Single silkie alone in coop - *cold* temperatures tonight and in coming days (sun zero)- advice please

[member 615286]

Honestly, I'm struggling to catch my breath trying to understand the discussion of options here. How can you not bring her in? She's by herself, has no one to snuggle with to try and preserve body heat, much less manage any stress, the weather is clearly life threatening, and it appears you do not trust your heating situation in the coop...

I see this post didn’t include all the context as I had another asking about integrating her with the chicks prematurely (in the garage where she’s been Spending her time this winter when it’s cold
I’ve not hesitated to bring her in when it’s been cold.
I can understand your confusion/concern realizing you had limited context

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

I see this post didn’t include all the context as I had another asking about integrating her with the chicks prematurely (in the garage where she’s been Spending her time this winter when it’s cold
I’ve not hesitated to bring her in when it’s been cold.
I can understand your confusion/concern realizing you had limited context

*Breathing Sigh of Relief* Thank you for patiently wading through all my comments and I'm glad all is well your way.

 

[member 615286]

*Breathing Sigh of Relief* Thank you for patiently wading through all my comments and I'm glad all is well your way.

It’s felt like a full time job caring for her and figuring out what she needs (stills novice), trying to figure it out the last two months so much to learn. I’ve worked closely with CSUs vet school avian research team who are *amazing*, literally exhausted all options trying to find her a flock… the vet who came into the room needle drawn to euthanize her, said, “why are you putting her down?! She looks perfectly healthy and happy” (ugh I know dr)… and explained the whole story and not having had luck finding her flock mates. He said, “oh, we’ll just go to the national stock show it starts this weekend in Denver (1 hour away), they’ll have every breed of poultry there and available for sale”
*thank you* what a lucky bird to come home from her appointment to be euthanized, alive. So kept giving her all the attention all week, went to the stock show *so* excited and…
They weren’t selling poultry this year (pandemic). Ugg. Brought her home, kept checking Craigslist, no one’s chicks/chickens were vaccinated, schedule again to put her down.
That morning as I prepped to bring her, one lady got back to me who hadn’t about her chicks … who were not Vaccinated
But she directed me to a little feed store up north and alas, they had vaccinated chicks!!! I got two of the smallest ones, different breeds as I was advised.
And so continued to get as much attention as she can while they’ve been quarantined, about ready to go outside with her but… this cold snap!! So soon, I am hopeful. In the meantime she’s had a rapid dose of “see no touch” in the garage with them and “met” them yesterday and has been doing so well! She’s in her little starter coop next to them for a second night…
And she laid an egg last night which was a relief (right bc it suggests she isn’t *too* stressed?)…
She has been laying consistently (!!! Almost every day (6/7 at least) which I’ve read is a lot for silkies (?) so, I like to think it is an indicator she has been kept as healthy and happy as I’ve been able to keep her being alone for two months
Yay penny you lucky bird you!!
Losing her flock was so hard lots of learning. Mareks is a thing, vaccinate your birds #dontspreaddisease
Thanks again for your concern and listening.

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

It’s felt like a full time job caring for her and figuring out what she needs (stills novice), trying to figure it out the last two months so much to learn. I’ve worked closely with CSUs vet school avian research team who are *amazing*, literally exhausted all options trying to find her a flock… the vet who came into the room needle drawn to euthanize her, said, “why are you putting her down?! She looks perfectly healthy and happy” (ugh I know dr)… and explained the whole story and not having had luck finding her flock mates. He said, “oh, we’ll just go to the national stock show it starts this weekend in Denver (1 hour away), they’ll have every breed of poultry there and available for sale”
*thank you* what a lucky bird to come home from her appointment to be euthanized, alive. So kept giving her all the attention all week, went to the stock show *so* excited and…
They weren’t selling poultry this year (pandemic). Ugg. Brought her home, kept checking Craigslist, no one’s chicks/chickens were vaccinated, schedule again to put her down.
That morning as I prepped to bring her, one lady got back to me who hadn’t about her chicks … who were not Vaccinated
But she directed me to a little feed store up north and alas, they had vaccinated chicks!!! I got two of the smallest ones, different breeds as I was advised.
And so continued to get as much attention as she can while they’ve been quarantined, about ready to go outside with her but… this cold snap!! So soon, I am hopeful. In the meantime she’s had a rapid dose of “see no touch” in the garage with them and “met” them yesterday and has been doing so well! She’s in her little starter coop next to them for a second night…
And she laid an egg last night which was a relief (right bc it suggests she isn’t *too* stressed?)…
She has been laying consistently (!!! Almost every day (6/7 at least) which I’ve read is a lot for silkies (?) so, I like to think it is an indicator she has been kept as healthy and happy as I’ve been able to keep her being alone for two months
Yay penny you lucky bird you!!
Losing her flock was so hard lots of learning. Mareks is a thing, vaccinate your birds #dontspreaddisease
Thanks again for your concern and listening.

