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

[speckledhen]

Have you considered a heat pad? Either a low watt one or one of the horticultural style ones? I had Darla on a reptile one over winter because she went broody and lost half her body weight from trying to incubate an egg. And with Darla there is no chance of breaking her broodiness. So until I had chicks hatching (I gave her one Orpington chick) and for the first 2 weeks after because it was so cold here.

I find the d cup drinkers and the bell water containers work well. Because Darla is currently living inside due to her lung issue from the water, she has a d cup drinker because that's what Cruella finds easiest (and it's bright red) .

Amanda won't stay on a heat pad, she gets herself around the pen in her own clunky way. I often put her back near the heat lamp to help her so she doesn't have to use all her energy when she's gotten away from it-she has some issues with control so ends up facing away from her food dish quite a bit. She insists on trying to get into a nest to lay her eggs, which takes a herculean effort with her dead-weight leg.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, after Amanda laid 5 eggs in November and 4 eggs in December, I figured she might be done for quite awhile. Oh, no, not Miss Amanda! Mandy laid an egg today! So, my almost 10 year old hen has been in lay for three months straight! And she's crippled! That's my gal! Can't keep that one down, no sirree.

On another note, one of my almost 7 year old Blue Rock hens, Neela, seems to be not herself. She has been laying recently, so not thinking it's that sort of issue, more like she may be winding down to her last days. We just recently lost my Rita suddenly, same age as Neela, Alice, Emily and Tiny (who also laid an egg today, lives with Amanda). Neela has a cyst closing off one of her nares plus a large cyst on her bum like my late Delaware hen, Ellie. Ellie's cyst, which we opened after she passed away, was full of weird stuff, so I'd guess Neela's might be similar.

 

[robhuncor]

Today my sweet Curious passed away in my arms. It was a complete shock. She always comes over and asks to be picked up and then nuzzles in my neck and hair - such a lovey girl. This morning she seemed fine and came over for a hug as usual so I picked her up and held her for a few minutes telling her what a good girl she is. All of a sudden I heard her gurgle, she began to cough, blood dripped from her beak and she was dead! I was stunned! She was a beautiful blue Ameraucana hen and would have been 10 years old on April 5th. I hatched her in my old styrofoam incubator from eggs that were sent all the way from Washington state to New York. She was exceptionally smart and her name reflected her curious nature. She was one of my very favorites. It's been a really sad time for me the last couple of weeks - first losing my wonderful dog, Annie, and now Curious. In this picture, the wind was literally blowing 50 mph and ruffling her feathers. I wonder if she had an aneurysm, it was all so sudden. I'm heartbroken.

 

[speckledhen]

Today my sweet Curious passed away in my arms. It was a complete shock. She always comes over and asks to be picked up and then nuzzles in my neck and hair - such a lovey girl. This morning she seemed fine and came over for a hug as usual so I picked her up and held her for a few minutes telling her what a good girl she is. All of a sudden I heard her gurgle, she began to cough, blood dripped from her beak and she was dead! I was stunned! She was a beautiful blue Ameraucana hen and would have been 10 years old on April 5th. I hatched her in my old styrofoam incubator from eggs that were sent all the way from Washington state to New York. She was exceptionally smart and her name reflected her curious nature. She was one of my very favorites. It's been a really sad time for me the last couple of weeks - first losing my wonderful dog, Annie, and now Curious. In this picture, the wind was literally blowing 50 mph and ruffling her feathers. I wonder if she had an aneurysm, it was all so sudden. I'm heartbroken.

Oh, Robin, I'm so sorry! The only time I had one die with blood coming from her beak, I did a necropsy (she was a pullet, coming into lay). Her heart had basically imploded, one chamber was collapsed. So, she had a defect that showed up from the stress of beginning to produce her first egg is what I deduced. So, could be it was a heart attack, plain and simple. One of our Dobes had a heart attack and she was panting, dripping bloody saliva.

My black Ameraucana, Gypsy, is right behind her in age. Gypsy was 9 in November. She is my heart, that girl. She has grieved the loss of her two best friends, Becca and Caroline, both older than she was, and she looks so lonely sometimes, up on the roost by herself sitting with her face turned to the back wall, when she'd normally be with those two hens. Gosh, I'll miss her so badly!

And Snow, is so crippled with arthritis, she can barely get around. She's losing weight, doesn't eat much. These BBS Ameraucanas I've had were the sweetest hens. Gypsy's mother, Charlotte, a blue like your girl, was just as lovable. Again, so sorry for your losses.

 

[robhuncor]

Oh, Robin, I'm so sorry! The only time I had one die with blood coming from her beak, I did a necropsy (she was a pullet, coming into lay). Her heart had basically imploded, one chamber was collapsed. So, she had a defect that showed up from the stress of beginning to produce her first egg is what I deduced. So, could be it was a heart attack, plain and simple. One of our Dobes had a heart attack and she was panting, dripping bloody saliva.

My black Ameraucana, Gypsy, is right behind her in age. Gypsy was 9 in November. She is my heart, that girl. She has grieved the loss of her two best friends, Becca and Caroline, both older than she was, and she looks so lonely sometimes, up on the roost by herself sitting with her face turned to the back wall, when she'd normally be with those two hens. Gosh, I'll miss her so badly!

And Snow, is so crippled with arthritis, she can barely get around. She's losing weight, doesn't eat much. These BBS Ameraucanas I've had were the sweetest hens. Gypsy's mother, Charlotte, a blue like your girl, was just as lovable. Again, so sorry for your losses.

