So long Terri, at least you had a good life in retirement

Sad news today as chicken Terri had to be put down. We’ve had her six months after her rescue from being a battery hen. In that time she has been spoilt rotten and with her three sisters become a loved family pet.

A happy Terri a few weeks ago

 

This morning she was gurgling – a sign of sour crop. It all happened very quickly – she had shown no signs until this morning. Christine administered first aid  to alleviate the problem enough to get Terri to the vets. She was quite far gone and had actually inhaled feed into her lungs, so the only thing for her was to be put to sleep.

Alex asked how Terri was, to which I replied she had gone to sleep because she wasn’t very well. Alex replied that she should sleep in his room if she wasn’t well. He was remembering when she had had bumble foot and lived in the house for a week, sleeping in Alex’s room and watching TV during the day with Alex whilst generally being spoilt as her foot got better. He seems okay at the moment, although he’s not really realised that she has gone now.

She is now buried under the bird feeder in the back garden – her favourite place for dozing and nicking food.

Looking back, she has come along so well from the scrawny oven ready bird we rescued. She’s had a good retirement, but it’s a sad loss of such a friendly bird.

Her first free days

Meeting the cats - She wasn't bothered at all

Gradually filling out and right at home

Fully feathered after her moult

A few weeks ago in the snow. One fat happy hen