Well, some of us here understand. I have a rescue and put implants in my hens to save them from reproductive disease (something you didn't have to worry about with a silkie - they are not high producers), more than 1/2 live in the house and the ones that are outside have heating and air conditioning. Like you, they are my family members and I love each one and would do just about anything for them. There is nothing anyone can say that will dull your pain and I understand this fact. I lost my Henrietta 3 1/2 weeks ago and I am still crying and still dysfunctional at work. A very dear friend of mine that also has a rescue that is 25-years old today said something to me that may help you. She said, "when you are crying, go get a chicken and hold her and close your eyes - Henrietta will come to you." Remember chickens don't count their years and get sad if they are going to pass - they only care if they were loved - A job well done by you. I am crying while I write this to you.
Sorry for your loss 2 and yeah nothing can replace them even 9+ yrs after there death I break down crying I've been rescuing chickens with mostly those have medical issues I haven't raised a baby chicken in 9 yrs. My 9yr old hen was born with parathyroid issues I saved her life along with her sister. I've been doing this for 14+ yrs I invested my entire high school to my chickens and doing research again I know more than the vet I go to for my birds. I've even thought him a few things. Said vet was raised on a chicken farm. But ffs I went for vet tech school to improve for them but dropped out when one of my hens had ovarian cancer. There were many times I spent my entire paychecks at the vet to get them better. I was in terrible living suitation with my brother who was psycho who would overdose them with human meds I took the abuse from her to protect them. They showed me love when I had no one I have a seeing strong bond with them I'm not ashamed about it either. They were the first in my life to show me unconditional love and they would intentionally distract me when I was depressed I remember once I passed out in the chicken coop family didn't even bother to look at me but I woke up surrounded by my hens looking at me in concern I vowed to give my all to them. Yes i lack some times but they only see me and love me over everyone else. They saved me more than I saved them. I miss my baby but it's not her fault she was at her age limit and she got sick. If I had her over again I wouldn't hesitate to spend the amount that I did on her like I did
I hear you and I am right there with you. What part of the country do you live in? I only have sick hens and broken roosters that come to me as well. Here is my story about my Henrietta. Reproductive disease angers me greatly, and is rarely talked about here or anywhere else: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ve-tract-neoplasia.80496/reviews#review-50089
Legit found my 9vyr old hen tonight couldn't figure out where the mites were coming from been using ivermectin and powder treatment. It wasn't enough to get rid of said mites. I was out there trying to figure it out and why she was in pain on the top of her tail because she was going off she was in pain and didn't want me to touch her I'm really happy she's really calm only to having to start cutting her feathers around the area to see where I'm not getting to the mites. By the base of the tail and onto above her tail I see a huge hoard of mites even seeing open swores I had found a pocket of where there was scar tissue that was filed with plasma underneath the skin and accidentally removed said area by trying to see what was going on over there only for it to burst the way she yelled scares the shit out of me looked down to see that huge later come up it was regular underneath it. I see more mites so I cut around further and started freaking out. While my little girl was falling asleep while I was trimming her bald on her rear end. Back l, back and theigh but mostly around the tail area but it has me so grossed out had me panicking so I thoroughly got the powder on her for easier access because there feathers r so dang dense I have not had chance to clean but this might've helped in along with the other hens death even tho silkies skin is black and feathers r weight l white I had so many mites on me I was freaking out and took a 30 min shower but I do think the mites were a very small factor leading to her death as the most of it was her nurological issues spurring up severely I really want very and barf thinking about the mites rn I feel bad for my 9yr old chicken lol she's half defluffed she looks ridiculous but got easier access to treatment and she was giving me happy bwaucks after that I feel so bad that I hurt her tho even tho it was an accident
Yeah they never brimg up much about stds in animals but it's very much possible they even got ones in cats and dogs I love on North East fyi mites they have r northern fowl mites and are insanely hard to get rid of they r just was l as bad as red mites
