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Sad News!

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Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 05 6:28 am Post subject: Sad News!

We lost our little Nettie last night! We've had her four months and a few weeks ago we took her to the vets as we had wormed them all and she was a bit off colour. Last week she seemed to go miserable again, ruffled feathers, depressed look, and she had lost some weight. Rang my vet and anyway to cut a long story short, yesterday she really went downhill fast and we had no option but to do the right thing for her.

Lundy and I are feeling really sad - cannot believe how much a little hen has made an impact on our lives.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 05 6:33 am Post subject:
Oh Gertie, poor you, and poor Nettie and Lundy. You have to remind yourself though that if it wasn't for you Nettie wouldn't have enjoyed 4 months of chicken heaven before this, and I bet that she has taught you a lot in that time in return. On a practical but not pleasant note, do you know yet what caused it, so that you can make sure the rest of your flock is OK?

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 05 7:05 am Post subject:

Thanks, Bugs.

Nettie had been kept in an ark in our garden for the last few weeks (since we took her to the vets). She was kept with Jo, another of our hens who had been in the wars.

Anyway, it looks like it was coccidiosis - despite treatment she just wasn't going to make it. Our vets are brilliant, but last night I was let down a bit by them. Lundy rang them to see if we could take Nettie in to be put to sleep, they were too busy!! Lundy was a bit sharp with the receptionist, and feels let down. In the end, because she was starting to suffer we got a friend to come and despatch her for us - Lundy is really upset about that because he was with her at the end.

We regularly moved the ark and treated the ground, hygiene has always been important to us so I feel we have taken every precaution possible. Jo was treat at the same time as Nettie, as a precaution, too.

chrissy

Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Pangbourne

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 05 8:28 am Post subject:
Oh I'm sorry Gertie. I know how excited you were when you first got your chickens. How sad.

moogie

Joined: 02 Feb 2005
Posts: 525
Location: Near Bridgend

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 05 9:31 am Post subject:
Oh no! I'm really sorry to hear that Gertie

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 05 3:13 pm Post subject:
Thanks, everyone for your kind words. They are very much appreciated. I've learnt a lot from our hens, and especially Nettie. It was awful coming home this afternoon and not seeing her looking for me and waiting for a titbit. Still, Jo let me know she wants feeding, she is in her ark at the moment making a right din

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 05 4:58 pm Post subject:
Aww no Gertie, how awful. She'll be with my Chelsea now, in a great big field with lots of trees and a lovely stream by the side of it. Sending you ((hugs))

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 05 5:49 pm Post subject:
I hope so, Nettie.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 05 7:52 pm Post subject:
I hope you and Lundy are ok now, hens do become part of the family. Our Treacle has tapped on deaths door a few times since we had her which has been rather upsetting, but luckily she's recovered each time.

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 05 6:18 am Post subject:
Thanks Treacodactyl, I think we are coming to terms now with losing her. You are right - they do become part of the family. I'm pleased she had four good months with us. Happy memories of her, best one being when a few weeks ago Toby tried to get her through the conservatory window (brave, or what!), Nettie just took a leap for him and he scarpered fast!!!!!!

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