Ode to Old Hens... Pictures of the Seniors in Our Flock

[speckledhen]

I fear I'm losing two residents of the Old Hens' Home & Hospice. Both Caroline and Becca appear to be on the way out. Both are not eating. Caroline's nares are finally closing up on her, making her eye swell. They're never been right her entire life and she has cysts in both of them. Becca's color is dark purple. So, when she jumped into my lap a couple days ago, breathing loudly, with off color, and was acting so oddly, trying to look deep into my eyes, and I felt she was trying to communicate with me, I'm sure that was it. My husband will be devastated. She was the first hen to ever want to give him "hugs". Such a good old gal. She is only two months younger than Caroline and would have turned 10 years old in March, but she isn't going to make that next hatch day. Sure will miss those girls. Their final resting places are prepared up near Suede and Isaac's graves. The queens must be buried near the kings, right?

 

[robhuncor]

Oh Cyn, I'm so sorry. I know the feeling. My 9 !/2 year old Ameraucana, Curious, is not doing well either. She is on cage rest for a recurring leg problem. One leg is just hanging useless. All my old ones live in the "barn" - a closed in 3 sided shed we used to use for storing lumber We built regular roosts but the chickens all prefer to roost higher up on the open racks that used to hold the long boards. They work their way up gradually at night going from roost to roost but in the AM they just hurl themselves off the top and it's not good for their old legs! I think that's what happened to Curious. Of course she's one of my most favorites - a real "hugger" and seems more intelligent than most.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh Cyn, I'm so sorry. I know the feeling. My 9 !/2 year old Ameraucana, Curious, is not doing well either. She is on cage rest for a recurring leg problem. One leg is just hanging useless. All my old ones live in the "barn" - a closed in 3 sided shed we used to use for storing lumber We built regular roosts but the chickens all prefer to roost higher up on the open racks that used to hold the long boards. They work their way up gradually at night going from roost to roost but in the AM they just hurl themselves off the top and it's not good for their old legs! I think that's what happened to Curious. Of course she's one of my most favorites - a real "hugger" and seems more intelligent than most.

So sorry to hear about your gal. Amanda, Becca's same age sister, has a leg that just hangs useless and has for a few years now, but she manages to get around a little by hauling it under her and thumping around using her wings. I hate losing my only remaining Ameraucanas as I know I will in the not-too-distant future. My black Ameraucana, Gypsy, will be 9 next month and Snow, the splash, will be 9 in March, if I recall correctly. Snow has really bad arthritis, can barely walk. Gypsy has a touch of it, walks rather stiffly, especially after sitting for awhile, but she's not as bad off as Snow is. Gypsy still lays from time to time; Snow hasn't laid in maybe two or three years now. I have two EE hens but I love the true Ameraucanas. They are such sweet birds.

Becca is breathing so hard and is very dark. She's never been ill a day in her life, not once, not even bumblefoot. Of course, after not laying for years and years, she may have some reproductive cancer, but she isn't bloated or anything. It's just her time to go. She will be so missed as will Caroline.

 

[speckledhen]

Today, the old ladies are presiding over the passing of their Queen. Caroline will most likely not make it through the day. This is something we've witnessed on numerous occasions, the dignity of the hierarchy in the flock. Second in command and underlings perform a death watch over the head hen as she is dying. Even Becca, my going on 10 year old Barred Rock hen, who is dying herself, is standing watch; her color is purple and she has lost a lot of weight. We expect she'll follow Caroline very soon.

You see Caroline, the Buff Brahma, with her crop propped over the feeder tray. On her left rear flank, Gypsy, who I stated to my husband would be the next head hen. She has not left her station all day long. On Caroline's right flank, Gypsy's half sister, Panda (BR x Blue Ameraucana). Panda never, ever stays this close to Caroline on a normal day but she has her face right in her feathers. Behind Panda is Black Rock, Emily. In front of Panda is crippled Amanda, Becca's sister, who is also going on 10 years old and has been second-in-command all along, but I don't believe she can maintain that position because of her handicap. Gypsy is next in dominance.

In the feed tray facing Caroline is the bottom of the pecking order, half-blind, crazy Tiny the Terrorist Attack Hen. She is never this quiet and still, not ever. Becca is standing on the other side of the feeder. She stands more than she sits, as if it's harder to breathe when she sits.

I've seen this over and over again, the dignity, the caring, the respect for the head hen. Thought I'd show you this, in case you've never witnessed it.








Becca, who would turn 10 years old in March, but she won't make it. She is becoming weak and her color is bad.





ETA: Caroline passed away about 4:15 p.m.

 

[Cetawin]

RIP beautiful Caroline...yours is a presence that will be missed. My beautiful BeccaBeccaBecca....love that girl and Gypsy and Regal Aammmanda. Such great girls. Where is my gorgeous Snow?

 

[speckledhen]

RIP beautiful Caroline...yours is a presence that will be missed. My beautiful BeccaBeccaBecca....love that girl and Gypsy and Regal Aammmanda. Such great girls. Where is my gorgeous Snow?

Snow was mostly laying in the floor level nest box, which she does most of every day. She finds it so difficult to walk. She did get out, but then, she was doing her usual caterwauling and I took her outside and laid her in a dust hole so she'd shutup and quit bothering everybody.

 

[robhuncor]

Thinking of you and all the sweet old girls on this sad day.

 

[speckledhen]

Thinking of you and all the sweet old girls on this sad day.

Thank you. It's odd after having a hen almost ten years for her to just be gone. And Becca will be right behind her, too. At least, those are my oldest two, as it should be,, not the younger ones. But, we're never ready for the good ones to go.

 

[Cetawin]

Snow was mostly laying in the floor level nest box, which she does most of every day. She finds it so difficult to walk. She did get out, but then, she was doing her usual caterwauling and I took her outside and laid her in a dust hole so she'd shutup and quit bothering everybody.

Dang it woman....Snow has things to say and people to talk to...especially in these trying times. Let her proclaim and talk. Hehehehe. She is so blasted beautiful, sweet and annoying.

 

[Cetawin]

When my gorgeous Becca goes...I need a couple barred fluffy feathers...4 actually for her marker and memorial.