Thank you all for your kindness. I'm still grieving for that little bird. I don't know why she touched me so. I don't like going out into the yard anymore. I've been neglecting the vegetable garden. All I do is feed the pigeons that used to come in the evening when I changed Nellie's food. They would eat too and I like keeping up the "tradition". There's one old boy that has no feet and I want to give him every advantage. When the pigeons saw Nellie with me they would not fly away when I got close. She was a magical little bird. I miss her.
I've been thinking about getting another chicken, but I'm afraid that the Mareks is still here and will kill any new birds I get. I hope that it won't effect the pigeons. I haven't seen any signs of it yet.
Your story has had me hooked from the very start. I'm glad you were there to hold her at the end. Best of luck with any future chicken encounters. They are strangely beautiful and also strangely lovable.
