I can’t believe I am writing this after yesterday’s post. I am heartbroken to have to say that Caramel has gone.
This morning as usual I poop picked the chicken shed at first light with Caramel beside me. I then bought her in and gave her her meds and some water and put her in the cat box with her dish of treats and a dish of water.
I was a bit worried that she wasn’t eating but was sleeping, mostly with her head under her wing. It wasn’t until about two hours later that she started eating. I could hear her so went to check on her and was horrified to see that while she was eating from the dish she had both eyes firmly shut. The left eye which had been her good eye was now more swollen than the right and was weeping.
This was just the worst thing to see as it meant she hadn’t been pecked after all but had a serious problem. It was pitiful to see her lunging at the dish and randomly picking up bits of food. She was such a little fighter that even with both eyes shut she still wanted to eat.
She then pooped the dreaded green poop. I knew that things were really bad for her and she was struggling with her breathing.
Caramel’s other eye is now closed
Poor Caramel, this is heartbreaking to see
I rang the vet and they were fully booked but said they could get me in at their sister practice which was twenty minutes drive away.
The vet weighed her and said she was almost the same weight as the first time she was weighed which was surprising. Those two feeds a day had kept her weight level up. She then listened to her chest and said her breathing was very crackly and bubbly. By now her left eye was oozing mucus and she said her beak was sticky with mucus. I had thought her sticky beak was due to the spillage of her sticky meds.
The vet said it was bacterial and that there are contagious strains and non contagious strains. This was really worrying as she had been in with the flock but I said that there were no signs with the rest of the flock including Pebbles who sits with her every afternoon and perches with her at night. The vet was encouraged that this meant it’s not contagious but said at any sign of symptoms with the other girls to separate them and take them to the vet immediately.
The vet said that she hasn’t responded to the antibiotic and the only other treatment they could give her would be a different antibiotic, which they would have to order in, and give by injection. It would have to be given into her muscle and would cause painful muscle spasms and she said that being so tiny she didn’t hold out much hope that this could bring her back at this stage but the decision was mine.
It should have been a no brainer and I have always made the decision quickly in the past to end suffering but I kept thinking that she had still eaten that morning and not given up and I so wanted to go on fighting. I cried and took quite a few minutes before I made the decision, which I made, because I knew I couldn’t let her suffer.
I held her while she was put to sleep and stroked her and talked to her and cried and cried over her. This is so hard to write because I can’t stop crying.
I can’t believe that we have only had this little girl for three weeks today and it has only been a week that I have been treating her. I have grown so attached to her because in that time I have handled her more than any other bird before and cared for her so closely. Oddly enough this has hit me more than any of the girls I have lost. She really got into my heart and I feel so upset at losing her and at Pebbles being left without her too.
I want to end with a tribute to a little girl that stayed with us for the shortest time but that got herself firmly wrapped around my heart.
Caramel, such a beautiful girl
Caramel and Pebbles
Pebbles and Caramel
Caramel and Pebbles share some yogurt
She was such a big character for such a little girl and although not with us long she was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Oh Carol this is so, so sad. I’m not really an emotional person but my eyes are full of tears for you, Caramel and Pebbles.
I think you would have seen symptoms in the others by now if they were going to succumb so hopefully they’ll all be OK, and even though Pebbles may be a little lost without her friend, she must have been spending a little time without her in the last few days so should quickly settle in with the others.
I know it’s probably not top of your list right now, but it might be a good idea to let the breeder know.
Best wishes x
I know that I am an emotional person at the best of times but even so this has really knocked me. I keep weeping this evening and feel stupid but this has really effected me.
I think that you are right though about the rest of the flock. I have felt alarmed but as you say, the fact that there are no symptoms is really good.
You are also right that Pebbles has got used to being without Caramel for chunks of the day so she will adapt.
Mt mum asked if I would let Kirsten know and I said that I thought not as there would be no point but now reading your comment I am thinking again and think perhaps you are right and I should let her know.
Thank you for your support and for making me think again.
Dear Carol,
So So Sorry…………………………………..
Thank you. It was so hard to write today but the support from the comments really helps me and makes the bog worthwhile.
Emotional times, I meant blog of course!
I am so very sorry, Carol; it will be so upsetting,but take some consolation that she could not have been better cared for anywhere. X
Thank you. I know that I did my very best for her.
Oh dear , not a lot I can say except no one could have tried any harder to save her.
I agree that you should let the breeder know.
I will ring you in the morning x
Thank you. I will let her know now that I have thought about it some more. It will be good to catch up. x
Oh, I’m soooooo sorry. Gosh, it’s so hard to lose these sweet little creatures that just work right into our hearts. And you worked so hard to save her.
My heart aches for you.
Thank you, I know that I did my very best for her and it was so hard to let her go but I know that I did the right thing.
Oh, I’m so sorry. Sending big hugs. She was so lucky to have you.
Thank you.
Even though you phoned me to tell meof the sad news, your blog was so hard to read. You could not have cared for her more, or gave her more love, all animals know when they are loved, I watch enough animal programs to know this. And from my own pets. so at least she died with love around her,That might not have been the case if you had not have had her.We are so sorry, and thinking of you, people who say they are only a chickem or dog ect,can not feel love,like many other people do.
I did love her so much and I think she knew that I was trying to help her. I am still feeling very raw about it all at the moment. I know that you know how I feel and although I am in tears again now it is comforting to have so much support from the comments.
Sorry to read about this. Such a shame. Not many people could have done a better job to take care of her. Sometimes it just isn’t meant to be. Pebbles is in good hands though. How is she interacting with the rest of the flock during the day?
Pebbles is holding her own with the other girls. She did used to run straight to Caramel and sit with her when I would return her to the run. She is sitting in various spots in the run, mostly on her own, but I hope she will gradually interact with them a bit more. She runs for the treats along with them but I must admit I try to slip her a few seeds or corn on the patio so that she can have them in peace until another girl notices. Pebbles has cottoned on to this and comes to my feet waiting for me to give her some treats.