Quite a journey for you! Sounds like my life's events, never a dull moment and nauseatingly stressful twists and turns along the way. I have researched Marek's a lot, esp. wanting to add chickens, and found out that the only time there is some guarantee the peep will not contract Marek's or becoming carriers is right when they exit the egg and get the vaccine. After that, Marek vaccines are not necessarily effective, and healthy birds can be carriers! I'm so glad to read your stories, as they present you as a loving, caring, dedicated peep person!

 

[gtaus]

It’s felt like a full time job caring for her and figuring out what she needs (stills novice), trying to figure it out the last two months so much to learn.

I have been raising small animals on and off for about 50 years. As much as I like having a backyard flock, they are not my pets. I don't name them. I typically spend only about 5 minutes per day with my flock to make sure they are doing fine, have food and water, gather the eggs, and that nothing looks out of the normal. I don't think I could go through the emotions you are with your birds. One of reasons I like having laying hens is that they don't take up much of my time and, for the most part, do just fine without my attention. To me, that was important. But I appreciate that others treat their chickens as pets.

I only mention this because raising small animals can be very emotionally draining if you suffer through every loss and/or sickness. Over the years, I think I have come to the point where I can enjoy my small animals more if I get less worked up about the inevitable sicknesses or losses. I can read how concerned you are about your silkie, and that is OK. I just hope that as you gain more experience with your birds, it will be less emotionally draining for you. I know I had to learn to put some emotional distance between me and my animals otherwise I could not continue to have them. And that would really be a shame because raising and caring for small animals can, and should be, very rewarding.

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

I have been raising small animals on and off for about 50 years. As much as I like having a backyard flock, they are not my pets. I don't name them. I typically spend only about 5 minutes per day with my flock to make sure they are doing fine, have food and water, gather the eggs, and that nothing looks out of the normal. I don't think I could go through the emotions you are with your birds. One of reasons I like having laying hens is that they don't take up much of my time and, for the most part, do just fine without my attention. To me, that was important. But I appreciate that others treat their chickens as pets.

I only mention this because raising small animals can be very emotionally draining if you suffer through every loss and/or sickness. Over the years, I think I have come to the point where I can enjoy my small animals more if I get less worked up about the inevitable sicknesses or losses. I can read how concerned you are about your silkie, and that is OK. I just hope that as you gain more experience with your birds, it will be less emotionally draining for you. I know I had to learn to put some emotional distance between me and my animals otherwise I could not continue to have them. And that would really be a shame because raising and caring for small animals can, and should be, very rewarding.

I certainly appreciate your approach, as you have found a way to shield your heart and soul, while still enjoying the company of animals. I have tried to turn things off over the years, all to no avail. In the beginning, I had no idea how I was going to survive a loss. When I was active in animal rescue, I saw the absolute worst of the worst. Additionally, networking across the U.S. to get animals in need to safety, I landed on all kinds of threads and news stories around the world that revealed the cruelest possible side of man. I faced loss directly and indirectly! I have never found a way to turn off empathy and emotions. After suffering umpteen losses and fearing I would land in a padded suite, I catalogued that the end of a life is but one of millions of moments that define that life. And work to not let the end dominate that life's thread. Every loss is different, although I do suffer through similar emotions, esp. guilt, feeling I have not done enough. It's a phase I simply face and work through. I've learned to turn off things people say, like, Well, you've grieved long enough, time to let it go. For those losses that are particularly difficult, for which recovery seems to have no end, I simply carry the loss, tuck it away and let it wander, or sit, or hibernate, or appear needing further processing. I have found great comfort in the carrying of loss rather than working to "get over it."

 

[member 615286]

I have been raising small animals on and off for about 50 years. As much as I like having a backyard flock, they are not my pets. I don't name them. I typically spend only about 5 minutes per day with my flock to make sure they are doing fine, have food and water, gather the eggs, and that nothing looks out of the normal. I don't think I could go through the emotions you are with your birds. One of reasons I like having laying hens is that they don't take up much of my time and, for the most part, do just fine without my attention. To me, that was important. But I appreciate that others treat their chickens as pets.

