Meet Friendly Claudette,
On the day before Claudette left this world, I sat in a chair holding and comforting her. Annona jumped up in the chair with us, snuggling and soothing Claudette with her larger feathery body. A Silver Grey Dorking pullet, Annona was rapidly growing into an seven pound hen. Clearly a "Mutt and Jeff" friendship in which size was never important. May we each be blessed with a friendship like Annona and Claudette's. (x)(x)(x)
Claudette had an irrepressible spirit! During her short five months, she survived a scalping, above, on the first day back in the chicken yard after recovering from a respiratory infection. When initial stage of gangrene set in, she beat it, too. Then on a day outside with Annona, something happened and she couldn't stand up or hold up her head. Eventually she overcame that only to be attacked by Tempest, a very domineering Silver-Laced Wyandotte hen. It left her seriously injured. About a month later, her cervical spine started to twist and slowly continued twisting until it was like a corkscrew. She could no longer walk forward and barely hold up her head. Whether is was the result of injuries or something she was born with, we'll never know. As if matters weren't bad enough, my attempts to gently and humanely relieve her of her progressively declining body and increasingly limited life, (i.e. my attempts at euthanasia) also failed. Not once, but twice! She was quite clearly the Ever-Ready Bunny of Spirited Little Chicks. Lastly, unable to bear is any more and seeing no compassion in this quality of life, I asked our gentle and compassionate Veterinarian, Dr. Leonarduzzi, to do what I had failed at, to help her spirit fly freely again. May you flit and fly happy again. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* |
Just out completing a quick chore, From the very first sight, Golden yellow with that occasional speckle of brunette, Despite your chumpy cheeks and funny feathered feet, Barely more than a pound, Sunny days you'd playfully spend. You looked at me with a soulful smile in your piercing eye, I healed and huggled you, Not illness nor injury could weaken your tenacity, Through thick and through then, As I soothed you one last time in the office of the Vet, For all the ups and downs and special care, I have not one regret. xo . If you enjoyed this story, we invite you to sit back and enjoy Chicken Diaries blog hosted by the Houston Chronicle In our periodic blog entries, we feature new photos, Chickadoo Suz stories, great links to chicken information and more. It's a good way to stay in touch with what's happening here on the farm, gather new tips, share insights, etc. And, when you visit be sure to add your feedback, comments and questions, we'd love hearing from you. May your nest be abundantly feathered and all your nest eggs hatch beyond your wildest dreams. Chickadoo | ||||||
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