Lost my beautiful girl.

[Coloursthatweremyjoy]

I've been keeping hens for a while and it never gets easier to lose one.

She was off colour yesterday but moving around and responsive so I kept an eye on her. Today she went rapidly down hill and her crop was squishy...I rushed her to the vets but I knew she wouldn't come back.

Vet said it was egg peritonitis and the issue with her crop caused by that. She said that we could try antibiotics but that in the end it was very serious and kinder to PTS...I stayed until she was gone.

I'm really upset...I know she was just a chicken but she was mine. She was five and the vet said she was otherwise in great condition and beautiful but I feel like a crap chicken keeper at the moment.

Why do we do it to ourselves?

We do it because we care and because the enrichment they bring to our lives, the kookiness that is uniquely theirs, is what makes us love them and care for them. Five years is a fabulous age for a hen, and I'm sure she will have had a wonderful life with you, and known that you did your best for her, by not letting her suffer unduly.

Thank you Jill. Yes, the kookiness...in bucket loads.

I fell to bits but I'm glad I was with her. The vets were so kind.

Im so sorry colours, our girls are more than just chickens, they are part of the family and they are loved.

I have had hens with egg peritonitis and its not nice to see them suffer do at least you have a vet who could take care of her in the best way without any further suffering.

They bring you so much joy, and when you loose one its really heartbreaking. Only fellow hen owners can understand this.

I have cried over loosing one of our girls many times, but think about the great times we had with the characters and personalities they all have and how much they enrich your life, but boy how it affects you when something happens to them.

Five is a good age and sure she would of had a good life, you cared enough to take her to a vet some dont even bother.

Your right it never gets any easier when you loose one, as I have found out today.

That's why I posted here really (as well as feeling sorry for myself) because other hen keepers would understand. People make all the right noises but I can tell they think "it's just a chicken".

Sorry to hear you lost one as well coconut.

I couldn't fault the vet she was great, very gentle. I must send a card actually.

I'm spoiling my remaining two.

Are you going to get some others? 2 really is not that good for hens and the introduction of just one more will most likely lead to the new one being very picked on, 2 more would be good.

Sadly lost 4....

Oh no coconut that's awful!

I usually have three if I buy them altogether so they have maximum space in the run. One of my remaining girls is a bit up front shall be say so the introduction of one other wouldn't be good.

Two more it is then. Something to look forward to.