Favorite Hen Drowned to Death in Pond

[pennyJo1960]

I didn’t quite know where to put this, as it’s more about the death of my sweet hen, Daphne. My chickens tend to drink out of a small pond we have in the front yard. We discourage this heavily and try our best to keep them out of that yard. It was unsuccessful this morning.

She had been fighting a staph infection on her left toe. I had really high hopes as it seemed to be getting smaller.

Anyway, whenever I discovered she wasn’t with the others but when I fed them, I knew something was wrong. I treat my birds like pets, petting them, cooing at them. And when my dearest was found I went into hysterics.

In April I purchased 6 chicks, 4 red comets and 2 silkies. I’m now down to 2 red comets and 1 silkie. I feel like a bad pet owner. I’ve lost half of my birds in 8 months! I know that the deaths were technically out of my control, but I feel completely responsible as if I killed them innocently!

I’m going to see about getting a higher fence to separate the yards, as well as a fence, but I’m worried about the money. We plan on isolating the birds from the connecting yard for the time being.

In the spring I planned on getting a few more chickens. I can’t help but feel that I’m an irresponsible bird owner though, and that discourages me. I’m posting this for encouragement during this hard time.

Attached are some images of her. She was such a sweet, goofy girl.

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So sorry you lost your lovely, loved hen Higher fence clip wings best advice please do before any other are picked up

 

[coach723]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you don't give up on keeping chickens. Mistakes happen to everyone. Even when you think you have thought of absolutely everything, stuff still can happen. All you can try to do is learn from your experiences and do better or different moving forward. That's all any of us can do. My chickens are so much a part of my life now I can't imagine not having them. For me, the good times out weigh the bad, even when the bad is heartbreaking. You are human, forgive yourself.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

I’m so sorry Elissa for your loss
You’re not a bad chicken owner, you did what you could, we all make mistakes. Everyone learns through trial and error. Good luck with your chicken keeping.
PS Don’t get discouraged we’ve all been there, questioning if we did the right thing by raising chickens. We’re rooting for you

x2!!!

 

[elissarules]

I’m so sorry Elissa for your loss
You’re not a bad chicken owner, you did what you could, we all make mistakes. Everyone learns through trial and error. Good luck with your chicken keeping.
PS Don’t get discouraged we’ve all been there, questioning if we did the right thing by raising chickens. We’re rooting for you

Thank you so much for your kind words. This is what I needed to hear! At least my current birds and future ones will be safer with the fence in the future!

You gave her a good life while you had her. Most chickens can't ask for more than that.
Don't beat yourself up over it. Unless she flew into the pond she should have been able to get herself out. I'm wondering if a dog or another chicken was on top of her causing her to drown.....
So sorry. We've all lost some of our favorites before and we understand how you feel.

Thank you so much!! I will try. It’s hard to not blame yourself sometimes. But your words help!! Thank you!

So sorry you lost your lovely, loved hen Higher fence clip wings best advice please do before any other are picked up

Yes! That’s my plan!! I wouldn’t dare put any new little ones in danger

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you don't give up on keeping chickens. Mistakes happen to everyone. Even when you think you have thought of absolutely everything, stuff still can happen. All you can try to do is learn from your experiences and do better or different moving forward. That's all any of us can do. My chickens are so much a part of my life now I can't imagine not having them. For me, the good times out weigh the bad, even when the bad is heartbreaking. You are human, forgive yourself.

This was exactly what I needed to hear!!! Thank you!! It can be so difficult to talk about loss and mistakes to non-chicken-keepers. I love having chickens. They are so wacky and cute.

Thank you, everyone, for being so kind. It helps to hear these thoughts from people who keep chickens! Around here, most chickens are kept purely for livestock. Either that, or they don’t empathize with the pet qualities chickens have! I’m feeling better, not just through the mourning of a beloved bird, but also encouraged. Thank you!!

 

[Abriana]

Aww I’m so sorry about your hen. *hugs!*

 

[N F C]

Sorry you lost your girl, that's hard to lose an animal when we get so attached to them.

You aren't a bad chicken keeper...losses happen to everyone. All you can do is try to learn from the experience.

 

[Chickassan]

Condolences on your girl, but if she was fighting infection she probably passed out when she lowered her head to drink. Don't be hard on yourself, just learn from it and carry on.

 

[XanderWiFi]

Something I have come to accept is that chickens can be hard to keep alive. Cats, dogs and other "typical" pets tend to be higher up on the food chain. Just is not so with chickens. Everything loves to eat them. We have lost 25% of our flock despite spending thousands on materials/coops/etc. to freak accidents from my kids, neighbor's dogs to clever raccoons.

Looking at it pragmatically, you have to question whether a fence is a measure required for the loss of one chicken. Now if they all kept repeatedly drowning you would need to consider something. But you could always build a run vs. a long large fence if it helps.

Sorry for the loss. It always is tough.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. We had a hen jump into our pond one cold winter day to avoid being caught. She swam across the pond to the other side, slowly, but she made it. There have been postings and videos here of chickens enjoying playing in swimming pools with kids. So I am not sure why she drowned, but sometimes fright can set in and be dangerous.

 

[Egg13]

I didn’t quite know where to put this, as it’s more about the death of my sweet hen, Daphne. My chickens tend to drink out of a small pond we have in the front yard. We discourage this heavily and try our best to keep them out of that yard. It was unsuccessful this morning.

She had been fighting a staph infection on her left toe. I had really high hopes as it seemed to be getting smaller.

Anyway, whenever I discovered she wasn’t with the others but when I fed them, I knew something was wrong. I treat my birds like pets, petting them, cooing at them. And when my dearest was found I went into hysterics.

In April I purchased 6 chicks, 4 red comets and 2 silkies. I’m now down to 2 red comets and 1 silkie. I feel like a bad pet owner. I’ve lost half of my birds in 8 months! I know that the deaths were technically out of my control, but I feel completely responsible as if I killed them innocently!

I’m going to see about getting a higher fence to separate the yards, as well as a fence, but I’m worried about the money. We plan on isolating the birds from the connecting yard for the time being.

In the spring I planned on getting a few more chickens. I can’t help but feel that I’m an irresponsible bird owner though, and that discourages me. I’m posting this for encouragement during this hard time.

Attached are some images of her. She was such a sweet, goofy girl.

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So sad, I'm sorry you found her like that and it was so upsetting (I appreciate it would have been absolutely awful). RIP to your dearest.