As I wrote yesterday, the White Hen showed up after days of absence. We thought she must be dead, but she is 11 years old, which is pretty good for a chicken.
The other hens attacked her and tried to drive her out of the roost, as chickens do when other chickens are dying —this is to keep predators away. Maria and I decided to get her out of there and make her safe and comfortable (you don’t need to pressure Maria to do that), so we set up a chicken hospice in the barn.
As the photograph shows, she is dying. The original Imperious Hen seems much relieved. She has found a porch to sit on and is supplied with water, food, dry worms, grain, hay, and straw. She might last a while there but may also die at any moment.
We don’t call a vet for this or give her any medicines as long as she seems comfortabe, as she does now.
It feels good to see her die in peace and comfort. We see ourselves as stewards of our animals. Our job is to make them comfortable, treat them well, and help them die comfortably. We won’t prolong her life, but she is entitled to dying with comfort and dignity. It won’t be long, but she will be comfortable.
Thank you for your empathy and care. Our winged brothers and sisters deserve it.
Jon, I raised and cared for chickens for fourteen years when I first moved to the country. I learned that a sick chicken in the morning is a dead chicken by nighfall…the other chickens take care of a chicken who appears to be failing. But I had t he opporunity opnce to do as you are doing, I was able to separate a rooster, into his own separate space and nursed him through to the end. He even had the occasional tot of brandy to help him on his way. You are doing the best thing for your 11 year old hen, eleven years is quite an age for a chicken. Bless you both for giving this hean a beautiful ending to her life.
Sandy Small Proudfoot,
Ont. Canada
Bless you both for your compassionate end-of-life care for this precious hen. She deserves it. May she rest in peace. What a beautiful ending to a long healthy life with you.
A chicken hospice! I love that idea.
She looks very comfortable! I’m had to provide hospice care in my bathroom for a chicken before as I don’t have a barn and had to keep her away from the healthy flock. Yours look much more at ease in a barn! Hopefully we will all be as lucky as your animals with getting loving care in a familiar setting when it is our time to die.
I’ve done this many times. They deserve our care to the last minute. Thank-you
I, too, love the term chicken hospice. Thank you for giving her one.
I was thinking about the 11 years White Hen has lived and wondering how many eggs she dropped during that time.
Go in peace, dear one.