“Baby” Grace is sadly on her way out. When I started keeping chickens 5 years ago, I made a policy of not eating anything I name. But that also means watching my ladies age and pass away. Many homesteaders cull their laying hens after the first few productive egg-laying years, but I know that not everyone has the heart to end the life of their pet chickens prematurely. So how do you let your dying chicken pass away naturally? It depends on your hens and flock pecking order, but read on to see how we have made two of our girls comfortable in their final days.
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How do you know it’s old age and not disease?
True, a lethargic chicken is a sign of many ailments, but when your chicken is 5 years or older, they are elderly ladies. How do you rule out disease? When you’ve done everything right. Fed your flock nutritious food, ensured there was fresh water, cleaned the coop regularly. The rest of the flock is healthy, the younger hens are all still laying, no visible signs of disease, and have treated everyone for worms already. In the absence of a local poultry vet or unable to afford such care, you may never know the exact precise cause. But don’t beat yourself up when you notice the first stages of decline, you’ve given your hen a great life. It’s time to start hospice care and ease her passing.
What are the signs?
A dying chicken will hide their weakness as long as possible. So the first sign we typically notice is withdrawal from the flock and napping more than usual. During this time she will taper off eating. If you feel their body under their feathers, you’ll notice lost weight. This is their body’s natural approach to death. They will sometimes still eat their favorite treats for a while, but eventually will stop eating entirely. In the last weeks, you’ll find them falling asleep on their feet and easy to catch as they no longer have the energy to run away. They will gradually fall asleep for longer and longer periods of time until they fall asleep for good. It’s a peaceful way to go. After her death, it is common for random muscle contractions that can look like a seizure. Don’t worry, your lady is not suffering. She’s passed on and in no pain.
Option One: In-Coop Care
Lucy lived with her flock until passing in her sleep. She was their guardian who made sure everyone made it in the coop each night and would stand watch at the door until we closed it up at dusk. Her sisters kept her company as she napped more frequently her last month. When she was still eating, we took out her favorite treat–yogurt–a few times. She passed away peacefully in her sleep one night surrounded by her feathered family.
Option Two: Chicken Hospice
Grace had a more antagonistic relationship with some members of the flock. A history of pecking order squabbles, if you will. In her case, we decided to remove her to prevent the other ladies from picking on her in retaliation. We have a mini-coop for broody mamas, baby chicks, convalescing hens, and a sheltered place for a dying chicken. It is close to the house for us to keep an eye on her and allowed her to nap peacefully. When she stopped eating regular feed, we brought her treats of blueberries and cucumbers that she nibbled on occasionally. Fresh water and clean bedding round out the hospice coop.
While it’s never easy to lose a pet, it is comforting to know you provided your hen the best life she could have had. Having a chicken die of old age is a sign of your good care. We hope this post will help you tend to your beloved feathered friend until the very end.
