[Jeanette]

I have just found one of my girls (sherry) and she is not well. Her crop is empty and she is just sitting in the coup she is not interested in food and when she did get up she found it hard to stay on her feet. She has got no mites or ticks i have checked for that and she is no hotter than the others. Her vent is a bit dirty and her poos are yellow. She is just very weak. Any ideas as to what it could be would be appreciated. She is a lovely chook and i will do anything to keep her. She is an ex bat and i have had her for a year and she is such a character i dread lossing her. 

[Julie in Somerset]

Hi Jeanette, sorry to say my ex batt Rihanna was put to sleep on Monday after displaying similar symptons. She gave up laying in May and the vet said this brings problems with hormones, internal laying etc. She had been "out" a year and a week. She was in the sick bay for 3 days unable to get up b4 I took her as I think I knew there was no hope for her.

However I did try feeding her yoghurt, mealworms, weetabix, fish cat food,scrambled egg, honey, critical care formula etc. but she only took small amounts. It is a hard decision but you must remember that she has had a lovely year with you. Most of them aren't that lucky.
Juliexxxx

[woodside farm]

This is a sad thing about ex-bats they are not 'designed' to live long    just feel good in yourself that she has had a happy last year is the worse comes to the worse, or on the good side she might just be feeling a bit run down because of the change of weather or moult and pick up again.

Michelle xx

[Jeanette]

  Sadly Sherry died last night and i am devastated. She died in my arms and it was very quick. Thank you for the messages.

[grumpydad]

so sorry,
but at least she had a good last few months to her life, doing what chickens are supposed to do.
dig and run about in the fresh air
and lay an occasional egg

martyn

[Sue33]

so sorry to hear that Jeanette, they really do become part of the family 

[CattinJ]

Jeanette,
so sorry to hear your news...we got our ex bats recently and we are already so attached I can abslutely undertand how upsetting this must have been for you.  Remember what a fabulous life you gave her and she died with someone she trusted looking after her....what hen could ask for more?

cattin