Flame has gone

I can’t believe that in the comments of my last post I had just said that Flame was brighter. I think it was her last hurrah! This often seems to happen with chickens. They seem to have a last day or so where they perk up before the final decline.

At the weekend I felt that Flame was ready to go to the vets and then on Monday she seemed much brighter. By Tuesday she was back to standing with her eyes closed or her head under her wing. By the afternoon she went and perched in the chicken shed and didn’t come out again. I knew this was a sign that she was ready to go.

Flame in the chicken shed in the afternoon

We had only just been talking about when Toffee was ready to go and that she went and perched in the chicken shed. They only perch in the chicken shed during the day when they are their end. I knew it was Flame’s time.

I rang the vet and they had no appointments last night but could see her at half past eight this morning. At bedtime I rattled the sunflower hearts but Flame didn’t move. I held the container in front of Flame’s beak and she had a few sunflower hearts.

The vet said that she had never seen a chicken as old as Flame. She said that I had given her good life and this was the last kind thing I could do for her. The vet took Flame out of the room to give her some gas and then put her in my lap so that I could hold her and talk to her. She gave her the anesthetic while I held her and Flame gently went to sleep while the tears streamed down my face.

Flame was such a lovely girl and it so sad to see the run without her in it. The only consolation is that she did live to a good age.

I will do a tribute to her soon. I have many years of photo of her to look through. Goodbye Flame. You will be very much missed.

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8 Responses to Flame has gone

  1. marion.pharo says:

    So sad, Like the vet said you gave her a wonderful life. I know that don’t stop the hurt. I am thinking of you.xx

  2. Sophie says:

    Oh, I am so so sorry Carol. Flame was a beautiful girl and had a lovely temperament too. As said though, you have done the absolute best you could for her and she has had a lovely life with you. Also thinking of you xx

  3. DAVID says:

    Sorry to hear but, as always, you must take credit for caring so well for Flame, as for all of your girls. It is the cycle of life, but that doesn’t make it any easier. XX

  4. Jenny says:

    What a kind end she had. It is SO rare for any being to go like this. Even so, I’m sad for you that she’s gone. Beautiful Flame 🔥

    • Carol says:

      Thank you. She was beautiful. I have been going through my photos and remembering what a lovely nature she had. I will be putting out a tribute for her very soon.

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