Beautiful Annie just died, BJ devastated

[jjthink]

Thank you sammi/Sue, Kellim/Killi, Momo/Monica, seminolewind/Karen, go-veggie

I realize this morning how small this new hen is compared to Annie and I hope it will work out. I also worry about her with the hawks that have been lurking but not to date bothering somewhat sizable BJ and Annie(a family of SIX Cooper's hawks - geez louise) . BJ had Annie well trained to stay under shrubbery if there were anywhere about and I pretty much stood over them too, whenever they were free ranging. I could have probably urged for a barred rock like Annie (as I'd hoped for) but I wanted this person who gave me this hen last night to part with the one she felt most comfortable parting with. Now looking at this little lady, perhaps I should have lobbied just a bit. With Cooper's hawks about this little one is going to have to learn BJ's alarm calls and she is going to have to learn the yard etc. At first they will have to be confined so she learns what home is. Another wicked heat wave is coming imminently so it will be added stress for them. 92 today and it gets worse from there. Well into next week, according to the weather reports and it's only Tuesday today. We could have done without that.

I let new little black hen out of her cage this morning and she and BJ are together. BJ already spent months with her and a couple dozen others she lived with until last night - original flock still intact according to their human guardian, and no illnesses were transmitted from them to BJ or vice versa when they were together, or since. Hopefully that holds.

He was a zombie till he saw her and while she won't let me near her, she doesn't seem to mind him one bit. Already by his side and he is making gentle reassuring sounds to her. How I love him. She is not responding to him yet though- she hasn't been near a roo in a year - he is trying and trying to talk to her, to show her things, and even to nest. I hope she comes around soon. Thank goodness I was able to get a hen here fast because as sad as he is, he is also the consumate caretaker and she will keep him putting one foot in front of the other.

I never go away - too many animal care issues - but as Murphy's Law would have it, in 2 weeks am scheduled to take my parents on a much needed respite for them from caring for my disabled brother. I hope I can get BJ and new miss settled in by then. And get her touchable tho I doubt it will happen that quickly - but I want my house/pet sitter to be able to handle her if necessary. Annie had gotten so touchable/huggable/holdable, but it took awhile to get there. She had finally reached the point that she loved to be held - would be in a state of bliss actually, sometimes even closing her eyes for a little nap.

Was up all night - still stunned that this happened to happy-go-lucky-lived-every-minute-to-the-fullest-picture-of-good-health sweet Annie.

rebbetzin/Heidi, the losses do make it hard to have beings to care for but if you give them an incredible life while they are here, they can at least experience joy until the universe slams the lid. I lost hen Betty and cat Floppy in fall of 2006 and it still feels like just yesterday but oh how they felt loved while they were here.

JJ

 

[Jenski]

jjthink, I am so sorry for your loss. Critters do not reason the way we do, but they have the capacity for very deep emotions ~ of that I am certain. Remember that even as you care for your animals, each has his/her own path to walk; try not to burden yourself with too much responsibility for the losses that happen. What a gift you have given your animals with your care!

Sounds like the new hen might be an Orpington. My own "little black hen" has proven to be clever and resourceful, and I hope you find this to be the case for yours.

Blessings,


Jen in TN

 

[Lunachick]

JJ - I've been away for a few days...when I saw your post I couldn't believe it. I am so sorry you lost your little Annie. I sorta thought the same thing about jinxing, but immediately stopped thinking that, instead we were all meant to see your beautiful birds, before anything could happen to either of them.

You did good getting B.J. a girlfriend to take care of! I originally had two, thought - uh oh what if one dies? So I got one more, than thought, why not get another, so I got a BR named Gertrude, Gertwert, for short and she looks alot like your Annie.

Take care and heal soon.

~Ginny

 

[kinnip]

Sorry for your loss and for BJ. It sounds like your chickens have a great home and enjoy a lot of love in the time they have.

 

[thechickenchick]

jjthink,
I am SO sorry to hear of your loss. It is hard to find people who understand how we feel about our chickens. We understand them and they understand us. You are obviously a wonderful chicken mamma. You and BJ are in my thoughts. We would love to see a pic of your new girl when you feel up to it. Take care, Tanya

 

[SterlingAcres]

I'm sooooo sorry for your loss! :aww
I'm very glad you found a companion so quickly for BJ. Hopefully, she'll keep him occupied and keep his mourning in check.
I hope she comes around soon for you...

 

[SpottedCrow]

If I could stuff Obelisk in an envelope and mail her to you so that BJ would have extra company, I sooo would!

 

[virgilini]

I'm so sorry to hear about yours and BJs loss. Only people who love chickens like we do could understand how you feel. My heart goes out to both of you.

