Chicken tidbitting at owner

[Elle111]

When you're ready, think about a cochin. Don't know about bantam, but my full size cochin is 13 years old, gentle and a lap chicken. She's currently living in a playpen in my spare room, cleaned and fed every hour cuz I bought gold sex links and they're just too aggressive for an old lady like her. Can't be in the same coop.

Wow, 13! Is she still fit?

 

[dirkandlorie]

Wow, 13! Is she still fit?

No, she is healthy but has mobility issues. She walks slowly as if it takes great effort, but she was a great grandma to the new chicks this spring. She enjoys going out in the sunshine and visiting the babies in the coop, but only if she's in my lap. Think she knows how vulnerable she is.

 

[Elle111]

I see. I lost my 12 year old silkie a couple of weeks ago to avian TB. She was still so fit, which makes me terribly sad about it, as she was still enjoying the outdoors and could even run.

 

[dirkandlorie]

I see. I lost my 12 year old silkie a couple of weeks ago to avian TB. She was still so fit, which makes me terribly sad about it, as she was still enjoying the outdoors and could even run.

I know, we want our chickens to be happy. My opinion, for what its worth, is your chicken would not have been living her happy life if you had kept her indoors all the time for fear of what could get her outside. She was old, and as someone who is also really old, I can tell you our immune systems don't work as well when we age. It sucks, but being with/doing what you love up to the end is wonderful. Your silkie lived a wonderful love filled life til the very end, you know that already. Now you have to take comfort with that. You'll still miss her, there's no getting around that, but take comfort knowing what a wonderful life you gave her.

 

[Elle111]

I know, we want our chickens to be happy. My opinion, for what its worth, is your chicken would not have been living her happy life if you had kept her indoors all the time for fear of what could get her outside. She was old, and as someone who is also really old, I can tell you our immune systems don't work as well when we age. It sucks, but being with/doing what you love up to the end is wonderful. Your silkie lived a wonderful love filled life til the very end, you know that already. Now you have to take comfort with that. You'll still miss her, there's no getting around that, but take comfort knowing what a wonderful life you gave her.

You're absolutely right, I just wish I had kept her indoors for the last leg of her life or something, as I said before here. At some point I'll have to stop whining about it; she did have a great life.

 

[dirkandlorie]

You're absolutely right, I just wish I had kept her indoors for the last leg of her life or something, as I said before here. At some point I'll have to stop whining about it; she did have a great life.

Would your silkie have been happy if she had been kept in? Would she have understood why she wasn't allowed to do what she loved? Forgive me if these questions seem harsh, but its coming from someone still grieving the loss of Heathers flock mate Sassy. Its been over a year now, and I still tear up thinking of her. You will grieve, you will second guess yourself, its all part of the process when we lose loved ones. ( i wish i knew how to highlight/ put in bold/underline that last sentence!) Your only comfort will come from knowing you did right by her. And its small comfort indeed.

 

[Elle111]

Sometimes I think she might have understood, as she already slept indoors and walked around indoors, but on the other hand, she loved to follow us outdoors into the garden. I totally get it that you still choke up about Sassy. What happened to her, or did she die of old age?
My silkie was part of the first flock of chickens I ever owned, and I was so surprised at the bond you can have with them. I think it's their talking that makes them almost human-like sometimes. They're really special.