Aging/ailing hen

[CathyA]

10 and 1/2 years ago I started out with 17 hens. I'm down to 4 now. Weenie is a black australorp. She's such a sweetheart. She has had intermittent problems for a couple years, but nothing some antibiotics couldn't seem to fix. But now, I think she has ovarian cancer. Her lower abdomen is rock hard. I'm just trying to make life as easy and nice for her as possible.

Boy.....when you feel like your chickens are pets..........losing so many of them over the years can wear you down. I'm really dreading the day when the last one dies. And what do I do if there's only 1 left for awhile? How lonely that would be. I might have to put a diaper on her and bring her in the house. haha
I can't imagine not having chickens, but they are (in my case) a fair amount of work and responsibility. We'll see. But I've sure loved having them. They've enriched my life. In the afterlife.....if there is one, I'm hoping they all come up to me and say "Hey.........I'm Weenie (or Brownie or Sky or Lady Marmalade, or Periwinkle or Rose or Squeaky......) remember me?" And I'll give them a big hug and say "I sure do!!)

[Float On]

Wow. That's some old girls. Not sure I've ever personally heard of a hen lasting 10 1/2 years. Sorry Weenie isn't doing well. Does she seem to be in pain?
Probably when there is just 1 left, she may not last long since they are a very social animal. She may be anxious to join the others.

[CathyA]

Hi Float On.

I'm almost hoping the last 2 go together, peacefully! But life usually isn't that simple.
No, she doesn't seem to be in pain. But she does walk like a little kid with a full diaper!
The thing with chickens (and most animals, I think), is that they don't tend to show their illness, because they know others might attack them if they appear weak.
Usually, if one of my chickens was sick, it would stand off by itself, or be in the coop when the others are in the run. By the time its really obvious that they're ill, its almost too late to help them.

[The Storyteller]

I can't imagine being down to just two chickens. I was down to 5 and like to went batty, so I ordered 50 more. :)

Why not get some younger ones to keep them company? Start over and get some eggs while you are at it?

You don't have to raise them. You can get young ready-to-lay pullets from Murray McMurray hatchery, raised on pasture, for decent prices.