Kim :aww

 

[Jillylam]

Judy,
I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner. I haven't been on in a few days. I'm so sorry about Annie. And for BJ. And for you. You really care about your critters. It's not fair is it. I'm glad you were able to get him a new friend so quickly. What a great boy he is - already wanting to take care of her. I'm sure she'll warm up when she gets comfortable. And I'm glad you put their pictures up for us to see. Thank you.
Jill

 

[jjthink]

Thanks ever so much Jen, Ginny, Kinnip, Tanya, Shellie, Brenda, Kim, Jill, for your very thoughtful notes. It helps that there are such great people who understand how precious these little feathered souls are and how much they can mean to each other, and thus the utter sadness of the losses. And Annie was too young and too in love with life to get robbed like this. I fell in love with her infectious spirit and gentle way. And how she had started to snuggle in my lap, and just in general be in a state of bliss. Loved to see her that content. When she would do this BJ would relax, off duty for a few minutes, and he would luxuriate in the sun. He had really vested in her, and she him. When I would leave the back door ajar she loved to sneak in, BJ on her heels, and make a run for the cat bowls to grab a few crunchies (high quality ones) before I escorted her away - she never had too many - a few every once in awhile, but she loved to try to get under my radar. Such spirit!

I keep thinking - were there signs? - there were 2 storms over the weekend that came out of NOWHERE and were pretty violent (probably scary for her - tried to comfort her during them - one was hail not forecasted - they were outside when the storms hit - BJ stayed right by her side) and then there was her lack of expected egg on Monday, the day she died, along with her going under the shrub soon after I got home from work and looking like she was going to lay an egg. The fact that she didn't go back to the coop to do this was a sign but unfortunately I didn't recognize it as an immediate crisis.

I no sooner went in to write a quick e-mail that I heard the awful sounds. So she must have been trying all day - not just that couple minutes under the shrub - if only I hadn't gone to the office...All other times she's laid an egg (every 48 hours for her) she would run off and play with no signs of stress after she laid what were always perfect eggs. Running, digging, even jumping for blueberries in the blueberry bush. This egg must have been too big or her heart damaged during the storm or maybe since Day 1 for all I know When I heard the awful sounds on Monday it wasn't drop dead quick - that is haunting. Wings flapping, thuds and then more wings flapping and a thud, maybe like a seizure.

Well, it's been just over 24 hours with the new hen in residence. Maybe I will call her Ellie. Today I stayed home to try to help acclimate her. I had the run door open because I was standing right there supervising (not the brightest idea, as you're about to find out). She was going crazy wanting to nest (she skipped an egg yesterday during her first probably traumatic day here). BJ worked overtime trying to show her places in the building to nest but she wouldn't yield, looking and looking for familiar territory. She kept running inside and looking and then running out. All of a sudden, she shot off like a rocket down into a dry stream bed and then ran at the speed of freaking light down the length of it through a couple of neighbors yards, BJ frantically following and knowing he was in new and uncertain territory. That poor hen was looking for her familiar nesting place and was going to run till she found it - sad. I flew after her and brought her back, and then him, and then locked them up for some hours. BJ kept going in nesting boxes and spots, calling her, calling her. He knew what she needed to do so badly and it was upsetting him greatly that she wouldn't just get to it!. Finally, thankfully, she laid an egg in a quiet corner in the coop. BJ made very loud announcement calls after she did this.

After laying the egg, she was calm and stayed close the rest of the day. She even took a luxurious dirt bath. BJ stood by her side, head drooping by mid-afternoon - he was falling asleep, poor sweet boy. Loss of Annie, new hen drama, he's molting and the heat. I rewarded both of them with icy watermeon, and cold berries and cherries after all that hooplah and stress.

She doesn't yet understand when he calls her and so he tries and tries till he's hoarse, poor dear. He found a big locust type bug and called her like he hit paydirt - she did not respond - I finally told him to bring it to her and wouldn't you know it, he looked at me when I said that, then ran off with it and brought it to her (have never seen him do that before because Annie - and Betty before her - always ran to him). He is sad looking - keeps looking about like he's looking for Annie but also looking like he knows it's not good news - but it's good that he is busy trying to be the consummate caretaker that he is. If he didn't have somebody to care for right now he would plummet very quickly - I've seen it. It will be better if she starts to respond. She did opt to sleep next to him tonight.

Jen, thanks for the tip about her possibly being an Orphington. I very recently had to get a new computer because the old one was failing and am having trouble loading photos onto it so far or would post a photo.

Ginny, thanks for your more uplifting take on the jinxing thing. It's hard to shake that I had that morbid thought as I was posting the photos and then right on the heels of that, Annie dies. It feels eerie. But I am going to try to think of it the way you portray.

Brenda, I tried to send you a thank you for your note - your inbox is full........will try again in the next day or so. THANK YOU THANK YOU.

Jill, I'm sorry you didn't get to meet Annie - I thought she would live a very long life with her spirit and with lots of TLC. Thought for sure she'd be the one left alone, as you know....hoping things are going well with your ladies.

THANKS EVERYONE for your good company at this sad time. It means a lot.
JJ

Edited to say sorry soooooooooooo long....