Last chance chicken

The perky looking one at the front is Barbara. She came to us about a year ago and has been unwell all her life. Never really sick, but never really well either.

She had a happy time while she lived with our Buff Orpington rooster Oscar, but unfortunately a few months ago we had to sell Oscar. It was a sad decision but we just couldn't find him enough big girls and he started hurting the girls he had, with his clumsy mating practices. We found him a happy home full of big ladies, but which home would take his little lady friend? "Here, please take this pullet too, she doesn't lay and is sick all the time, but no, don't put her down, just invest time and money curing her when she needs it!"... Didn't sound right. Plus moving house may gave proven too much for Barbara.

So off went Oscar and Barbara had a turn downhill... Whoever said chickens are stupid should reconsider!

I am a big believer in animal euthanasia when they've had it, but Barbara never seemed quite sick enough for that. Until recently, when she deteriorated further.

I thought she was nearly ready to go but decided to give her one more chance. So in she came to live in our lounge room for several days for treats, high energy food and a course of antibiotics.

When she improved enough I put her back outside, but she still hang out on her own looking sad. Gradually though she gained some weight and made new friends and she has even started sleeping on a perch again, rather than on the bottom of the coop.

As you can see she seems much happier now and may have even laid her first egg a couple of days ago. Well done Barbara!!