Velvet Needs Help...Puzzler...Any Ideas? ***She's Dead****

[PurpleChicken]

:aww

Keep your chin up. You give all your birds the best care chickens can
ask for. Even when their lives are cut short they are still fortunate
to have been part of your family flock.

 

[silkiechicken]

That sucks. At least you know she had a good life while she was here.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Cyn, I am so sorry. I have cried so many tears for you and your flock. Please know that you are always in my thoughts and prayers and I truly wish I could take away all of the "bad stuff" that has happened with your flock this year or even the pain and heartache it has caused you. You are one of my dearest friends, so when your heart aches, mine does also. Sending you lots and lots of hugs this sunny Tuesday morning.

 

[speckledhen]

Thanks, all. I'm fine today. It was stressful to lose her like that, but seems there wasn't much I could do at this point. Although I wasn't as attached to her as I am to Zane, still, Velvet was a beauty, very typey, and made me laugh almost every day at her silliness.
Diana, yes, I had read some of those articles you have on your site, I just in the middle of all the drama, forgot they were yours. Thought I recognized the background on the site. I also have read the thread where someone had a Silkie with the problem and what Pine Grove said on that thread (thanks, William). The gout was another issue-Velvet's comb was fluid filled as was her abdomen. We are not 100% sure she had gout, but it's a moot point now.
Velvet always was a big "pouchy" in the crop area, so maybe she was having slight issues before her molt and it just got so that she couldnt get through them. I was on my way literally with her in my arms to try to empty the crop when she started gagging and spitting up from the slight pressure on her crop. I vaguely realized that the crop was even worse right at the time she began gagging. All that stuff was coming up, slinging everywhere and she just couldn't breathe.

(((hugs)))) right back at you, Stacey. You've been wonderful through all my "stuff" this year!

 

[gumpsgirl]

I'm so relieved to see you up and about this morning Cyn! I have really been worried about you. Glad to hear that you are doing better this morning.

 

[megshenhut]

Again, Cyn, I'm so sorry about you losing Velvet. I have 2 hens with chronic sagging crops, not sure why. They seem to continue to do ok, but they worry me. Once they sag, seems like they continue to do so. It is so awful to lose a bird. It seems like they go downhill so fast and by the time you realize the shape they are in there is nothing to do.

 

[ozark hen]

Heart felt thoughts coming your way this morning, Cyn. Have a wonderful day!

 

[speckledhen]

I want to thank Angie (Miss Prissy) for her offer of some Blue Orpington hatching eggs. It's so tempting, but I'm going to wait till spring and the first available broody hen. I just dont have it in me to raise more chicks at the moment. In fact, although I have a few eggs under a broody right now, they are already spoken for and are not staying. And thanks to all of you wonderful, supportive people!

 

[LoneCowboy]

Gee Wiz Cyn, this really has been a horrible year for you. I'm so sorry to hear about Velvet. You need to get that black cloud that seems to be hanging over your place to move on.

There is some good though, it shows us novices that even chickens with the best care available can have problems so we shouldn't get down on ourselves when something comes up. I know that's not very comforting to you, but it is to me in a sad sort of way.

 

[speckledhen]

There is some good though, it shows us novices that even chickens with the best care available can have problems so we shouldn't get down on ourselves when something comes up. I know that's not very comforting to you, but it is to me in a sad sort of way.

Very true, Deniece. And I understand what you're saying. A few BYC members have been here and seen my set-up for my birds. I've spent so much money on the best quality feeds and supplemental things for them. Some just have genetic predispositions to things that we cant see till they manifest themselves. Till her molt, Velvet seemed the picture of health in every way.​