.