Farewell Sweet Amber

It has been a sad few days at Brookwood Shire.  On Sunday, when I went up to check on the girls, Amber was in the nesting box.  While Beatrix and Prudence are laying again, Amber has only laid one egg this Spring.  I thought perhaps she was starting up again, but when she saw me, she got down from the nesting box.  There was no egg and I noticed something red near her vent.  I brought her inside to check her and she had prolapsed again.  This happened once before but this was worse.  I gave her a bath but it didn’t help. Of course it was Sunday so there were no vet available.  She would have to spend the night inside.

  She was no better on Monday so I made an appointment with a local vet who sees chickens.

Amber did well and was very cooperative.  But the news wasn’t good.  The vet was able to fix the prolapse but Amber was pushing and it kept coming out again.  Why was she pushing?  X-Rays showed there was no egg in her….so what?  Possibly a growth.  Further investigation showed abnormal cells….probably a malignancy.   Amber has not really been herself for awhile…this would explain a lot of things.  But it was very bad news.  We discussed all possible interventions and there really  wasn’t anything that would help enough to be worth putting Amber through it.  This was only going to get worse.  So after a lot of discussion, we made the very hard decision to put her to sleep.  

She was able to have a final snack before we said good bye.  

It was a very gentle passing.   Amber is at peace now.  

Amber was my favorite from the beginning.  She was always the friendliest and the most talkative.  

Even as a baby check, still living in the bathroom, she was interested in everything and everybody.

She would jump/fly onto anyone who came in the room.  She just loved people!

As she got older, her world expanded.

But even in Cluckingham Palace, she was eager to meet new friends.

Everyone loved Amber.  Her sisters all loved being with her.  I never saw anyone ever peck her.  And I never saw her peck anyone else.  She was a happy girl who got along with everyone.

Though she did not like to share the nesting box.  There were a few arguments about the nesting box.  

She could be quite pushy when she wanted the nesting box. 

And she was very proud when she laid an egg.

She loved being out in the big run..

…with her friends…

..or helping with the compost in the Spring.

And she LOVED her dust baths!

Amber brought much  joy to Brookwood Shire…..and lots of laughter.  It will be an emptier place with out her.   

Farewell, sweet girl…we will miss you!