I can't believe how sad I am.......I'm really beside myself.

[ohiofarmgirl]

sorry to hear - thats just awful and yes its ok to cry over a chicken. just keep on keepin' on.

 

[CallyB57]

I'm sorry. I love my chickens too - all of them. They climb all over me when I sit in the grass and beg for the raw peanuts I shell for them. I talk to them, worry over them, spoil them...guess I got like this because my older son moved away and I was so close to his children. Then my younger son started talking about getting transferred with his job and I decided then that I would occupy myself and not grieve when they left. So, I got into chickens, and I can tell you I NEVER believed I could love a chicken- I just wanted eggs. But, I DO love my chickens and if anything happens to them I know I will be as sad as you are. Chickens are so apt to get killed by a predator, so I did everything I could to protect them and I just hope it is good enough. You can love another chicken..doesn't take much to love a chicken.

 

[caralouise1974]

If my husband's carelessness resulted in me losing one of my beloved girls, I have to tell you I would have a hard time forgiving him. Its difficult to imagine that I wouldn't kick him out for at least a month while I grieved, if not for good. Sounds harsh, but my gut tells me I would react pretty badly towards him.

I'm so sorry for your loss

 

[NGT ANGL]

It is never easy to lose a beloved pet/friend, no matter what the breed. Hugs to you....

 

[birdlover]

I would also like to tell you how very sorry I am that you lost Leah. Like so many others on here, I know JUST how you are feeling.

Time does ease the sorrow but she will always linger in your heart. There will never be another Leah but I bet you can get a baby chick and bring her up to be a buddy too. It may even help you get your mind on something else and be kind of therapeutic. Again, so so sorry.

 

[shannonb]

well, I was in ahurry yesterday, so she didn't get her morning treat......as I was driving home I was thinking about giving her some strawberries to say sorry for not giving her her morning bread : ) I pulled in the drive and saw a clump of white laying in my yard.......I thought to myself " what the heck is that?". Then it dawned on me it was her and I thought she was just scared and was sitting still like she sometimes did.....I flew out of the truck and she wasn't moving at all. I knew right then what had happened. My husband was coming out to greet me and saw me running and he just started saying "omg, I'm sorry honey, I'm sorry".

The VERY last thing I had said to him was to watch the dogs and make sure they don't get my Leah.

He dug the hole while I held her warm body. I'm just SICK about this. My stomach is still in knots......partly because I miss her so much and partly because I can't believe how much I will miss one chicken. I'm very upset with him, it wouldn't have happened if I was here. If I wouldn't have stopped for creamer at the store I could have prevented this as she was still very warm.....I would have gotten home about 10 minutes earlier and could have possibley prevented this. I just feel bad and p$ssed off all at the same time.

 

[shannonb]

If I get a baby, how do I introduce her to the ones I have now? I have no way of separating a chick from the adults. I think I should get one..........would probabley help me (mentally).

 

[KellyHM]

I had a young Cuckoo Marans cockerel that did the same thing...he would sit on my shoulder while I fed and watered everyone...always came running when he saw me. The neighbor's dog got in the yard while I wasn't here (and DH was sleeping) and killed him...as well as 14 others...I sobbed so hard. I still tear up thinking about him and that was months ago. I kicked myself for a long time b/c I almost put them away before I left, but figured they would be ok since DH was here...don't beat yourself up too bed.

If you do get a chick (which I think you should), make sure you get 2. No matter how much time you spend with it 1 will be lonely by itself...get 2 to spoil. The Frizzle I raised w/ that cockerel couldn't fly up on my shoulder, but she would sit in my lap...dogs got her too.

 

[Bebe Brett]

I had 8 Rhode Island Reds that were my real pets, when they were about three years old I became too sick to look after them and my daughter took them to a friend where they were free range. I went to visit them next summer. There they were out in the field. I called them, anticipating them to come running as always. Not one hen even turned her head! I was sad for days. Now I have 8 more, they are two weeks today, I really intend to imprint on all of them.I hope that you can love another little hen.

 

[Nostalchic]

It's sort of a catch-22, that the chickens that are most friendly, least fearful, and thus often our favorites, are the easiest victims - they aren't as quick to run, not so alert to potential danger, etc. In my flock of 30, my three Buff Orpingtons come to me, jump in my lap, allow themselves to be picked up any time. The Partridge Rocks, on the other hand, run shrieking every time I come into the coop, are aggressive with the other chickens, especially if something delicious is involved, are almost impossible to catch when it's needed... Which would survive hard times or a predator attack? Probably not my sweet little Orps...
Sorry about Leah