MetaChat - I have an almost-dead chicken. :(

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08 November 2008

I have an almost-dead chicken. :( →[More:]

I don't know what happened, but Porkchop is lying in the yard, head on the ground, near death. There have been raccoons around, but I've been locking the coop at night. Last night I forgot, but I didn't hear her scream, as she always does when raccoons get into the coop.

I also don't know -- and this is the part I feel terrible about -- how long she's been there. I've been getting home after dark, so it's possible that she's been right there for a couple days and I didn't even know it.

It's clear that she won't survive. She's still breathing, but there's no life in her. Since it's a weekend, the vet hospital wants to charge me $200 just to walk in the door, on top of the euthanasia fee, and they won't bill me. I can't pay that much.

They just gave me another list of numbers to call.

I feel horrible. There's nothing I can do for her. I don't want to move her, because she looks like she's as comfortable as she can be. I wish she'd slip away quickly so I could bury her, but I'm afraid it's going to be a long day.

I don't know what to do.

post by: mudpuppie at: 13:12 | 31 comments

Wow. She died while I was typing that.

Thank god for small favors, I guess.

posted by mudpuppie 08 November | 13:14

I'm sorry.

.

posted by essexjan 08 November | 13:18

Oh, man! I'm so sorry, pupps.

posted by taz 08 November | 13:19

*hugs*

I'm so sorry.

I just read this relevant story about a crow; you might like it.

posted by occhiblu 08 November | 13:22

((((((pups))))))

posted by initapplette 08 November | 13:24

I'm so sorry, mudpuppie. Rest in peace, Porkchop. Be cozy in the big henhouse in the sky.

posted by halonine 08 November | 13:33

Digging a hole in the garden. It's fenced off from the rest of the yard, but Porkchop managed to get in there last weekend. I have no idea how, but my god, she was so pleased with herself. She found lots of good stuff to eat in there. Seems like a place she'd be happy, so that's where I'm putting her.

She looks much more peaceful now than she did this morning, so there's that.

This is the first pet I've ever had to bury. The girlfriend's been gone all week and won't be back until tomorrow. I need a hug.

posted by mudpuppie 08 November | 14:00

*hugs*

*more hugs*

I'm so sorry. It sounds like a good place for Porkchop, and I suspect that she had a long and happy life under your care and died merely of old age, and that she was not suffering too long, and that she was mostly just giving you a chance to say good-bye.

And hugs and condolences to Chickpea, too.

posted by occhiblu 08 November | 14:04

I just let a cat go, under similar circumstances.

I am sorry for your loss. . .

*hug*

posted by danf 08 November | 14:12

*hugs*

I'm so sorry, pups.

posted by gaspode 08 November | 14:13

Hugs to you! Hugs!

posted by Stewriffic 08 November | 14:19

(((mudpuppie)))

posted by MonkeyButter 08 November | 14:21

*hugs*

posted by By the Grace of God 08 November | 14:32

Oh, man. Chickens are tough and fragile at the same time, aren't they?

((mudpuppie))

posted by lysdexic 08 November | 14:35

*hugs*

posted by Twiggy 08 November | 14:42

(((pups)))

posted by rhapsodie 08 November | 15:09

*hugs mudpuppie hard*

I'm so sorry. Wish I could be there for rl hugs.

posted by elizard 08 November | 15:28

My sympathies, mudpuppie.

posted by me3dia 08 November | 15:34

Thanks y'all.

Chickpea is wandering in circles around the yard. I'm not sure if she's looking for her friend, or if she's just completely overwhelmed at all the new options. She doesn't have to compete for food anymore.

I hope it's not too hard on her tonight, sleeping alone in there. I got these two when they were a couple days old. They grew up together, all day, every day. I'm not sure how chickens handle loss. I kind of hope they're idiots about it.

And now, here's a completely disgusting fact of life that I learned today, which you might rather not know. I will make it very, very small.

It only takes 60-90 minutes for rigor mortis to set in on a chicken. I was shocked.

posted by mudpuppie 08 November | 16:07

Oh, big hug. I'm so, so sorry. Sad to be alone and have to say goodbye. The garden is a perfect resting place for a chicken who had memories of a happy hullaballoo there.

(((mudpuppie)))

posted by Miko 08 November | 16:18

Puppanoodles! meep.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 08 November | 16:25

:((( (((pupp)))

posted by chewatadistance 08 November | 16:38

Aw, so sorry about this, pupps.

*hug*

posted by BoringPostcards 08 November | 16:58

::hugs::

posted by casarkos 08 November | 17:04

Sorry dear :-(

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 08 November | 18:18

Oh mudpuppie, I am sorry. Hugs for you and Chickpea.

posted by wimpdork 08 November | 19:30

Hugs, hon. Much love.

posted by mygothlaundry 08 November | 21:39

posted by rainbaby 08 November | 23:08

(((mudpuppie)))

Can you plant anything in the area in which she's going to be buried? A commemorative chilli bush or something would be nice, and would probably do very well planted on top of her. She'll make great fertiliser - circle of life and etc.

posted by goo 08 November | 23:46

I am sorry I am just reading about this. The garden sounds like the perfect place. I am sorry for your loss, and I'm sending you a late but well-meaning hug. ((((((((mudpuppie)))))))

posted by redvixen 09 November | 17:41

So, so very sorry. It's so hard to be alone when something like this happens. Oh, my heart goes out to you.

Biggest, tightest hugs available.

posted by mightshould 10 November | 08:12

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