It is with a heavy heart that we say good-bye to Fat, aka: Phat. She was a good mother (if briefly) to two little chicks (who survived a week before being filched by a neighborhood cat).
We're not sure what happened to her. Yesterday Michael was outside working on the coop. We both said good night to all the chickens as they scratched around for snacks and hopped into their coop. This morning Michael could see her standing in the corner of the orchard standing quite still with her tail down. Mr. Johnson was all upset about something. Michael went out to take a look and came back shaking his head. Soon she lay down in the sunshine with labored breathing, had a few convulsions and passed.
So, there were no signs that she was getting ready to depart. I wonder if perhaps she had a parasite or came down with a virus or bacterial infection? I'm kind of nervous to see what condition her friends will be in the morning. Whatever it was seems fast acting.
We're sending her remains off to UC Davis to have them analyzed for answers.
In the mean time we did a major clean up of the area and rinsed the water bucks with bleach and gave them a good scrubbing. I've heard that adding food grade diotomaceous earth to the food can be a combatant against parasites. According to some of my sleuthing, about 80% of pastured flocks are susceptible to parasites.
And in other news, poor Mr. Whiskers has had another burst abscess. Poor guy. He is getting too expensive to let outdoors. He came home with a bunch of stitches and the cone of shame the other day. The cone would not allow him to eat and drink ... or have peripheral vision. So, we thought he'd be more comfortable if we made a shirt for him to cover his stitches and drain. Well, of course he is a cat. So he says he is really not comfortable with the stitches, the drain, the cone, the shirt or being cooped up inside. I tell you, there is no pleasing some pets.
Okay, let's hold together some good health for the family and all the critters! Send healthy thoughts this way.
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