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

[Serrin]

I think the reason that more problems seem to befall you Cyn, and those of us like you, who take extra special care of our birds, is precisely because we DO take such good care of them. Because we're always observing our birds and notice right away that something is amiss, we're aware just that much sooner that something is going wrong. For us, it's not a situation of going out one morning and finding one of our chickens has mysteriously died in the middle of the night.

Those folks that go about the care and keeping of their chickens in such a cavalier manner will always be surprised at the passing of one of their birds. "OMGosh! She was just fine yesterday! I have no idea what could have gone wrong! Oh me! Oh my! Oh me oh me oh my!!"

When the truth of the matter was that the bird in question had probably been giving hints for a long time that she/he was going down. They just didn't notice until it was way too late to try to help the poor little thing.

And you're right Cyn...this is life with chickens....when one cares as much as you do!

But I sure do hope life with chickens gets a whole heck of a lot better for you real soon! You've had enough!

 

[speckledhen]

I told my friend, Ladyhawk, today that I just want a few months with no one on death's doorstep, just a few care-free months.

 

[Cetawin]

how is Tux now Cyn?

 

[speckledhen]

Tux is standing quietly. She is eating and drinking just fine. Seems less critical. Guess we could put her in the coop after it cools off tonight. I'd put her in the broody pen with ice water, maybe a frozen milk jug in a pan for a sort of A/C, but we are completely out of shavings right now.

RE: Ivy and Olivia. We drained Ivy again--another 156 cc worth of yellowish, then some blood tinged fluid. Tried to drain Livvie, but she started choking and struggling and seemed to feel pain more than Ivy, who just sat quietly on my lap holding my fingers with her toes. Her keep is sharp as a steak knife, she's so thin.

 

[Cetawin]

Poor Livvie. That Ivy is a miracle for sure. I am making biscuits and muffins Thursday night for everyone so I do not hog your kitchen baking for them. I am thinking maybe 3 or 4 seed blocks for them too. I shall come bearing goodie gifts.

If Ivy is still with us all and she wants biscuits then she shall have all the biscuits she wants!

 

[bargain]

Cyn, you and your flock are in my thoughts and prayers. What a great mom you are to them. Nancy

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, Ladyhawk, you are such a good friend to my family, both human and feathered. Don't work yourself to death before you go on the trip, though!


Nancy, thank you for remembering my sweet little hens in your prayers. Tux is much improved, I'm happy to say! She is out there scratching around like she was never under the weather. She spent the night and all the following day inside in the cool air, eating chick starter, salmon and scrambled eggs. These birds rarely show symptoms until they are really ill, which makes us kick ourselves for not noticing anything, even when it isn't really our fault.

 

[speckledhen]

Tux is still acting just fine tonight. I think we got to her just in time. A vacation in the cool house plus good high protein feed/goodies must have done the trick, so we're good there, I guess. She needs to gain weight, though.


Levi is stressing me out, though. My gorgeous BW Ameraucana boy, 18 weeks old, has apparently decided to go to the dark side. He's biting. Bit DH's shin right through his jeans and left quite a pinch mark. If he flogs, he may find himself sitting on that Great Roost in the Sky within ten seconds.

 

[Cetawin]

hmmmm Shall I bring the lavender bubblebath for Levi? Bad bad boy. I shall have a stern talk with him while I am there and remind him of the process of correcting a bad roo problem permanently...maybe give him some details to make my point.

I am so glad Tux is feeling better. Yay! Ivy and Livvie?

 

[speckledhen]

They are the same. The heat is getting to them and that alone may do them in soon. I can drain Ivy's abdomen, but no way to do Livvie's--she struggles and chokes and turns dark purple-black.


Look out Levi! She has lavender bubble bath and she's not afraid to use it!