[plumseverywhere]

Our gorgeous cockerel went downhill quite dramatically this morning. Up till then he'd been eating and drinking and still strutting his stuff.
Went for my birthday lunch and decided it was the kindest thing to put him out of his misery upon our return. Absolutely gutted to find he had some flystrike under his tail feathers, so angry at my self for not looking for it     Going to go without a cockerel, see how the hens get on for a bit. Upset for Eloise, he was her pet and he was a big cuddly soppy boy, a real gem.

[Bionic]

Oh, how horrible and on your birthday too. I am very surprised to hear he had flystrike in this weather but then perhaps I am very knowledgeable on the subject.
I hope Eloise understands that it was for the best. Sending her a   
Sally

[Rosemary]

Poor boy  - hope the rest of your birthday is better

[HappyHippy]

Oh no 
Sending  to you all 

[jaykay]

Oh no!
Sending hugs for you and for Eloise 

[luckylady]

Oh dear, how upsetting for you all, especially on your birthday.  Hug for Eloise  .

[colliewoman]

Oh no
If you change you mind I have a sweet enormous buff orpington cockerel here that is spare. Big Lad has only not been et cos he's so lovely and even gets on with the other cockerel.
Just say the word and he's yours  


Ps




HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

[sabrina]

How sad 

[Mammyshaz]

  so sad, sending bit hugs to you all.

[MAK]

Sorry to hear that - the coq alwas seem to have more character - maybe becuase we study them more as they are so splendid. I do hope that the upset passes soon.

We lost our Napoleon 2 weeks ago after he had lost his voice. Sad but I must be getting at least 2 hours more sleep each night - 14 hours a week and 56 hours a month - another weeks sleep each month or 3 months a year - WOW.
All together now " Always look on the bright side of life,,,"

[plumseverywhere]

Definitely more character Mak you are right - we probably did watch 'cuckoo' more because he was so huge and clown like with his feathered feet, but such a gent with the hens - breaking their food up for them, calling them when he found some worms, putting them to bed at night, warning them when gliders went over head.
I feel awful that I didn't spot the flystrike, I never dreamt that in November it could be there? the larger maggots (sorry for tmi!) had probably been hatched a couple of days? If nothing else, I hope that from our mistakes others spot it in their chickens if they go downhill (even in cold weather!)

Eloise took it well - we'd warned her that large cockerels don't always live that long. We told her that he looked off colour. She now wants a blinking gecko?!

Thank you for the offer of your buff orpington CW - I have to admit to being tempted! For now we'll stick with hens and see how they go without a man in their life xx

[colliewoman]

No problems my love, he can stop here with us, but the offer is there as long as he is

[plumseverywhere]

Aw colliewoman, that is so kind! thank you. I will talk to Eloise about it later. I think, having had 2 cockerels die in 8 months she's just too worried about being upset again. She had to have a day off school when the first one died (on the job) she was distraught. She's a softie, like her mum!

[bloomer]

if your going to go


on the k
job has to be high on the list of good ways to do it!!!




 

[plumseverywhere]

   absolutely!! he had 12 ladies flirting with him, I think Cuckoo and his predecessor, Coco, both died happy boys!