How to manage my sadness? Lost my chicken yesterday :(

[EELover]

I know how you feel. Last August, a mountain lion got to my entire flock (17 in all. Only 6 weeks old)and left 3 corpses behind. I was in a funk for a week. My husband built a stronger coop and an electric fence. They have been safe since then. Everyday you will feel a little better. Just have a plan to fix the problem and move on. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[nanawendy]

I am so sorry for your loss. It's hard to wrap one's mind around how attached we get... as do your other flock members. Mine were depressed after we had to cull one. And if this attack happened in front of them, they are even more effected. Proactive is a must... for the coop ...to prevent more intrusions, for your hens ... make them some treated and give extra lovin', and for you... Maybe look in some hatchery catalogs... REMEMBER it's chick season

 

[Peppypap]

Oh, it's so sad. I lost a hen to gapeworm before I knew what it was... The last thing she did was lay an egg. The flock has less spunk without her...

 

[Toi-toi]

I knew sometime I have to say "good bye" to my girls but that was sad way to say...
Still feeling sad but moving forward.
My girls are safe in the coop but yard is not fixed yet, so I'm spending a few time a day outside watching them so they can have "outside play time".

 

[ginormous chicken]

I lost 3 at 13 weeks to a dumb dog. I felt horrible for weeks.

. I felt better later on in the weeks after Baskin Robbins and ( I know this is shallow) but new fluffy butts! It is horrible to lose chickens like that. Go have fun with the 5 you still have, they still need their chick mama!

 

[classicsredone]

So sorry. It is never easy to lose a pet. Eventually the pain starts to fade and it gets easier. Sometimes it is better to just let yourself grieve. Cry it out, make a little memorial spot where you buried them, etc. It may seem silly to some, but we had a really hard time with our shipment of chicks. Only four of 26 made it. The rest were buried under the crepe myrtles in our backyard. To me, it is important to show them respect, even in death. My mom bought me a little solar placard with an angel and flowers that light up at night to mark the spot. When our dog had to be put down, we weren't able to pay for him to be cremated and returned to us. We showed him that respect on his way out, though. My daughter and I gently bathed him, did his nails, and hugged and loved on him until it was time to go.

Making sure that this can't happen again can help your heart find peace, as well. This pet's life won't be in vain if it helps to protect the rest. *hugs*