I only mention this because raising small animals can be very emotionally draining if you suffer through every loss and/or sickness. Over the years, I think I have come to the point where I can enjoy my small animals more if I get less worked up about the inevitable sicknesses or losses. I can read how concerned you are about your silkie, and that is OK. I just hope that as you gain more experience with your birds, it will be less emotionally draining for you. I know I had to learn to put some emotional distance between me and my animals otherwise I could not continue to have them. And that would really be a shame because raising and caring for small animals can, and should be, very rewarding.

I have been raising small animals on and off for about 50 years. As much as I like having a backyard flock, they are not my pets. I don't name them. I typically spend only about 5 minutes per day with my flock to make sure they are doing fine, have food and water, gather the eggs, and that nothing looks out of the normal. I don't think I could go through the emotions you are with your birds. One of reasons I like having laying hens is that they don't take up much of my time and, for the most part, do just fine without my attention. To me, that was important. But I appreciate that others treat their chickens as pets.

I only mention this because raising small animals can be very emotionally draining if you suffer through every loss and/or sickness. Over the years, I think I have come to the point where I can enjoy my small animals more if I get less worked up about the inevitable sicknesses or losses. I can read how concerned you are about your silkie, and that is OK. I just hope that as you gain more experience with your birds, it will be less emotionally draining for you. I know I had to learn to put some emotional distance between me and my animals otherwise I could not continue to have them. And that would really be a shame because raising and caring for small animals can, and should be, very rewarding.

I thank you for your insights, sharing your experience and approach to your poultry and your concern for my emotional wellbeing, especially caring for birds (!), that I’ve learned are incredibly vulnerable and die frequently and why people such as yourself don’t name them! Makes sense if it contribute to one’s attachment and therefore distress when inevitably lost.
You may (or may not?) appreciate hearing more about why I care for vulnerable needy animals (like senior rescue giant breed dogs),
While my dogs are my pets and I have come to love my three birds and will all future ones, I am not it in for the emotional support animal aspect, I don’t want chickens inside on my lap to pet and hug while I watch Netflix.
I do it bc I *love* learning, the experience and the challenge.
I am an animal behaviorist at heart and human cognitive psychologist by day (not to be confused with therapist). Observing and reading poultry owners experiences on BYC and how they see their birds is fascinating in itself. And learning from you all
Turns out poultry are *the* most fascinating animals behaviorally (and their communication) I have taken on. And vulnerable!!
When I realized This early on my goal was to keep them alive until they started laying.
Considering my inexperience and the many local predators (I live in the Rockies), I’ve joked since last March every day that goes by #chickenmamaoftheyear, This fall after I learned about mareks #2/3chickenmamaoftheyear, then #1/3chickenmamaoftheyear…
I fully anticipate they will all die prematurely somehow.
Learning how to keep this last one standing from being miserable until I could find her a flock was a challenge in herself and while I do love her, putting her down would have been ok, as I decided. I wasn’t sobbing both trips to the vet to have her euthanized, it was just the right thing to do after learning birds aren’t happy a flock of one and not being able to find others who were vaccinated dead of winter in CO. Letting go of my senior dogs and chickens *is* a challenge and I have gratitude for it as it extends to life as a human where everything is out of one’s control (so what else can you do other than accept what is, chickens die, dogs die, everything is lost and attachment to some degree is ok and healthy as is managing any natural Attachment and feeling that come along with this human experience.
I did have fun naming them as I’ve had no children or puppies from Breeders to name and I nAme everything, I like the creative aspect of naming (my banjo has a name), the other two chickens had inside joke names.
But hear you and why you and many don’t name them (the extra attachment it leads to for some) it was just fun for me tho, to thoughtfully name Them.
I decided to name her new flock and any future poultry all “pancakes” (another Inside joke.
I fully anticipate she and all the rest will go unexpectedly as I expect my senior dogs to and it’s ok. Any feelings that accompany this are healthy and I appreciate the opportunity to manage them
I’m a healthy way (mostly just observe them as we must for any/all human feelings.
Thanks again for sharing and giving me the opprotony to share.
Chickens are beyond fascinating for sure. I’ve loved the experience !!! Watching my own learning and keeping them alive and happy as I can *has* been rewarding indeed

 

[member 615286]

