Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: ScottBarton on March 21, 2011, 13:19
-
One of my 3 chickens, Korma, died overnight; she was 3½ years old. :(
Noticed yesterday there was a bit of blood in the coop and noticed that she was sitting in the corner looking very sorry for herself. It looked like her bum had been pecked by the other two, and her tail feathers were down.
She was drinking so was not overly concerned at the time.
I went to check on her last night the other two were still picking on her. She was standing and they were pecking at her comb, and generally bullying her so decided to move her to the 'hospital wing' that I built a while ago. (Well originally it was a broody coop...but hey...dual purpose!)
Made her a fresh bed up and then put the whole thing in the garage to keep her separate and warm.
Checked on her this morning and she had died overnight. Am gutted. Felt so helpless! Saturday she was fine! Running round the garden with the other two enjoying the spring sunshine. :-(
I did notice that it looked like she had been sick? There was a light brown fluid that had come out of her beak where she was laying.
Anyone have any idea of what she could of died of?
I know Chickens go downhill very quickly, but the speed at which she deteriorated has really surprised me.
I will keep an eye on the other two (Tikka & Massala) in case it is anything contagious.
Anything else I can do?
Tonight I am going to cremate her, and thank her for all the lovely eggs that she has supplied me in the last 3 years.
RIP Korma
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/scottbarton/Chickens/IMG_6333.jpg)
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/scottbarton/Chickens/IMG_3729.jpg)
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/scottbarton/Chickens/IMG_3724.jpg)
-
so sorry for your loss. With the others pecking her rear end the chances are she has had an egg break inside her or a prolapse and this would be what they were pecking. Once a chicken is very ill the others will often peck them and the ill one lies down to let them.
RIP Korma xx
Give the other two a special treat and hug as they will be missing her but luckily it doesn't sound like it was anything contagious.
-
Sorry about Korma what a beauty she was xx
-
RIP Korma, what a lovely picture the last one is of the 3 girls x
Jo
-
Gave her a good send off tonight. She used to peck the life out of my Daffodil's so picked a few and wrapped her up with them in some newspaper. Then using my garden incinerator I cremated her.
Best way to send her off I thought.
:(
-
So sorry to hear about your girl but at least she went quickly :( She was a good age and had a happy life with you and you will always have good memories of her and all the eggs she gave you :)
-
I thought chickens lived between 8-10 years?
That is why i was so shocked at how quickly she went downhill.
-
Hiya Scott,
Sorry to hear about Korma. It's horrible when they've been poorly but she hasn't suffered as it was quick. I know how much you loved them. Sometimes you just don't know what was wrong with them & hybrid type chooks arn't made to last a very long time unfortunatly. All my ex batts lasted about the same if it's any consolation to you. xxx
-
as W/W has said it depends on the breed as to how long they live .
-
I am so sorry to hear this news. I remember you talking about her in the forum. What a lovely hen she was! You gave her a happy life!
-
Am so sorry. I know exactly how you feel. :( :(
-
So sorry about Korma..at least she's in a nice place(chicken heaven)
-
And then there was 1....Tikka passed away yesterday. (The Bluebelle)
She was found at the bottom of the run, it could only have been an hour or so as i felt under her feathers and she was still warm.
Massala is now looking very lonely in the house and run all on her own.
They have both stopped laying eggs, not having had one for at least a couple of months now. So i guess the old girls are just living out their days. :-(
This weekend I am off to my Grandfathers house to help him complete his chicken house and run and we will be off to 'Jessie's Hens' in Fen Ditton to hopefully pick some new young birds for his set up....i may just have to treat myself and give my last remaining chicken some new younger company.
-
arrh sorry about that scott. They have all lived a good decent life though & been spoilt rotten. Perhaps the new blood will put a spring in massala's step.
-
Anything to look out for introducing new younger birds with an older hen? Am thinking of getting 3 more, possibly 4. The run and living space is certainly big enough, but just dont want to stress out my existing old lady with the young'uns coming in! ::)
-
So sorry to hear of your sad losses. One thing I would say, though, re introducing new girls, make sure the older bird is in situ in the run before the newbies. Last time I got new girls, little Miss Red was free ranging and so when she returned at night, the others went for her. But when I had Miss Grey and she was all alone, I introduced the new girls to her in the henhouse/run, and she took charge and we had no problems.
Good Luck!!!
-
Although I agree with Joy it did sound like an egg binding issue thehe fact two have gone so quickly and one was "sick" have they been eating anything unusual recently like fermenting grass cuttings as sour crop is also a possibility too.
Ordinarily you would need to introduce new birds to an existing flock gradually as the old ones will be very territorial and try and drive the new ones away, however as you have only one hen left this might not happen. Put out two lots of feed and water so your remaining bird can't guard them all and keep an eye on them to start with. Also introducing new birds it would be normally sensible to quarentine them for three weeks or so but again with just one bird at risk you might decide not to bother and take the risk.
It also usually best when introducing new birds to a house that you keep them confined in the house and run for 24 hours before allowing them to free range the garden so they get to know this is home.
HF
-
Hi I have just introduced 3 little ones to my last hen Lula, we put the newbies in the attatched run and left Lula free ranging, she squawked and screamed at them, when dusk came we put Lula in the coop and left her for 1 hour then opened up pop hole, as soon as newbie tried to get in Lula went mad!! So Lula came out and slept indoors the others in coop, 2 nights we did this.
Day 2 all free ranging Lula still screaming at them (they were completely ignoring her!)Lula then was fine with us putting them in the coop with her as long as they didn't enter through pop hole??( who knows the logic :))
Day 3 they started to go round together Lula definately incharge and loving it as she was always bottom of the order!She now lets them enter the coop.
I would say lots of feeders and drinking stations around and good luck!! :)