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

[Serrin]

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Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of these so called animal behaviorists were to just simply ask us! Who spends more time with a flock of chickens and better understands the interpersonal relationships than those of us with flocks? We know our birds so much better, so much deeper, than anyone else! Period!

Like you Cyn, I know who roosts with who. Who spends all day in quiet friendship with whom. Which hen is never far from my roo, just because she enjoys his companionship. I'd bet all the tea in China that you're absolutely right. I believe that Ivy is indeed passing the torch to Lexi, while at the same time asserting herself with the rest of the flock. "I'm not dead yet, you young upstarts! And don't you forget it!" You just have to admire and respect that kind of spunk!

Go Ivy!

And the last time I looked, size has nothing to do with ability. It's all about the attitude! Dynamite comes in small packages, right?

 

[rcentner]

I am sorry you are going through all this hardship with your girls.

 

[speckledhen]

Ivy is a tough woman. She is still with us, walking and drinking and talking to me a bit. Today, I'm keeping an eye on Ginger, one of the 4 year old Buff Orpingtons. After about 10 months of not laying an egg after we treated her for fluid in her abdomen, she seems to be quite off. Caught her laying down in some leaves twice, breathing heavily with her eyes closed. It's not unexpected, but I also have a broody hen as of last night, so there's lots going on here right now.

 

[tinychicky]

aww, i hope she makes it!!

try keeping the poor girl inside the house where it's warm and quiet and give her some water and dry bread. a week of that's all it took to same my little cornish hen, Sugar, when she had those symtoms!! if she doesn't pull through, then

!!

 

[ozark hen]

Oh, Cyn, when does it ever stop? How old are the other hens or were the other hens with the same problem? I am thinking 2=3 years?? Lucy, my only dominique, is the oldest hen I have ...three years old. I usually change my flock out at about 1 1-2 years unless they are favorites to keep egg production up and give someone else a chance to start a flock.

 

[SilkieTime]

I know it's hard when there is not much you can really do.

 

[speckledhen]

Carrie, I started losing them from this ailment when they had just passed their 2nd birthday; had one exception that was a year and a half old. I've lost six and will lose three more before it's all over, Ivy, Ginger and Olivia. I hope to never see this again after they've passed.

 

[Serrin]

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And I so hope for you and your flock that you never have to face it again either dear lady! Makes you wish the the worst you ever had to deal with were the occasional deformed toes, doesn't it? *sigh* Hang in there Cyn. Someday, this too shall be behind you.

I hope that you can take some comfort in knowing that all of your accrued knowledge from working with your girls has helped all of us to be better chicken mama's and papa's. Without your willingness to share what you know, I never would have attempted to incubate eggs myself. Thanks to you, I have 18 wonderful little fuzzy butts romping all around their run today. And more will be hatching next month. Thank you Cyn.

Someday, this wonderful Karma that you send out to others will come back to you ten fold. I just hope it's sooner rather than later! You could really use a break.

 

[speckledhen]

I'm glad that my experiences with this internal laying stuff may help other folks here. I just would rather not know as much about it as I do.

 

[ozark hen]

It seems like there is nothing we can do to prevent or cure this and hate that we all will probably have to go through it. I really don't want my birds (nor does anyone else) having to suffer like this.