I am still in shock that we lost Spot yesterday. It was so sudden. She had been dust bathing, running around, rushing to the treats and seemed her usual self.
I went up to the girls late afternoon and Spot was sitting with her eyes closing. I knew straight away something was wrong. I picked her up and inspected her. Everything felt normal. Her chest and crop felt normal and there was no sign of an egg problem which is the first thing I look for.
I set her back down in the run and she moved away. I checked back in ten minutes and was shocked to see her laying in the run. I thought she was gone already but she was still breathing. I picked her up and put her in a nest box so she would be somewhere more comfortable.
I kept checking on her and she hadn’t moved. I felt that she wasn’t suffering because she looked like she was asleep. I kept checking on her and she was gone a little later. I left her closed in the nest box overnight and we buried her in the chicken’s strip this morning.
We dug up a yellow poppy and buried her and then replanted the poppy over her and marked her spot with a wooden cross.
I believe that Spot had heart failure as I have seen this before with Sienna and then Jasmine who were siblings. I think that if she had a heart defect that would have caused her to be unable to lay eggs and then her heart just suddenly gave out.
For Spot it was a quick way to go and she has had eight happy months with us. For me it is heart breaking. I waited two summers to get Spot. She was a year old last month. In my heart I knew that because she had never laid there must be something adrift but she looked vibrant and beautiful.
She had grown in confidence since we had her and had a lovely nature. I just can’t believe she has gone so suddenly. I will do a tribute for her soon but at the moment I am still reeling from the shock. She was such a beautiful girl and I will miss her.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
I’m so so sorry Carol. It is so heartbreaking when they die and especially when its well before their time. The only comfort you can take is that you gave her a happy life. Hugs xx
Sometimes I feel so unlucky when I lose girls so young. A year old is no age at all. The fact that she never laid had worried me though. At least as you say she had a happy life with us. xx
Oh this is so horrid. I’m very sad for you.
I’ve had a couple who I’ve lost suddenly at a very young age, and although, as you say, it’s much better for them than a prolonged illness, it is difficult for us to take.
It seems so unfair when they are so young. I guess it happens to a proportion of chickens but when they are our beloved pets rather than commercial or farms we are so invested in them and it so hard for us. I so missed seeing her in the run today and felt so sad when I did the head count in the chicken shed tonight.
So very sorry, Carol – a beautiful bird and a great loss; as you rightly say, there was something adrift and at least she had a good life with you and her flock mates. I have lost a few at a young age over the years, but never one that had not laid. You have had some dire luck – the pendulum has to swing the other way and, at present, it seems to be in your most recent trio of girls. 🙂
She was so beautiful. I feel like my last comment to you about her was prophetic. I do feel that I have had some bad luck. All three “new girls” laid today. I am hoping that they are going to be lucky for me.
I am so sorry to hear this news, you have had a lot of heartbreak just lately. She was such a pretty girl, and so young.
Only a year old. Much too young. I really miss her.