CHICK DIED!!! HOW TO HELP THE OTHERS?

[4 chicks 4 Kyra]

We adopted 4 chicks, my 4 yr old daughter adores them, unfortunately she gave one a little too much love and crushed her. We now have a no holding policy until they are older and sturdier. The three remaining chicks seem very upset since the chick, our silkie, named Forest Beautiful died they are chirping so much and are sleep on top of where Forest died. I have removed the body, I just wonder if they can smell Forest? They also buried Forest with sawdust that was in their area. They keep coming to me when I put my hand in as if they want comfort. I don't know what to do to help them feel better. I was thinking about getting another silkie friend for them, but it feels very shallow to just get another one as Forest is irreplaceable to me. I don't know if this would make them feel more normal to have them be a group of 4 again or if it may make them more stressed. Has anyone experienced this that knows how to help me help them?

 

[lcammack]

How old are they? When our chicks are very young they are very inquisitive and will come running to see what you have, or peck at your rings or painted finger nails. Sometimes they are very loud if they are cold, how are they acting under their light? Huddled or spread out?

Even though Forest Beautiful cannot be replaced doesn't mean that you shouldn't enjoy the company of another silkie. Accidents happen and as long as they are learned from its okay.

 

[4 chicks 4 Kyra]

Sorry it took so long to reply, they were about a week old at the time. We ended up getting 4 more silkies, and they have all bonded really well. For a while the original, remaining chicks would try to burry the silkie that looked most like Forest Beautiful..and then anytime any of them slept for a while they would burry each other. They seem to have overcome that fear.
I would agree they are very curious, though we have one that is fairly stand offish she is just now warming up to me...part of it may be that she's getting her feathers and really likes it when I itch her chest for her.
I miss Forest Beautiful, and I know the original 3 did to, but they are getting along fine. It definitely changed the dynamic!

 

[Bellatrixed]

I think you're anthropomorphizing a little! Chickens (especially baby chicks) lack the mental capacity to do human things like mourn or try to bury dead bodies. I had a bunch of chicks die in my last order and the surviving chicks would just walk on and peck at their bodies til I found them and removed them. It's good you got more chicks, but more likely they got noisy because they were cold/scared/otherwise didn't feel good.

 

[4 chicks 4 Kyra]

Yeah maybe but I guess were both speculating since we can't actually ask them!

They weren't sick or cold it was 95 degrees in their little house, and they definitely do burry each other, I have seen this before not just with mine. I think maybe people have a limited understanding of anything about their mental life, as humans know how to measure human and if any other creatures mammals intelligence/capacity/emotions/cognitions (human/mammal cognitive/developmental neuroscience is my speciality). You may not believe they mourn and perhaps yours did not, mine definitely did. They stopped burying them while sleeping a few days after having them--though I think this was more a snubbing than mourning until they adjusted to the newbies. They stopped being afraid once I removed the body. However they were upset when Forest didn't come back and were less energetic for a while, they weren't acting sick they were acting sad. Either way we may experience these situations differently and I appreciate your input.

 

[FruitfulFaith]

Chickens are very emotional animals for sure. I'd like to think that they aren't experiencing the same bit of emotion as, say, a person whose friend has passed - but rather like the emotional frustration of a dog whose food bowl has been moved XP It seems likely since they tend to get over it quickly once the replacement arrives and they adjust. The burying thing is definitely different though. Strange....

 

[TheChickenMomma]

I cant say i know how you feel completely, But i do understand chicks. Try to keep your daughter from the chicks by locking the door or putting something heavy (That a 4 year old cant move) in front of the door (if there is one!) . Im terribly sorry. The chicks will get over it, If even are sad.

Dont get over it , Just move on. Who can forget the loss of a loved one, even if it be a Chicken?

 

[Bellatrixed]

Yeah maybe but I guess were both speculating since we can't actually ask them!

