Thank you Cyn, Carrie, Denise, chickenzoo.
I knew folks here would understand - I am grateful.
My heart breaks for Annie - way too short, her life. She had become so happy in the year I was graced with her presence and I grew to love her so. She began as a hen afraid to be touched because she hadn't been touched much at her previous home (they had lots of chickens) but in time and with lots of love, she relished being held and gently stroked.
She loved to sit in a chair on the deck whenever I or anyone else was there. She just wanted to be with you. She had taken to preening me lately - in a loving gentle way. She even began to sit in my lap, content and feeling at peace. BJ took such beautiful care of her. He built her nests, sat in them for her and then would get up and she would then lay there while he guarded her. He found and fed her wonderful yummies - she wouldn't lay an egg without him by her side, and he never failed her. She was joyful about everything and oh how she loved discovering this or that while digging.
When I left for work this morning she was on a little bench in their run looking at me, hoping I would let them out. I couldn't wait to get home, to do just just that. They did get to explore for several hours yesterday - there was quite a storm that came out of nowhere and they stayed under an overhang during it and I kept talking to them during it so they wouldn't stress, and put treats near them and she eagerly devoured them so I don't think she was very stressed. They didn;t want to go back to the coop to wait the rain out. She seemed fine when the rain stopped. I was surprised there was no egg this morning, because she laid every other day and this was the day. But I didn't get overly concerned because all her eggs had been perfect and she always seemed a-okay after laying.
When I heard the godawful sounds tonight and ran outside BJ was desperately trying to help her, but she was already gone. Then he wailed, a heartwrenching sound. He was still picking up food and calling for Annie but with anxiety and sadness.
Because I know BJ would go downhill fast without somebody to care for - he has has far too many sad losses and I've watched what happens to him- and his comb was even turning purple after he watched his Annie die just ~2 hours ago, I called the person I had gotten Annie from one year ago. BJ had spent some time with her flock after his Betty died in November 2006 (long story) and there were no disease issues in either direction (nobody got sick). This would be the quickest way to get him a companion. Thankfully she did agree to help, said there have been no changes in her flock, I drove right there and now I find myself with a hen in a cage. Poor stressed hen. Poor stressed BJ. I put Rescue Remedy in both their waters.
It's dark out now - pray they can both get some sleep. When BJ wakes - if he sleeps at all - and Annie is not by his side in the morning, it's going to be so awful. How much loss can one sensitive being take? And now of course we're going into another heat wave.
I can't believe this happened.
JJ
So sorry this is so long.
Edited to add: Cyn, today was fairly comfortable - 89 but not humid, much better than many other days we've had. And they have 4 fans going that they can opt to be near, as well as plenty of water and when I'm home, cold fruits.. I fear it may have been an extra large egg (hers have always been "normal" sized with perfect shells), or somehow she didn't have the muscle strength to push enough. She always had layer food available and oyster shell and enjoyed a wide variety of bug and plant goodies that she found out in nature. Sunflower seeds.... Avia Charge 2000 in the water. I had been so happy that she didn't seem to have Betty's internal laying problem...little did I know she'd have this problem instead.
When I saw her under the rhododendron she seemed to be pushing - her back end was kind of pulsing - a few minutes before that she had been walking around with BJ, exploring - so I figured I'd see how she was in a few minutes but a few minutes later she was gone.....
