We have been aware that Shadow was on borrowed time until her next egg was ready. We have kept her for a further five weeks since she first looked unwell.
I have continued to pick her up every day and wipe her bottom as clean as I can with tissue. I have then been bringing her indoors every week to stand her in a bowl of warm water and clean her properly.
Shadow has spent a lot of time trying to preen her bottom feathers and I know it bothers her that she can’t keep clean. I feel that bringing her in and washing her must make her more comfortable for a short while.
Yesterday I bought Shadow indoors to wash her again. She is such a good girl and stands still in the water and lets me clean her.
Today I picked Shadow up to inspect and her bottom was mucky again. In fact she was more mucky than before I washed her yesterday.
The most worrying thing is that I can tell by her stance that things are not well. I think she has her next egg brewing.
We recognise this stance, with a hump back and tail down, having seen it many times before. We know that we must make a decision soon because we can’t let Shadow suffer.
At the moment Shadow is still eating and enjoying the treats. I know that if she stops eating it will be her time. I keep hoping that she will go overnight so that I don’t have to make the decision.
I know this is unlikely though. The girls that have gone overnight have been the ones that looked fine the day before. The girls that look unwell continue to look unwell until a decision has to be made.
I find this heartbreaking and dread having to take her to be put to sleep. I think that I will probably know in the next few days though. I keep hoping for a miracle but sadly that’s unlikely.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Such an awful decision to have to make Carol. Thinking of you xx
Thank you, It never gets any easier. xx
So sad, You will know when she has had enough. The very worst thing about having pets.
I am now thinking it’s not the next egg but is the pooping problem at the moment. This morning she isn’t sitting in that position and she is enthusiastic to the treats. I may wash her again. I know it’s only postponing the inevitable but while she is eating well I will carry on keeping her clean as best I can. When she stops eating I will know it’s her time.
I need to edit my last comment. I have just been out to check on her and she is back in the hump back, tail down position. Her face also looks paler. This morning’s enthusiasm may have been her last hurrah. I will be watching her closely today. So sad.