We have lost another one of our favorite hens Silver.  She seemed to die of old age / sleeping sickness.  She just couldn't move more than a few minutes without tiring and laying down, then finally just sleeping all day and one day not waking at all.

If she had no pain, I guess it would be the preferred way to go.  She was five or six.  I am not sure if that is old in chicken years.

Now my big RIR rooster Charlie  is down and I don't know if he will make it.  He can't put weight on one of his feet.  We thought he had an infected foot as he seemed to have lost a toenail and his toe was swollen and his foot really hot.  He wouldn't allow drenching but I have been soaking his foot which he tolerated perfectly.   He ate really well yesterday compared to the 2-3 days before.  He also is older than Silver was by a year or so.  He also has no energy and is not wanting to move much, very lethargic.  Neither of his feet look perfect rather I wonder if his bad diet (mostly grain) some of the time hasn't finally come to show. I can't free range him like I do many of the other chickens though I do throw extra stuff in with him and his few hens.   Charlie is an icon on our little backyard farm.  I hate the thought of losing him, though there have been times I wondered what to do with him.  He has always been a beautiful and perfect specimen of a rooster bent to protect his flock and rule the roost.  Now he has no spunk at all and I am thankful if he manages a crow or two when I stand him up.

I haven't heard him crow this morning.  It is way past time to get to work.

Take care,
Michele