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[hyzenthlay]

Hi guys, I just went out to the coop to give treats, and my 8.5 year old Easter Egger is not looking good. She is sitting where she normally perches at night, with her eyes closed. She looked like she might have been trying to open her eyes a bit when I came in, but she did not move at all when I put some dried mealworms right by her. She was up and around seeming normal yesterday, but I think she was still up in the perch area when I went to check on them this morning. If I recall, she was just standing up there, I figured she was hanging out where it was warmer, or maybe getting a bite to eat. I don't know what to do for her. She has never been happy to be touched, so I don't want to handle her more than necessary if she's on her way out--but I don't want to abandon her if there's something I could do to help. Thoughts?

Brief update with pic below. I lifted her wing and parted her feathers, and could not see any signs of lice/mites--although I only looked on the one side because I didn't want to disturb her too much. I didn't see any fresh stools around where she is sitting--but then, she probably hasn't been eating today, either. Throughout all of this she didn't open her eyes once, although her lids did kind of move like she was trying to open them, and she lifted her head higher while I was touching her. Here is a pic of my old girl after I messed with her a bit--I don't think she was quite that fluffed up before I started ruffling through her feathers. You can see the mealworms in front of her that she hasn't touched. She has been taking a winter laying break, so there's no "new" interruption in her laying that would suggest being egg bound. Her breathing doesn't seem to be labored exactly, but slow and quiet. I don't feel optimistic given her age, I just want her to be as comfortable as possible unless there's something obvious I can/should do to help.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Quote:

So sorry, but it seems like she has had a good long life. It may be time to put her out of her misery. She doesn't look well. Maybe someone else has any better ideas, but I hate to see an animal suffer.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Brief update with pic below. I lifted her wing and parted her feathers, and could not see any signs of lice/mites--although I only looked on the one side because I didn't want to disturb her too much. I didn't see any fresh stools around where she is sitting--but then, she probably hasn't been eating today, either. Throughout all of this she didn't open her eyes once, although her lids did kind of move like she was trying to open them, and she lifted her head higher while I was touching her. Here is a pic of my old girl after I messed with her a bit--I don't think she was quite that fluffed up before I started ruffling through her feathers. You can see the mealworms in front of her that she hasn't touched. She has been taking a winter laying break, so there's no "new" interruption in her laying that would suggest being egg bound. Her breathing doesn't seem to be labored exactly, but slow and quiet. I don't feel optimistic given her age, I just want her to be as comfortable as possible unless there's something obvious I can/should do to help.

The only thing I can suggest is if you have a dog crate, maybe being her in where it's warm so she can rest and not have to try to keep herself warm. Maybe a few drops of vitamin water too.

 

[hyzenthlay]

So sorry, but it seems like she has had a good long life. It may be time to put her out of her misery. She doesn't look well. Maybe someone else has any better ideas, but I hate to see an animal suffer.

Thank you, Anne.

I hate to see an animal suffer, too. Chamomile is sitting so quietly she seems rather peaceful, not in obvious distress, but then how do I know what she's actually feeling. I am hoping that if she is going to go she will do so very quickly, because anything I can think of to hasten the process doesn't seem as peaceful as what she's doing right now.

So, I am watching for now, not sure what else to do. She is the last survivor from my first little flock of three chicks in 2009 (just realized she is about to turn 8 this spring, I was off by a year!), and has always been rather feisty and clever--not a troublemaker, but held her own in the pecking order with all the chicks that came after her, and is always the most cautious watching for hawks, etc.

 

[hyzenthlay]

The only thing I can suggest is if you have a dog crate, maybe being her in where it's warm so she can rest and not have to try to keep herself warm. Maybe a few drops of vitamin water too.

I can definitely bring Chamomile inside the basement to keep warm--it would be very easy, I still have my hospital pen set up there from my Polish who had the run in with a hawk (she is doing great now, BTW). I just didn't know if the unfamiliar surroundings would be more distressing than staying with her flock. None of them are near her or bothering her, but they are close by and she can hear them, if she is listening. It's 29 degrees here at the moment, but she is inside the closed portion of the coop where it's draft free and dry. I have a syringe and could give her some vitamin water that way--I doubt she will drink it otherwise.

 

[hyzenthlay]

Ok, I got her inside and I think it was the right thing to do, but she does look worse now. She's laying with her head resting on the ground and her wings relaxed by her side instead of pulled up tight like they were before--maybe she feels more relaxed in the warmth. She's breathing very slowly and softly now, and I don't think she ever opened her eyes as I brought her in and gave her a more thorough check over. I doubt she will last long, so I just have her snuggled up with some fresh bedding and soft towels, and the lights dimmed.

 

[stake]

Hi guys, I just went out to the coop to give treats, and my 8.5 year old Easter Egger is not looking good. She is sitting where she normally perches at night, with her eyes closed. She looked like she might have been trying to open her eyes a bit when I came in, but she did not move at all when I put some dried mealworms right by her. She was up and around seeming normal yesterday, but I think she was still up in the perch area when I went to check on them this morning. If I recall, she was just standing up there, I figured she was hanging out where it was warmer, or maybe getting a bite to eat. I don't know what to do for her. She has never been happy to be touched, so I don't want to handle her more than necessary if she's on her way out--but I don't want to abandon her if there's something I could do to help. Thoughts?

Hyz:

Scrambled eggs is the answer to all problems,,,,a great treat and a great pick me up meal....she's pretty old and it may just be her time....hard to tell old age from another problem.....are her feathers fluffed up?....if so bring her in and warm her up a bit.....though it should be pretty warm in a day or two....my two cents.....

 

[stake]

Does anyone have (or know of) any silkies hatching in the next week or so? I am a few miles NW of Philadelphia but would be willing to travel a bit if needed.

Thanks,
Ed

Ed:

I don't have a contact directly (Blarney does though)...there's a show breeder in Coatsville, Chester co...that has white and showgirl silkies.....Lisa is the first name,,,,,

 

[ewe105]

Ed:

I don't have a contact directly (Blarney does though)...there's a show breeder in Coatsville, Chester co...that has white and showgirl silkies.....Lisa is the first name,,,,,

Thank you. Would love to hear more if anyone knows.

 

[hyzenthlay]

Hyz:

Scrambled eggs is the answer to all problems,,,,a great treat and a great pick me up meal....she's pretty old and it may just be her time....hard to tell old age from another problem.....are her feathers fluffed up?....if so bring her in and warm her up a bit.....though it should be pretty warm in a day or two....my two cents.....

Thanks, stake, I will make her some scrambled eggs. I don't know if she'll eat them, but it's worth a try. I had to run to pick up the kids from school, and when I got back she had moved around a little bit from where I left her, but is mostly laying still with her wings relaxed and breathing slowly, eyes still closed. She was fluffed up some when she was outside but she doesn't seem to be now. My daughter is sitting down with her now, quietly reading a book, wanting to keep her company.