Ribh, what terrible news. That is a lot to take in a few days, it seems everything bad happens all at onceHi @ManueB. Yes, I lost Sorbet. In the end she just gave up & once that happens there is nothing anyone can do. I will fight for a chicken who wants to live & is fighting to live but once they give up it is kindest to let them go. Sorbet was not unexpected though still sad.
I have, however, had a horrendous few weeks. I lost 3 chickens in 3 days. There was Sorbet. Then when I went to let the girls out I found Afrika dead under where she normally roosted. Her neck was broken. I have no idea...The next morning Titania was missing. She was just gone. No pile of feathers. No body. No stray bits. No smell... I held out hope for a few days as she has been broody for months & Titania was always who Portia kicked off the nest when she wanted to lay. I hoped she had simply moved nest to somewhere I just couldn't find no matter how many times I scoured the yard... but then this morning Ceres was dead in her nesting box & Tsuri is completely missing! To say I am devastated would be an understatement. Tsuri, Ceres & Chavi always brooded together. The only reason I still have Chavi is because I have been removing her each night & putting her in with Tootsie as I have been reluctant to put Tootsie in the coop when I don't know what is going on. Here they are! Tootsie is nearly as big as Chavi now & quite big enough to go in with the big girls but not happening just now. I am going to get another cage & everyone will have to share cages inside for the time being. I have no other options. The yard is secure but the temporary coop has gaps ~ not big enough for a dog; a small cat maybe, but most likely a snake though I haven't seen any ~ which doesn't say much.
The real downside of all this is Tootsie has bonded with me. If allowed, she would ride on my shoulder all day. If I put her outside in the pen she hops out when she's had enough & comes knocking @ the glass door to be let in.
Our weather has been miserable, terribly hot & muggy. Torrential afternoon storms are not unusual in a Brisbane summer but these have been so severe the drains have overflowed & flooded the house.
Lastly my divorce was granted over a month ago ~ but no~one bothered to inform me. The island house is under contract so I am looking down the barrel of another bigger ~ & more important~ move. I hate moving. I have had a sick dog, & as the dogs aren't mine that was super stressful. It has all left me feeling a bit of an emotional mess & feeling like a terrible chicken keeper.
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Here is most of what is left of my tribe.
The garden is burgeoning after all the rain.
They are all my bigger girls but I will not be getting any more chickens until I can get a proper set up.
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. I am sorry for all the losses of your chickens.I think we all hoped you had found a place to settle down a bit ; but now your situation is sorted out, hopefully you can finally find a place more permanent and move forward. But yep, moving is a complicated thing, especially with animals.
I'm glad that Tootsie is choosing you for a friend. I hope she gives you a bit of happiness in those tough times.
His rental is tied to his job so super stable & they were all good with the cats & chickens. I'm presently house sitting. I feel really blessed given Brisbane's housing crisis but I'm a homebody & need my own place.
