Heartache of chicken keeping

[Taylermartin]

I have been a chicken keeper for only 5 years. I love these girls like crazy. I want to be able to help them anytime I can when they are injured or sick. It's been a full year since my last girl passed until last night. We culled our sick girl that had been on and off sick for a year. I'm pretty sure she had EYP. I tried everything and nothing seemed to get her better after multiple medications. Each time one passes I feel like I'm not cut out for this anymore, my emotions are too present. I can't help but think I shouldn't keep anymore. Does anyone else ever get these feelings?

 

[SimplePleasuresPoultry]

I think we all get those feelings sometimes. I am sorry about your lost girl, it always hurts, especially when you love them like pets. I have a boy in my brooder that I brought inside from being picked on (he's about 16 weeks and the girls are about 20'ish weeks) I thought he would be fine, nope. The girls are not fans of his. So I have been babying the crap out of him and trying to pick a friend for him to have inside until he recoups. These chickens have literally become part of the family. I definitely understand what you are going through and go through the same emotions. Just know that the life you are giving them is probably a heck of a lot better than they would have had elsewhere, and they feel the love you have for them. They are such sweet empathetic creatures. I know I get discouraged sometimes, but then I think about life without them and I can't even fathom it. I don't think most people understand how much of a connection we can get to them, until you loose one. I always worry that there was something else I could have done or something preventative that I didn't do. Don't be too hard on yourself. Sometimes they just don't survive. No matter how much love and care you give them. Hugs and prayers as you deal with her loss. We are all with you!!

 

[SkyAJK]

I am very sorry for your loss

The heartache is so much.......if you could bring yourself to think of the lovely times you had with your little hen, the love she gave you, the looked when you cared for her.......

She lived a good life and a life of so much love.

They only have a short time with us, so love them while we have them with us.

I still remember and my heart still ache for all of my passed away chickens - individually.

Remember all the wonderful time and love you had with her.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have often had the thought that there are people that have too much sensibilities to keep chickens. Their hearts are truly broken.

I keep a flock, I have had a flock for decades. Birds come into the flock, and some leave. I love to hatch, but sometimes, that causes me to have to remove birds.

If one dies, it is always sad for a bit, but I know I gave it a pretty good life, and one bad moment... and now I have room for chicks. For me, the flock is the forever part, I don't expect birds to live forever.

Mrs K

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I did struggle in the beginning with deaths I felt I could/should have prevented. Now I am a lot more pragmatic about it. I do think that some people are not cut out to deal with loss and, unfortunately, that is part of keeping birds. Any pet really. Even the ones that make it to old age will need you to make that choice for them. Only you know if it is too much for you but in my experience (over ten years) it has gotten easier.

 

[SkyAJK]

I buried all my passed away chickens in my garden, the chicken runs. I find that it is easier on me that way that they are here, that they can hear their flock. I have never thought it could be this much pain when chicken died. But, here it is.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have often had the thought that there are people that have too much sensibilities to keep chickens. Their hearts are truly broken.

I keep a flock, I have had a flock for decades. Birds come into the flock, and some leave. I love to hatch, but sometimes, that causes me to have to remove birds.

If one dies, it is always sad for a bit, but I know I gave it a pretty good life, and one bad moment... and now I have room for chicks. For me, the flock is the forever part, I don't expect birds to live forever.

Mrs K

I agree with Mrs K. I have a flock of about 20 birds. They're all beautiful and I enjoy them. I've had this flock for 15+ years. But ... I know each individual bird has a lifespan of only about 3 years or so. I enjoy them while I have them, but although I am sad when they die, I am not devastated. I get new chicks to take their places. It is the Circle of Life.

 

[Taylermartin]

I think we all get those feelings sometimes. I am sorry about your lost girl, it always hurts, especially when you love them like pets. I have a boy in my brooder that I brought inside from being picked on (he's about 16 weeks and the girls are about 20'ish weeks) I thought he would be fine, nope. The girls are not fans of his. So I have been babying the crap out of him and trying to pick a friend for him to have inside until he recoups. These chickens have literally become part of the family. I definitely understand what you are going through and go through the same emotions. Just know that the life you are giving them is probably a heck of a lot better than they would have had elsewhere, and they feel the love you have for them. They are such sweet empathetic creatures. I know I get discouraged sometimes, but then I think about life without them and I can't even fathom it. I don't think most people understand how much of a connection we can get to them, until you loose one. I always worry that there was something else I could have done or something preventative that I didn't do. Don't be too hard on yourself. Sometimes they just don't survive. No matter how much love and care you give them. Hugs and prayers as you deal with her loss. We are all with you!!

Thank you your words mean a lot!

 

[townchicks]

I have lived quite a few years now, and have seen many pets, dogs, cat, cage birds and yes, chickens, pass. It does hurt for a while, but what I focus on, is not how long a life was, but how good it was. If you think about the awful conditions that so many chickens live in, to suffer throughout their (mercifully, perhaps) short lives, our chickens have it really darn good. All we can do, is our best, and they will die, some sooner, some later. Give them the best life you can, and take comfort in that.

 

[Molly Bee]

I have lived quite a few years now, and have seen many pets, dogs, cat, cage birds and yes, chickens, pass. It does hurt for a while, but what I focus on, is not how long a life was, but how good it was. If you think about the awful conditions that so many chickens live in, to suffer throughout their (mercifully, perhaps) short lives, our chickens have it really darn good. All we can do, is our best, and they will die, some sooner, some later. Give them the best life you can, and take comfort in that.

I needed to hear that today. I lost my Coco (EasterEgger) yesterday and she was my favorite buddy.