nminusyplusm
Crowing
I've always tried to be acutely aware of my responsibility as a single person and a caretaker of animals and thought I'd done a decent job of it, but my mistake caused the death of a very sweet young chicken. It's something to think about if you live alone (as in not with humans) but have companions who depend on you.
I had an appointment with a new doctor (who I didn't even like) this past Monday morning. During the visit she insisted I get vaccinated for Pneumonia. I was told there was a slight chance I might experience some side effects but they wouldn't last long. No problem. Got the shot, went home.
I spent the next 3 days in delirium with a fever and chills, my whole body felt like it got hit by a car. When I regained consciousness but still very weak and in extreme pain I went out to the coop hoping that everything was alright. They had a feeder and waterer that held several weeks worth of provisions just in case. I saw 5 soaking wet chickens scratching in the run and got scared. I could tell there'd been a bad storm and from the water pattern on the gravel it looked like high winds with horizontal rain. I hadn't removed the prop up sticks that keep the top hinged coop windows a few inches ajar for ventilation and I hadn't bolted them closed like I do during winds and rain.
Inside the coop was the 6th wet chicken, slumped over, her body still felt slightly warm. I was too weak to bury her or do anything with her. All I could do was take her from the coop and lay her down in some leaves across the yard. Poor Olive Egger, as a chick she was the first to snuggle in my hand. I wish I hadn't let that happen to her.
I buried her in the garden today.
I had an appointment with a new doctor (who I didn't even like) this past Monday morning. During the visit she insisted I get vaccinated for Pneumonia. I was told there was a slight chance I might experience some side effects but they wouldn't last long. No problem. Got the shot, went home.
I spent the next 3 days in delirium with a fever and chills, my whole body felt like it got hit by a car. When I regained consciousness but still very weak and in extreme pain I went out to the coop hoping that everything was alright. They had a feeder and waterer that held several weeks worth of provisions just in case. I saw 5 soaking wet chickens scratching in the run and got scared. I could tell there'd been a bad storm and from the water pattern on the gravel it looked like high winds with horizontal rain. I hadn't removed the prop up sticks that keep the top hinged coop windows a few inches ajar for ventilation and I hadn't bolted them closed like I do during winds and rain.
Inside the coop was the 6th wet chicken, slumped over, her body still felt slightly warm. I was too weak to bury her or do anything with her. All I could do was take her from the coop and lay her down in some leaves across the yard. Poor Olive Egger, as a chick she was the first to snuggle in my hand. I wish I hadn't let that happen to her.
I buried her in the garden today.