We know broody hens. How about a nanny hen?

[aart]

I'm very sad to report that I euthanized Jules. She was getting worse, not better.

Hard Stuff.
ETA, will you have her necropsied?

 

[FransGran]

I'm very sad to report that I euthanized Jules. She was getting worse, not better.

I'm sorry for your loss, but you did everything you could in a loving way.

 

[ILoveDaffy]

Aww, I am so sorry, I got kind of attached to her and her story. I also lost a pullet about her age. I felt awful! She was named Daffodil, aka Daffy, She passed in the night after showing no sign of injury or pain, or even sickness. She couldn't even have gotten cold, It was 80 degrees outside. I also know it wasn't a predator, because all was untouched.

 

[azygous]

Hard Stuff.
ETA, will you have her necropsied?

I just finished cutting Jules open. Just looked like a pristine 13 week-old chick inside. No sign of what was behind her not recovering.

I cut into the leg muscle, but even that appeared normal to my untrained eye.

I had a rooster years ago with this same issue. He injured his leg and despite all the care I could give him, he only got worse.

There must be something about some leg injuries that cause a chicken to simply give up.

 

[ValerieJ]

Aww, I am so sorry, I got kind of attached to her and her story. I also lost a pullet about her age. I felt awful! She was named Daffodil, aka Daffy, She passed in the night after showing no sign of injury or pain, or even sickness. She couldn't even have gotten cold, It was 80 degrees outside. I also know it wasn't a predator, because all was untouched.

Raising chickens is a mystery most of the time for me. Not all of us can afford a necropsy to find out what happens to each bird. I, personally, would only have one if I lost more than one bird in succession, and didn't know why. Any number of things can happen to a single bird. I feel lucky that I haven't dealt with a lot of this, and I feel for everyone who has. Hugs all around.

 

[ValerieJ]

I just finished cutting Jules open. Just looked like a pristine 13 week-old chick inside. No sign of what was behind her not recovering.

I cut into the leg muscle, but even that appeared normal to my untrained eye.

I had a rooster years ago with this same issue. He injured his leg and despite all the care I could give him, he only got worse.

There must be something about some leg injuries that cause a chicken to simply give up.

You might be on to something there. In the wild, they wouldn't have a chance of survival, so it might just be instinctual. So sad.

 

[ILoveDaffy]

I hope Su-su takes this well.

 

[azygous]

I hope Su-su takes this well.

I believe Su-su gave up on the chick two days ago. No sign of her little heart breaking as mine is.

 

[ILoveDaffy]

Raising chickens is a mystery most of the time for me. Not all of us can afford a necropsy to find out what happens to each bird. I, personally, would only have one if I lost more than one bird in succession, and didn't know why. Any number of things can happen to a single bird. I feel lucky that I haven't dealt with a lot of this, and I feel for everyone who has. Hugs all around.

I didn't have a necropsy because it would have just made losing her harder. If I found out it had been something preventable, I would have torn my self to pieces with guilt and sadness. She was my very first chicken.

 

[Perris]

sorry about Jules @azygous ; you could not have done more for her.