The Poultry Keeper

HeatherBB · Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Chelmsford

I am absolutely heartbroken - I have only had my three chicks (2 Hens & 1 Cockerel) for a fortnight and on return home from work tonight found that one of the Hens 'Tilly' had died. The other two seem healthy enough but I can't understand why Tilly died :dont know: the only thing in hindsight i can now think of indicating any illness is that she wouldn't climb up the ladder to perch (but i was having problems with them all in that area anyway) she had been eating and drinking well so???? I phoned the breeder and asked if she vaccinated her poultry prior to selling - she confirmed she did (but not everything?) she queried a stroke/heart failure?? :dont know: any ideas anybody?? I am now undecided whether to buy anymore (even though I intended to get another 3 or 4) what with this disaster and the avian flu!! sad1

Knobby · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:42 pm Post subject:

Oh thats very sad Crying or Very sad

How old was she ??

Heather · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:44 pm Post subject:

Awwwww Heather I'm so sorry !

If you get more get two at once - should hopefully stop the fighting happening

Lisa · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:54 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear of your sad news.

Apparently chickens naturally have very high blood pressure, which makes them more susceptible to things like strokes and heart problems, so this can often be a cause of sudden death. (Although how they get those blood pressure cuffs round their feathery little wings I'll never know Rolling Eyes

)

Sadly one of the sides of chicken keeping we all have to come to terms with is losing one of our feathery friends. Please don't let it put you off getting any more. I'm sure you gave her everything she needed and it sounds like her demise was just "one of those things".

As for AI? It will either come or it won't. I'm not putting my life on hold waiting the days, weeks, months, years or decades until it does. But its a very personal decision. Read what you can and then trust your gut instinct. Do what makes best sense to you. We all have different priorities.

Good luck - and wishing you more happy times chicken keeping.

HeatherBB · Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Chelmsford

she was only 20 weeks old Sad

hadn't even laid her first egg!!)

NannyP · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:43 pm Post subject:

Oh what a shame, so sorry Heather.
I lost 2 of mine before they reached maturity, and sometimes that can happen too. It's a difficult time for them, a bit like reaching puberty and sometimes the stress is just too much.
I did replace mine, and have only had one other death since, which was much later and due to chest problems.
As Lisa says, you'll need to go with what feels right for you, but good luck with whatever you chose to do. Confused

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Sorry Heather Crying or Very sad

Mel · Joined: 15 Oct 2005 Posts: 150 Location: Gosport, Hampshire

how sad.

I wouldn't be put off getting others because of AI, if it's going to come it's going to come. good luck and let us know if you get any others.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

So sorry to hear about Tilly, Heather. I know how you must feel, I've lost 2 babies both at around 7 weeks of age. I cried buckets when I found them, especially my little orpington man, he was dying when I found him and his little legs were still 'walking' to the house for the night. By the tme I got him out of the run he had gone. Also lost my first 4 girls to a fox whilst I was away. Te day I got home all I found was a garden of feathers I could hardly see to clear them away. I vowed I'd get no more and then guess what...you guessed it.......within the week I was on the hunt for more little girls to come and stay. Like you've been advised if you get more get more than one so that they have a friend in the little squabbles that come when you introduce them.
I agree with Lisa about not putting life on hold whilst the newspapers decide what the actual truth is about this flu thing. Also as Lisa and NannyP have said it's a personal thing what you do but you always have to go with what feels right for you.
Hope you feel a little brighter tomorrow and the next day and the one that follows. Enjoy the pair you have, but having just seen that its a boy and girl I think I would go along with getting another couple of girls for him so that he doesn't wear out the one he has at present.
Take care and keep us informed of how you are.

Aussie Chick · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:20 pm Post subject:

I'm really sorry HeatherBB and I have no idea why she would have died. I hope you are able to get some more when you feel ready.

CP · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 12:46 am Post subject:

Really sorry to hear about the loss of poor Tilly. Crying or Very sad

I agree with everything that's been said already, but only you can decide whether to have any more hens.

Please let us know how you get on. Smile