No dinner for me tonight.

[hippywife]

Not because I can't eat, just because I don't wanna. Life keeps handing this former city girl new challenges all the time. Today I was in a lovely museum enjoying a couple of new exhibits, and this evening I found myself oiling my fingers and sticking them up a chicken's butt.



It didn't make me sick or even nauseous, I just can't bring myself to find anything terribly appetizing at the moment. Bill has agreed to fix his own simple dinner tonight.

Seriously though, we think she's egg-bound but I couldn't find anything so hard to know. I hope she will be okay by morning. But she may very well be dead. If she's still alive but not any better, Bill is going to put her down.

[grasswire]

1. oh a LIVE chicken

Oh dear. Poor thing. Poor you and poor her.

:hug:

[hippywife]

5. Thanx, sweetie.

:hug:

[Denninmi]

2. I'm sorry. Been there, done that.

If they're egg bound, it's usually pretty easy to tell once you do the "exam".

I guess you probably already know this, but for those that don't, if you have a sick bird and don't know what the specific problem is, the best you can do is keep the bird warm, give it vitamins and electrolyte solution, antibiotics if you have them, and hope for the best.

I hope she pulls through for you. I've done the above treatment to birds that looked bad, and they perked up considerably overnight. Of course, some haven't made it, as you know.

[hippywife]

4. I'm just really amazed

that in the four or five years we've been keeping chickens, this is the first time this has happened. I couldn't feel a thing, nor could I feel anything farther up when palpating her belly. Could be something else, but the symptoms are so classic, it's hard to think that's not what it is. I couldn't get my finger any further, so we're just going to have to wait and see what happens. When I was massaging her belly some white thick stuff did release, so who knows. :shrug:

They aren't exactly pets but we don't butcher them. Did a rooster once, but the hens get to live as long as they will.

Thanx for the good wishes. :hug:

[Warpy]

3. Raising livestock animals is not for the faint hearted or squeamish

but putting her down is probably the best policy if she's that poorly. She'll be honored tomorrow by turning her into a fine Sunday dinner.

It's just hard doing it to a critter you know. It's why I don't have that backyard sheep for my spinning and weaving. Too many hard decisions have to be made. Well, and I'm too past it to wrestle one around at shearing time.

My next door neighbor lets her hens die of old age and cussedness long after they stop laying. I'm not convinced that's particularly humane, either. Old age aint for sissies and a quick death followed by a chicken stew might be preferable, even to the chicken.

[hippywife]

6. Well, on the off chance

that she isn't egg bound, we don't want to cook and eat her since we won't know what's wrong with her. We usually don't eat our hens, anyway. And ours will live as long as they are doing well, laying eggs or no.

[Warpy]

7. Proper cooking (and I'd use the pressure cooker for an old hen)

will kill anything contagious except prion diseases and chickens don't live long enough to accumulate a lot of prions and besides, you don't eat the brains, anyway.

I grew up watching my sweet old granny off her chickens for Sunday dinners, so I'm OK with the concept.

[trud]

9. what are your plans for your old age, warpy?n/t

[Warpy]

17. I'm going to be a recluse who only comes out on Halloween to scare children.

You?

[tigereye]

18. haha!

:rofl: you always make me laugh with your "Yankee"? wit...

[pengillian101]

8. So sorry hon!

Hope your little Chickie is well tomorrow!

[hippywife]

13. Thanx, doll.

Bill says she isn't any better at all this morning, I'm afraid. He's going to put her down in a little while. :(

[trud]

10. I hope she recovers n/t

[hippywife]

14. Thanx, trud.

Not to be, I'm afraid. :(

[yellerpup]

11. Aw, life can be hard for a chicken-mommy.

I know how attached you are to your girls and I hope she pulls through. Sorry she is off her feed and that you are having to oil your fingers to examine her--something neither one of you want. Good thoughts and hopes for happy recovery for your girl and peace of mind for you. :hug:

[hippywife]

12. Mornin', babe!

Sorry I missed your call yesterday. We were out at the Philbrook and having lunch with Bill's mom. Didn't get home until late in the day, and by then you were no doubt out and about.

Hope you had a lovely evening! :hug:

[yellerpup]

15. Had a lovely, mellow day yesterday.

Had passport photos taken, then Mr. Pup was called into work for a few hours. I made calls to try to catch up with everyone who was on my mind but only reached 1 of 4. When he came home we went out to Fiesta Mexico for good grub and then stopped in at the pub for a nightcap and conversation. Home by 8:30PM (I am SUCH a geezer!) and slept well last night. I need to start getting ready for an art show opening today at a local gallery, then food shopping to get all the fixin's for my Midnight Run contribution for March. I'll be in from 2:30 onward. Maybe we can catch up later! :loveya:

[hippywife]

16. Sounds like you did have a lovely day, sweets.

I have loads and loads of stuff to do today, myself. Ugh! I hate housework and it shows today, very much! :rofl:

I will try to call you later on today. :hug: