bye cocktail

Cocktail passed away sometime before morning. I have no idea why.
Now I'm stuck with Woody who is obviously lonely and 3 newborns....she definately is distressed because the chicks were not fed this morning and were peeping rather loudly. The youngest is tiny and the oldest, twice his size. So i did the unthinkable - hand fed them...i couldn't just let them die of hunger. Woody, just wouldn't go into the nest box - she lost her mate suddenly and somehow her maternal instincts as well.

My greatest fear is loosing the chicks - as a person who has done animal rescue, the thought is still terrifying because nursing kittens, or adult cats/dogs from their injuries is nothing compared to this - the tiny chicks are blind, cold and hungry - I have all the 'equipment' yet they are too young....

I'm very upset that cocktail decided to expire at a time like this - but as with all things, there is an end....bye cocktail....