I've two 'Laydees' in the infirmary :(

Scruffy has been under the weather on and off for at least the last couple of months. She never moulted like the others when I got them at the beginning of November, and has often kept herself away from the rest of the flock. I've always expected that she would be the first to go, and accepted that out of sixteen rescues, I'm going to lose at least one, but so far I've managed to keep all sixteen.

For the last two weeks or so, she has sat hunched-up and sad-looking, but still eating and drinking well. On Thursday morning I noticed she was 'sniffly,' and when I went in to 'chat' with them yesterday afternoon, she sounded just awful; rattly and rasping, and she sneezed loudly. So DH and I discussed the 'Vet vs Culling' option and, although we can't really afford the Vet, he didn't want to do 'the deed' so we agreed to defer the decision. After all, if it was the Horse/Dog/Cat it would be the Vet, so why doesn't a Chicken deserve the same?!

Anyway (I'm rambling again!) this afternoon 'Nosey Rosie' (my favourite - I know you shouldn't have one, but she always was the boldest, and the first to come and fly/hop up onto my lap for a 'chat') comes up for her usual cuddle, and she's got one eye shut, a runny nose, and is sneezing hard

So, I put the original little coop back together (having previously dismantled it to weather-proof it) and re-arranged the leccy fence so those two are isolated from the rest.

So, guess where I'm going to spend Monday morning ...?!