I certainly certainly appreciate your approach, as you have found a way to shield your heart and soul, while still enjoying the company of animals. I have tried to turn things off over the years, all to no avail. In the beginning, I had no idea how I was going to survive a loss. When I was active in animal rescue, I saw the absolute worst of the worst. Additionally, networking across the U.S. to get animals in need to safety, I landed on all kinds of threads and news stories around the world that revealed the cruelest possible side of man. I faced loss directly and indirectly! I have never found a way to turn off empathy and emotions. After suffering umpteen losses and fearing I would land in a padded suite, I catalogued that the end of a life is but one of millions of moments that define that life. And work to not let the end dominate that life's thread. Every loss is different, although I do suffer through similar emotions, esp. guilt, feeling I have not done enough. It's a phase I simply face and work through. I've learned to turn off things people say, like, Well, you've grieved long enough, time to let it go. For those losses that are particularly difficult, for which recovery seems to have no end, I simply carry the loss, tuck it away and let it wander, or sit, or hibernate, or appear needing further processing. I have found great comfort in the carrying of loss rather than working to "get over it."

*Love* this

Everyone has their own approach and experiences and I can appreciate them all. Mine is shared below. There is no right or wrong way to do it or most things in life. I talk about this constantly in my career. It’s all about growth is you want to, endless opportunities (!), thats what I find rewarding, growing as a human with all the unexpected and many times hard experiences
Even Tucking away feelings might work and what some people need. Even knowing/observing how hard it can be and even crippling for many, but I believe to be true. It’s ok. All the feelings all the hardships… are “ok”
If you see them as such and get help if it’s keeping you from living and functioning !
Thank you for sharing

 

[gtaus]

I certainly appreciate your approach, as you have found a way to shield your heart and soul, while still enjoying the company of animals. I have tried to turn things off over the years, all to no avail. In the beginning, I had no idea how I was going to survive a loss.

I suppose I am not very good at describing my method of raising animals. I don't consider my approach is a way to shield my heart and soul from the loss of animals in my care. I think of it more as choosing what to focus on. I know my small animals will only have a short life of a few years, and they will usually die of sickness along the way. When an animal in my care dies, I do feel the loss, but I don't let it overwhelm me. I turn my focus on what may have caused the animal to get sick, see if I can change anything, or not, and then refocus my care on the remaining animals.

I grew up hunting animals from about 5 years old with my grandpa and learned how to take an animal life before I ever learned how to raise an animal. Like most hunters of my grandfather's age, they hunted to put food on the table to feed their family. They were always the first ones to protect wildlife habitat to ensure a healthy animal population for generations to come. Thinking of all the Ducks Unlimited clubs and mid winter feed drops for starving deer herds in really bad winters. Anyway, I grew up with a healthy respect for animals and the life we take for food when we hunt. I suppose that has influenced my approach to raising small animals even all these years later.

 

[member 615286]

I suppose I am not very good at describing my method of raising animals. I don't consider my approach is a way to shield my heart and soul from the loss of animals in my care. I think of it more as choosing what to focus on. I know my small animals will only have a short life of a few years, and they will usually die of sickness along the way. When an animal in my care dies, I do feel the loss, but I don't let it overwhelm me. I turn my focus on what may have caused the animal to get sick, see if I can change anything, or not, and then refocus my care on the remaining animals.

I grew up hunting animals from about 5 years old with my grandpa and learned how to take an animal life before I ever learned how to raise an animal. Like most hunters of my grandfather's age, they hunted to put food on the table to feed their family. They were always the first ones to protect wildlife habitat to ensure a healthy animal population for generations to come. Thinking of all the Ducks Unlimited clubs and mid winter feed drops for starving deer herds in really bad winters. Anyway, I grew up with a healthy respect for animals and the life we take for food when we hunt. I suppose that has influenced my approach to raising small animals even all these years later.

I hear you!! I didn’t interpret you as a cold hearted doesn’t care about the little animals doesn’t have any feelings chicken owner
I appreciate the approach which is very similar to mine, based in realism. The chickens will die. Everytime I go outside and don’t see her I’m sure shes been swiped by something. (Mareks through me for a loop tho! Quiet a learning curve on that one!)
I do appreciate you sharing. I understood right away what you werw sharing and can relate. I appreciated sharing my approach with you as well. Thank you for that! I read how attached owners are to their poultry and can understand and appreciated your time to share what You have
we both know attachment and loss without an appreciation for nature and needing to let if the loss disturpts life can be hard and is for so many.
I appreciate your empathy and again for sharing