Toffee has another day

This is going to go one day at a time now. This morning when I went out to the girls first thing I felt sure this was Toffee’s last day.

She hadn’t come out of the shed but came out when I gave the morning sunflower hearts. She looked at them but didn’t have any.

She sat on the patio between the little coop nest boxes and the store cabinet. I have never ever seen her sit on the patio before. I thought I would move her to the shed where she would be more comfortable as it was a cold morning.

Toffee sits on the patio

When I went to move her she made her own way to the shed. She wobbled as she went up the step to the pop hole. She looked at the perch as if she wanted to get up there but didn’t have the strength.

I move her into the chicken shed

Some of the girls keep her company

I expected to be taking her to the vets in the afternoon but when I checked back on her she was perched in the sun at the end of the run with her flock mates.

Toffee perches in the sun with her flock mates

I was amazed that she had managed to get to here. I felt that this meant she hadn’t given up yet. I couldn’t deprive her of some last moments in the sun with her flock.

At lunch time she was perched in the shed again but she had managed to get up to the perch. I gave the girls some ripe pear and Toffee came out and had a peck at the pear. She had a flick around in the pellets but I am not sure she actually ate any. She had a quick drink of water and then settled back on her usual spot on the perch in the corner of the shed.

She stayed there until the rest of the girls went in. I know she is near the end of her days now and I mustn’t leave her too long but I don’t want to rush into it if she still wants to sit with the flock.

I was so sure this morning that she was done but when I saw her perched with her flock I didn’t have the heart to end it yet. I will see what happens tomorrow and take this a day at a time. I feel that I just have to follow my instinct for when the time is right.