They weren't sick or cold it was 95 degrees in their little house, and they definitely do burry each other, I have seen this before not just with mine. I think maybe people have a limited understanding of anything about their mental life, as humans know how to measure human and if any other creatures mammals intelligence/capacity/emotions/cognitions (human/mammal cognitive/developmental neuroscience is my speciality). You may not believe they mourn and perhaps yours did not, mine definitely did. They stopped burying them while sleeping a few days after having them--though I think this was more a snubbing than mourning until they adjusted to the newbies. They stopped being afraid once I removed the body. However they were upset when Forest didn't come back and were less energetic for a while, they weren't acting sick they were acting sad. Either way we may experience these situations differently and I appreciate your input.

I'm not trying to criticize you, but it's not really a matter of opinion... chickens do not bury their dead, because that is a human societal custom and not even all human societies believe in burying the dead. Chickens are actually cannibals, but most well cared for chickens don't resort to that. I'm really not trying to be mean, but I think sometimes people make it harder on themselves by attributing human emotion to everything our animals do. I am guilty of it too, but still! What you interpret as mourning could just as easily be fear because something changed or because you started treating the survivors differently. They could very well have gotten nervous when the dead body was removed, I just don't think it's because they were thinking "Forest died and they took him away!"

Chickens like to burrow and will kick bedding over each other when scratching around, so maybe that's what the burying was. Or maybe you really do have mourning chickens...

I've just raised hundreds of chicks over the last 14 years I've kept poultry... I tend to baby them and hand feed them treats, baby talk them, give them names and hold them, etc, and have never witnessed anything like this despite having chickens that I perceived as "friends" die even as adults. I had 2 two-year-old chickens that always walked around together--one was taken by a predator and the other one acted perfectly normal without a hitch after.

 

[ButchGood]

I'm not trying to criticize you, but it's not really a matter of opinion... chickens do not bury their dead, because that is a human societal custom and not even all human societies believe in burying the dead. Chickens are actually cannibals, but most well cared for chickens don't resort to that. I'm really not trying to be mean, but I think sometimes people make it harder on themselves by attributing human emotion to everything our animals do. I am guilty of it too, but still! What you interpret as mourning could just as easily be fear because something changed or because you started treating the survivors differently. They could very well have gotten nervous when the dead body was removed, I just don't think it's because they were thinking "Forest died and they took him away!"

Chickens like to burrow and will kick bedding over each other when scratching around, so maybe that's what the burying was. Or maybe you really do have mourning chickens...

I've just raised hundreds of chicks over the last 14 years I've kept poultry... I tend to baby them and hand feed them treats, baby talk them, give them names and hold them, etc, and have never witnessed anything like this despite having chickens that I perceived as "friends" die even as adults. I had 2 two-year-old chickens that always walked around together--one was taken by a predator and the other one acted perfectly normal without a hitch after.

That's exactly right. Chicks and chickens don't morn their dead. It is fact that if you let them they will eat their fallen comrade. My chickens are spoiled free range fat healthy well cared for chickens. I had a sudden death syndrome incident with on of my red broilers. When I found him the others in the flock were walking and scratching all over him. He died in front of the feeder and he was in their way. Some folks try to humanize these animals, and its understandable, they are adorable and make fine pets. But the truth is your just the big thing that feeds them treats. That's why they come running when they see you. You are recognized as a good thing in there life but is a pretty basic animal reaction to food.
When I have my brooder set up I have a strict rule for the children....no touching, well I'll let them stick their finger in the holes in the side of the brooder and get some contact, but never allow them to open the brooder and pick a chick up. I learned that lesson the same way you did. Not the kids fault and I hid the fact that the chick died from the child. I removed the chick and disposed of it ASAP.

 

[4 chicks 4 Kyra]

Thanks everyone for your input! Im sticking to what I believe and you all can do the same obviously. Just as I "don't know" anything about their mental or emotional life neither does anyone else really. We can break it down to the fact that we are human and mammal and they are not so how can we relate or accurately measure anything they do. We only have our experiences with them. Just as I speculate that they mourn, however brief that mourning period may be, some of you speculate that they are emotionless. I have no desire to prove you wrong or change your mind. Just telling what I witnessed, as are you guys, and asking for advice. So I appreciate all your inputs and opinions thanks.