Thank you, Cyn. Keeping chickens is so fulfilling until they all start getting old and infirm! I've had my share of predator attacks over the years which are very distressing but when loyal favorite hens begin to age, lose ground and fade away, it's just as sad. The thing with Curious was, aside from hurting her leg recently jumping off the high roost - and from which she recovered fully -, she's always been very vigorous and one of the top hens. That's what was so upsetting. I wasn't prepared mentally. And of course I feel very guilty - how could this happen while I was holding her?! The only comfort to me is at least she was being lovingly held and spoken to as the end came. I just hope I didn't bring it on.

I have had chickens on and off my whole life. I grew up on a small specialty poultry farm, in Westchester Co., NY, of all places, - not considered a farming area! My family did not run the farm, we just lived on the property but I worked with the farmer helping with all aspects of the operation. I have always felt I was so privileged to have that opportunity for the first 21 years of my life! It shaped the person I became. At different times I have tried growing our own food, including chicken for eggs and meat and goats for milk and meat. The "meat" end of my farming came to an end very quickly! Most of my chickens have not had names but as I got older more and more of them became pets. I have always been interested in breeding rare breeds for looks and colorful eggs. I have been to poultry shows but was not interested in showing, just bred for my own enjoyment. Last year when I broke my foot and ankle I realized it's time to stop breeding. It's too much to expect my DH to take care of things if I become incapacitated again. It was a shock to realize I was getting too old to do what I love. Right now I'm thinking "downsizing", not complete dispersal! Chickens make me happy - Curious sure did!

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you, Cyn. Keeping chickens is so fulfilling until they all start getting old and infirm! I've had my share of predator attacks over the years which are very distressing but when loyal favorite hens begin to age, lose ground and fade away, it's just as sad. The thing with Curious was, aside from hurting her leg recently jumping off the high roost - and from which she recovered fully -, she's always been very vigorous and one of the top hens. That's what was so upsetting. I wasn't prepared mentally. And of course I feel very guilty - how could this happen while I was holding her?! The only comfort to me is at least she was being lovingly held and spoken to as the end came. I just hope I didn't bring it on.

I have had chickens on and off my whole life. I grew up on a small specialty poultry farm, in Westchester Co., NY, of all places, - not considered a farming area! My family did not run the farm, we just lived on the property but I worked with the farmer helping with all aspects of the operation. I have always felt I was so privileged to have that opportunity for the first 21 years of my life! It shaped the person I became. At different times I have tried growing our own food, including chicken for eggs and meat and goats for milk and meat. The "meat" end of my farming came to an end very quickly! Most of my chickens have not had names but as I got older more and more of them became pets. I have always been interested in breeding rare breeds for looks and colorful eggs. I have been to poultry shows but was not interested in showing, just bred for my own enjoyment. Last year when I broke my foot and ankle I realized it's time to stop breeding. It's too much to expect my DH to take care of things if I become incapacitated again. It was a shock to realize I was getting too old to do what I love. Right now I'm thinking "downsizing", not complete dispersal! Chickens make me happy - Curious sure did!

What better place to go than in the arms of the one you love the most? And you cannot convince me that chickens cannot love. I know they do. Of course, you didn't bring it on! She was ten years old, a great age for any hen. I'd rather one go suddenly than just wither away over time. It was a shock when I found Rita, nowhere near my oldest hen, but she was perfectly fine the previous day, wanting to be held and loving attention. She was on her feet until the end.

Downsizing is what I'm doing as I allow mine to go and don't add many to the flocks. I have ten pullets who are laying now and that is my new blood, but I have so many old gals who will be leaving me soon, it will be heartbreaking as they pass one after the other. They make me happy, too. Even if I had to live in a more remote mountain cabin, it would have to have at least a screened porch where I could put a mini-coop and keep a hen or two just for pets. I may have to leave the farm if I am alone one day, but I can't see being completely without my chickens!

 

[robhuncor]

There's always "house" chickens!

Years ago I hatched out a single blue Silky cockerel ( out of a dozen eggs set) in January. He was sad & cold being alone in the brooder so I gave him to my husband to hold while he was watching TV. His name was Solo and he loved being a house chicken. He sat on my DH's shoulder every night for his TV time. When the weather warmed up, he chose to spend the nights roosting on my DH's tool chest in the garage. He was very spoiled.

 

[speckledhen]

There's always "house" chickens!

Years ago I hatched out a single blue Silky cockerel ( out of a dozen eggs set) in January. He was sad & cold being alone in the brooder so I gave him to my husband to hold while he was watching TV. His name was Solo and he loved being a house chicken. He sat on my DH's shoulder every night for his TV time. When the weather warmed up, he chose to spend the nights roosting on my DH's tool chest in the garage. He was very spoiled.

That is too stinking cute! Solo the Blue Silkie, too adorable! I can just see him watching TV with dad. My own hubby used to bring my bantam Cochin hen, Shadow, inside when he thought she was too cold. She never pooped in the house.

 

[robhuncor]

That is too stinking cute! Solo the Blue Silkie, too adorable! I can just see him watching TV with dad. My own hubby used to bring my bantam Cochin hen, Shadow, inside when he thought she was too cold. She never pooped in the house.

Cute picture! They look so comfortable! Solo was not so fastidious about his poops!

We had a lot of towels placed strategically around the house and especially over the back of the TV chair.

.

 

[Stiggy]

I'm sorry to hear of your losses, it never gets any easier. Speaking of house chickens they really can be great, make or buy a diaper and your good to go. Cru has a large indoor rabbit hutch with a perch and all the basics, and if the weather is OK she goes outside onto the front lawn with the ducks and a couple chooks recovering from injury/illness/ terrible moulting to early in the season. But cru much like my previous house chickens is such a sweetie, she loves to watch TV or YouTube with me . The screaming is different given my first house chicken Evie never made any noise similar, but Evie was a smuggler and was just happy being with you or wandering around with Betty her cage mates.