Goldilocks cannot walk~ shes 17/!Update. She's gone to Heaven.

[jjthink]

Tears flowing over here. I'm so very sorry Helen.

Goldie had the comfort of her best friend with her all the way - it's as good as it gets on this troubled planet. What a gift you were to her, as I know she was to you.

People often ask me how long chickens can live and I tell them about Goldie, and they are in awe because they thought chickens lived only very briefly and that the ones they buy in the grocery store essentially got to live out a normal life. I explain how their lives are usually extremely truncated and how many don't live past a couple/few years even in good care because of the way we humans have impacted their genetics (early reproductive problems etc.). And then there's the countless numbers who are not in good care and have sad short lives as a result.

Goldie is a reminder to many people who never even met her that a well loved well cared for chicken (not cursed with really bad genetic issues or affected by transmission of disease) can live much longer than most anyone thought. Her story has the power to affect perception and sentiment far and wide.

May Goldie rest in peace and if there is any sense to the universe at all, you two will be reunited in joy and love someday.

JJ

 

[bantymum]

Thankyou so very much for your sweet thoughts, all of you, my friends over there.
This is a background of her life.:
I have a hole in my heart, I have been thinking fondly of all the things we have been through together.
Goldie was the first chicken that I bought in 1991.
I got her from a very wise Irish lady here who lived on a beautiful farm, she had all types of fowl and a sweet duck who loved to be cuddled.
She showed me around the yards and told me to pick out the ones that i wanted.
I picked Goldie because of her gorgeous colouring and a couple of others.
She was $30 back then which was a lot, however I wanted quality and thought id save up and get more each week.
I stuck with her and a black/white speckledy hen and some isa browns.
All went well, until a few years later a fox came visiting and took some whites and the Isa's.
Being in town i didnt think foxes came in so close.
A tough wakeup call.
Goldie wasnt taken that night luckily.
A few years later I separated from my DH and we found a lovely new place to live. Goldie came along with her friends.
Another fox came visiting and again managed to grab some chickens, however Goldie escaped that one too!!!lucky because on both occasions I had the chooks in one house together.
Weve had lots going on out in the backyard and Goldi has adapted to change readily, an assortment of furry creatures coming and going, as happens in a rehab unit, DH also moved back in!!!
She was a really lovely natured chook!, NEVER picked on anyone, not even newbie chooks and no one picked on her either, even the broodies.
Goldie wasnt into cuddles, and I really dont cuddle them either, I pat them but thats as far as I go mainly because they dont like to be picked up!!Sure!! I said goodnight to her when i locked the door and wrapped their old sleeping bag over the front to keep them warm. They always answered back!
Tonight "Blackie" has decided to sleep in goldie's favourite nesting box, which is totally out of character, she always roosts. They were best mates. Im not surprised, I know that our chickens are very smart and Blackie knows her friend has left us. Blackie was feeding Goldie 5 days ago.
Anyhow, Im sorry for the long post, I will try and make a page devoted to Goldie and her mates tommorrow< Ill have to go through my box of photos as we didnt have digital cameras back then, so ill scan them.
Here she is with a silky roo last year eating Mikey's breakfast cereal leftovers on the grass with Anekin bunny in background.

Once again, thankyou for your lovely well wishes, they really help.
Some people have lots of chickens for eggs/meat etc and you may not understand the bond that can be shared but thats OK.. and some have just a few or many which are given names and treated as pets/friends, you know how it is, Joyfull!!!

 

[speckledhen]

Helen, my sincere condolences for your sweet Goldilocks. She was so well-loved and treasured in her time on earth; no one could have done more for a dear friend than you did. (((hugs)))

 

[Lunachick]

I'm sorry. What a sweet story! And the little poem made me

 

[dixiechick]

I am SO sorry for the loss of your sweet friend. Goldi is an inspiration to me and my little ladies....I can only hope I have them as long as you had Goldi....

...love and comfort from Florida!

 

[FisherMOM]

Thanks for the background info on Goldie.. it was sweet.

 

[risurocket]

So sweet. You are definitely the Banty Mum...The ladies and gents (if any) you have are very lucky!

 

[arlee453]

Awww...I was SO pulling for her to make it to 18!

Sorry for your loss

 

[ruth]

I'm sitting here crying over my coffee while trying to read your touching posts. I'm always telling my DH about Goldie - she was an inspiration to Chicken Lovers everywhere. I truly had no idea they could live so long. She had the kind of life I'm striving to give my chickens. She will always live on in your memories and will always serve as a role model for chickens everywhere.

It's hard to lose any pet after 17 years so my heart aches for you. I truly do feel your pain.

Monique "Ruth"

 

[bayouchica]

Helen, I am so very sorry.

She had a wonderful,long life.You took such good care of her to make it as long as she did.I don't know what else to say.

Miriam