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

[ozark hen]

Cyn, your hens look great except for their eyes. so sad.

 

[speckledhen]

Ivy is close to the end. She is in the hospital cage, brightened only by the grapes I bought for her today. Her sister, Lexie, is with her and seems content to stay by Ivy's side. This morning, Ivy came down the ramp, but at the bottom, lost her footing. DH said when he saw her flapping, Tux was pecking her with Ivy flapping around, unable to get up, and when he pushed Tux away, Tux came back at Ivy. That tells me so much--Tux knows the head hen is passing and vulnerable, perhaps is vying for her spot. Hard to say, really, but the one who stands watch over the head hen as she is passing has always been the new head hen and that is Lexie. Anyway, DH picked up Ivy and put her up in the cage (dog kennel on top of Zane's cage) with food and water nearby and the fan blowing on her. Mercifully, the temps are somewhat lower today than they have been. She seems fine with being there, unmolested by anyone and in the cool breeze.

Ivy perked up when offered grapes, but finds it very hard to walk more than a couple shaky steps. Lexie didn't clamor to get out when placed in the cage with Ivy (she's never been in it), but lay down near her sister, closed her eyes, and was breathing in sync with Ivy. She will be so lost without her sister--she refused the grapes offered her, unlike Ivy, and she refused the offer to come out of the cage.

Ivy has tried so hard to stay with us, but she can't fight the darkness that's stalking her now. I pray she passes peacefully as did Violet, the head hen before her. That girl has such a determined spirit. I'm happy that a couple of her special BYC friends got to meet her in person to see how special she is.

 

[allen wranch]

Thinking of you...

 

[EweSheep]

Prayers and thoughts are sent to your way for Ivy!

 

[chickenzoo]

So sad.............

 

[WriterofWords]

She's stayed with you for so long, she loves you so much. She'll continue to be with you even after her body is gone.

 

[Serrin]

Cynthia, you know I'm right next to you and Ivy in spirit. My precious Rita passed in my arms this morning, as I'm sure you've already read ** https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4610557 ** As I miss my Rita already, so shall I miss the indomitable spirit of your Ivy.

Time, given enough of it, does lessen the pain. I was pretty much to the point of having more fond and happy memories of Gimpy Girl than the recollection of how she was murdered, almost a year after her passing. And now this fresh loss has reminded me of just how huge the hole in my heart is when one of my precious girls leaves me. I know that in time, it won't hurt quite as bad...but there will always be an empty place, once occupied by my dearest little friends.

A well meaning human friend asked me one day after loosing Gimpy Girl, that if I feel the loss so keenly, why keep chickens at all, knowing it's going to hurt like hell each time one dies. As I told them, so I tell all here now: I would far rather have these amazing creatures in my life, giving and receiving love and companionship, and grieve deeply at their loss, than to never have known them at all. They are a great part of the definition of who I am. A world without chickens [animals period for that matter] is no world for me. I can far better handle the periods of grief than I could the time of solitude and loneliness!

Please give that darling Ivy grapes and hugs from me Cyn.

 

[jojo54]

thoughts and prayers are with you and your girls.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

 

[speckledhen]

I would far rather have these amazing creatures in my life, giving and receiving love and companionship, and grieve deeply at their loss, than to never have known them at all. They are a great part of the definition of who I am. A world without chickens [animals period for that matter] is no world for me. I can far better handle the periods of grief than I could the time of solitude and loneliness! wink

+1 Amy. I feel the same way. Took chopped tomato and yogurt out to Ivy and Lexie. Ivy stood up and took one step forward to get the food and did eat some, then turned her back to the bowl and laid back down. Lexie ate a few bites, but when her sister quit eating, so did she. Lexie is worrying me some--her normally large upright comb is listing to one side and is darker color than normal. I'm sure she's going to suffer the same fate as Ivy, even gave her penicillin a couple weeks ago to try to nip infection in the bud if I could, but she is in the beginning stages of this long journey that Ivy has been on for over a year.

Yes, I did read about Rita and posted on your thread. Ivy and Lexie are four-and-a-half years old, a couple months younger than the other eight originals.​