RIP Cordelia, and I'm sorry

[Callender Girl]

Yesterday, Cordelia, one of my Buckeye hens, was euthanized. She and her sisters, known as the "ABC girls" (Aletha, Beatrix and Cordelia), came to live with me 3 and 1/2 years ago. when they were just days old, a gorgeous mahogany trio.

I had to deworm after one of the girls' fecal was positive for roundworms, but a few of the hens still had poopy butts that needed to be cleaned. I noticed Cordelia walking a bit funny, and when it came time to clean her, I realized she had a massive chunk of stuck poop. Her gait was still a little weird, but I assumed it was because her butt was sore from all the poop that I had to remove, even after a good warm water soaking.

A few days later, she was having trouble getting up into the coop and was generally lethargic. I didn't notice it when I was clipping/cleaning feathers, but three days ago, I realized Cordelia had a build-up of fluid on the right side of her chest. Although I have an excellent avian vet, she's frequently booked up, so I made the soonest appointment that I could, which would have been today.

But Cordelia went downhill fast. By yesterday morning, she wouldn't even eat a grape, her favorite treat, and she seemed unable to get to her feet. The clinic has another vet who works with "farm" animals and who I've seen with one of the ducks. Although she and the vet tech assured me that I did everything I could, I wish I had realized that the real problem wasn't Cordy's butt. If I had felt the fluid sooner, maybe she would still be alive.

Now, I'm second guessing myself: was the fluid that noticeable when I was cleaning her and I was just concentrating on the "wrong" part of the hen? Or, maybe there wasn't enough fluid to be discovered at that time? In any case, I feel guilty for letting her suffer, but grateful to Dr. Lundquist and Michaela for ending Cordy's pain.

Rest in peace, my beautiful girl. I am so sorry.

 

[RubelliteRose]

I am so sorry for your loss. Don't second guess yourself or your vet. If Cordelia went downhill that fast, I'm sure there was nothing else you could do

 

[janiedoe]

I am so sorry for your loss.
I always second guess myself too, but I love my flock. I can see that you love yours, as well. You're committed to caring for them, as best you can, and you did do your best. You gave Cordelia a good life. Not every chicken has someone who cares enough to mourn them. Cordelia was a lucky girl.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

The fact that you did all you could do to treat what you thought the problem was shows what a compassionate and wonderful chicken mama you are! I'm sure it's hard to know whether the fluid issue was treatable, but you did the most humane thing to end Cordelia's suffering. I'm so, so sorry you've lost your girl. I hope you can find solace in the fact that you gave her the best life possible for much longer than many chickens get to live. Sending chicken mama hugs to you!

 

[RoyalChick]

Yesterday, Cordelia, one of my Buckeye hens, was euthanized. She and her sisters, known as the "ABC girls" (Aletha, Beatrix and Cordelia), came to live with me 3 and 1/2 years ago. when they were just days old, a gorgeous mahogany trio.

I had to deworm after one of the girls' fecal was positive for roundworms, but a few of the hens still had poopy butts that needed to be cleaned. I noticed Cordelia walking a bit funny, and when it came time to clean her, I realized she had a massive chunk of stuck poop. Her gait was still a little weird, but I assumed it was because her butt was sore from all the poop that I had to remove, even after a good warm water soaking.

A few days later, she was having trouble getting up into the coop and was generally lethargic. I didn't notice it when I was clipping/cleaning feathers, but three days ago, I realized Cordelia had a build-up of fluid on the right side of her chest. Although I have an excellent avian vet, she's frequently booked up, so I made the soonest appointment that I could, which would have been today.

But Cordelia went downhill fast. By yesterday morning, she wouldn't even eat a grape, her favorite treat, and she seemed unable to get to her feet. The clinic has another vet who works with "farm" animals and who I've seen with one of the ducks. Although she and the vet tech assured me that I did everything I could, I wish I had realized that the real problem wasn't Cordy's butt. If I had felt the fluid sooner, maybe she would still be alive.

Now, I'm second guessing myself: was the fluid that noticeable when I was cleaning her and I was just concentrating on the "wrong" part of the hen? Or, maybe there wasn't enough fluid to be discovered at that time? In any case, I feel guilty for letting her suffer, but grateful to Dr. Lundquist and Michaela for ending Cordy's pain.

Rest in peace, my beautiful girl. I am so sorry.

So sorry.

 

[N F C]

I'm sorry for your loss @Callender Girl, you gave your girl the best care you could.

 

[MotherofOrpies]

If it helps you, I found out that often, chickens who have problems like feather lice or pasty butt have other underlying health issues, which aren’t apparent. I have taken a lot of my hens to an avian specialist, half of the time, they could help my birds, the other times, my birds died before I could reach the vet or died even though they got treatment. One of the looming problems always is the ovarial duct infection, I have dragged one of my favorite hens to the avian specialist many times til the ( horrible) end, I found out, I am not doing them any favors. When they are sick, you can get the symptoms treated, but in the end, they die, and since you have to take them to the vet a lot, and they get a lot of injections, it isn’t very pleasant . Sometimes it is better to let them go gently, than to get them stuck full with needles, and they die anyways..

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I'm sorry for your loss. I think you're a wonderul chicken mama.

 

[Callender Girl]

I understand what you're saying, @MotherofOrpies. Sometimes, it's hard to figure out what's wrong and whether vet care would be a benefit or not.

I am so lucky to have a great avian vet, who owns chickens. She is a rare gem among all the vets who won't bother with poultry.

I agree that it sometimes isn't worth "torturing" the birds. I feel badly when I stress out a chicken (duck or goose) needlessly if the medical care doesn't work. In Cordelia's case, she was too far gone for anyone to save, and I couldn't end her life myself.