Trying to deal with the loss of my favorite hen.

sixbabychicks

In the Brooder
Feb 21, 2016
7
0
25
Alabama, USA
I know, I know. We shouldn't pick favorites, but one of my hens, Poachie was. She had the most gentle temperament of the flock, had a low cluck, got along with the others, and lastly, laid the biggest brown eggs.

On the weekends, my father comes to stay in my house while my mother goes to her parents' house. They are divorced and even though it's for the better, it's still really tough for me and my siblings.

On the superbowl weekend, I went to my school's Sadie Hawkins dance on Saturday. That night, my best friend spent the night and left early on Sunday to go to morning mass. Before she left, I took her outside to see my hens. I held them all and let her pet them until she had to go.

After a while, my dad left. I stayed inside for the rest of the day watching the TV when my phone died. I walked across the room to plug it in when I saw something outside. I thought it was a rabbit. When I looked closer, I saw a freaky-big bird over a brown lump (a hawk). I thought, "Please let all the hens be alive." So I went outside and saw it was her. Poachie. I ran towards her and the hawk flew on the fence and up somewhere in the trees. Her body was intact but the flesh around her neck had been eaten away. I ran to check if the other hens were safe, and they were in their coop, God bless. I ran to them and I picked them up and took them inside away from harm.

I ran inside and called my mom and told her what happened. I was hyperventilating on the phone and near the end of the call, I was wailing and screaming. I have never been this upset before about ANYTHING. I went back outside with a towel to cover Poachie up so the rest her body wouldn't be damaged. My mom and siblings came home (my siblings went to a birthday party on Saturday) and I told her all that happened.

I have discovered that behind my house and around the cul-de-sac there was a family of hawks. A few times they have been close to the hens. I was in my room and I heard one of them clucking in distress. I bolted out the room and there it was- another hawk. I ran towards the hens and it flew away, and I locked their coop but made sure they had plenty of room, food, and drink.

I am on a strict lookout for hawks, and I have many nightmares about my hens being eaten by hawks. I keep thinking about what I could have done.. The guilt is eating me alive. sad.png
 
Many of us have favorites and it is always painful to loose something you care about. Feeling guilty is natural; there's always thoughts of, "what if". But, short of locking pets in a cage or a coop with a run, there isn't much that will keep hawks at bay. I hope you find another special pet.
 
Many of us have favorites and it is always painful to loose something you care about. Feeling guilty is natural; there's always thoughts of, "what if".  But, short of locking pets in a cage or a coop with a run, there isn't much that will keep hawks at bay. I hope you find another special pet.

Thank you, that meant a lot to me and made my day better. :) @nchls school
 
Thank you, that meant a lot to me and made my day better.
smile.png
@nchls school

You are welcome.
 
I'm so sorry you lost your Poachie. It's hard to lose our pets, no matter how they leave us. I hope it will give you some comfort to know you did the best you could by giving her a loving home and that you were a great friend to her.
hugs.gif
 
I'm so sorry about the loss of your dear Poachie.
hugs.gif
We all know how much we love our girls. Its unfortunate that the hawks are there, especially so close and with a family. Let's hope and pray that they stay away. Maybe you could put them in a run or something that has a cover? Best of luck, and stay safe.
 
So sorry for your loss :hugs. It sounds like you are having an especially difficult time right now and we are all here for you. Please remember that time heals ALL wounds and there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Also wanted to take a moment to say Welcome to BYC! This community is just awesome and there are many friends to be made here. So make yourself at home, don't be afraid to ask questions and have fun! :) Wishing you all the best. God bless!
 

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