Oooh. Dearest Lucy........so very sorry for loosing one of the babies.......I felt that you went above and beyond and gave them the best start in life possible.
The things in nature that happen to these little creatures is so hard to understand, and so hard to hack......mainly because we personalize and compartmentalize our response.
We tender hearts have a hard time with nature. I always wanted to save the baby bird that fell from the nest, even though my mom and dad would yell at me to put it down, it carries diseases.
I cared for a baby bird once and when it grew up, I let it fly out the window thinking it would come back to me, but that was the last time I saw it. My mom tried to make me understand that it was meant to be free and fly wherever it wants, that it was God's plan for birds to be free.
All I could think of was "That dirty bird.......That dag gum dirty little bird....after all I did to make him well and taught him to fly....dug up worms and bugs to feed him....cleaned up his poop and......watered him every day, put fresh bedding in his cage.....and this is the thanks I get:???""
Then as I got older I thought maybe a cat ate him, or a bird of prey, and guilty feelings hit me really hard.
However....now that I am older and understand the harsh reality of nature.......I agree with the others in that you gave him what he wanted most and that was his freedom. The circle of life doesn't seem to care whether or not that it claims our little loved ones that we helped or brought in to this world.
So sorry Lucy, it is a bummer.
However....you did an awesome job giving him life.............and after all, .that's really about all you can do, if they want to be free........ set them free to live their lives.......no matter how long or short. You did your job.......you gave them life. From what I've been reading here on the BYC, you're success rate is really good compared to others doing the same thing.
I hope I can do as well when I hatch my eggs. Eeeeeek!! I am almost scared to try it, knowing I will react the same way to loosing some, but I believe that the reward will far outweigh the risk, and whatever I end up with will be the ones that are meant to be.:/
So sorry, but don't feel bad.........it's ok.
Get well........concentrate on the happy Lucy 5!!
Kat:yiipchick
