Thank you for your kind words. I've replayed this in my head all day. Why did she try to fly off when she did. I was not late letting them out. She always, always waited until everyone else was out of the coop before she came out. In fact most times I would pick her up and set her down outside. I do not think anything spooked her. I love these silkies so much, but they have also caused a lot of heartbreak. I'm just over a week out now for the Chiquita eggs to possibly hatch. Instead of excitement I'm now filled with dread imagining what is going to go wrong. Poor Branch is beside himself, I let him see her body after it happened but he searched and called for her all day. He did not want to roost tonight, I had to put him up 5 times. He kept flying down calling for her. I am not going to try and find another hen. I will just have to hope that if the eggs hatch that at least 1 is a pullet. If it is in the cards and Chiquita goes broody I will let her hatch out a few eggs. They will not be the Branch x Poppy chicks I was looking forward to this spring, but they will at least be Branch babies.
You two have a wonderful relationship, Alex. god bless you...and Jaffar!
