When I opened the bedroom curtains this morning this was what greeted me.
The scene from our bedroom window this morning
I opened the sitting room curtains to this
The back garden at eight o’clock this morning
The same scene a few hours later
I have been opening the chicken shed door at around eight o’clock with the automatic door opening about fifteen minutes later. This morning however at eight o’clock the chicken run and patio were in complete darkness due to the snow on the roof.
I decided there was no point letting the girls out into the dark and they would be better staying in the shed for a bit longer. I left them their new daily mix of tylan water and big dish of mash made with tylan water and decided to return later.
At nine o’clock I returned and the automatic door still hadn’t opened. I decided it was light enough to let the girls out of the main door. They looked a little surprised by how dim it was.
I checked Freckles and Dandelion’s eyes and they were clear which is good.
Emerald, Freckles and Cinnamon had a drink of the tylan water
Dandelion has a drink of water
After we had breakfast we tried to clear as much snow from the chicken’s patio roof as possible to let more light in. The automatic door was now open. The snow looks amazing but to be honest we could really do without this right now.
It is forecast to snow even more tomorrow. With the whole of the chicken run roofed, that is a lot of snow blocking out the light. It isn’t quite so cold though.
After talking to the vet yesterday I feel that I must just keep up what I am doing for the girls. I was afraid that she might say bubbly eyes was the point of no return but she didn’t. She said it was good that they were able to blink them clear and I haven’t seen bubbles this morning.
I have read that rattly breathing is the point of no return as you can’t them back from that point. I know that I have to steel myself towards the possibility of making a decision if this worsens to a point where I know they won’t get better. I am aware that there may be a possibility of having to have Freckles and Dandelion put to sleep to possibly save Apricot and Cinnamon rather than risk losing all four.
This a horrible thing to have to think about but I know I have to be prepared. However, all is not lost yet. They are no worse and in fact I think perhaps they are a little brighter today. There is still time for improvement so I must stay positive and carry on doing what I am doing and watching them very closely.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
I do hope it will not come to this.
I do hope so too. It’s just that I know that the longer this goes on the less likely it is that there will be a good outcome. They seem brighter in the first half of the day and seem to go down towards the end of the day. They ended up in the big shelter and Freckles and Dandelion had a few bubbles in their eyes again but were able to blink them away. They eat and drink so much less this time of year that I worry that are not getting as much of the tylan as I would like. I have to just plod on and hope.
Hi, Carol
No internet access when we were away, so have read your posts in order, and it’s a bit like a roller-coaster of emotions. I’m pleased you got a new supply of tylan and that, although sometimes they look poorly, at others they seem not too bad. I have everything crossed for you and your girls, but I know that you don’t shirk the hardest decisions, if they have to be made.
There are a number of sanitising powder treatments on the market, for use in runs – I note that Sophie has recommended one. Durham Hens’ website has a section, under the online shop, on hen health, which might be worth a browse at some point.
We were fortunate to get back from Berlin this afternoon, with so many flights in the midlands, west and south cancelled; we were coming down to Maidenhead on Tuesday, to visit my relaties, but my uncle is worrying about the weather, so we’ll reserve judgement until tomorrow.
Take care.
It has been a roller coaster. I aborted cleaning out the chicken shed today because we had snow all day long and I like to give it a thorough hoover but it’s not practical in such wet conditions. I kind of figure that they have all been sneezing over each for three weeks now so another day won’t make that much difference.
I am glad you managed to get back okay. The snow has caused chaos as usual. We are due to have more until tomorrow afternoon. I will be trying to clear it from the chicken’s patio roof again tomorrow. It makes it so dark. The days are so short and they eat and drink so little at the moment which isn’t helping them to get a good amount of tylan.
I am bouncing up and down but just have to plod on at the moment and keep hoping.
P.S. If you do come to Maidenhead and you want to call in and see us you would be most welcome. I have a later than usual, posh lunch, to deliver at 1.00 pm so will be back from 1.30 pm.
Thanks, Carol – I would love to come and see you, but it’s looking like we’ll have to leave it till the turn of the year.
That’s a shame but it would be great if we could meet up some time. It is something I will look forward too.