I wanted to know how much a person has felt when they lost a pet chicken in their arms I'm having her cremated and I can't seem to get over her death.

[Coop de Grass]

You are not alone!

I am very sorry that you lost your wonderful hen. It doesn't matter how it happens tho some ways are harder than others, but losing those feathered friends leave holes in the lives of the people who have connected with them. I brought home 9 day old chicks in 2015... I never knew how much I would love them. Or how much they would enrich my life. I suspect that you feel similarly. I didn't cremate mine, but they are buried in our pet graveyard, and they won't be forgotten.

 

[oldhen2345]

I have the foot print they made for us on my shelf where I can always see it. I completely understand your grief and I am so terribly sorry that you are going through this. It gets better with time and we find delight with our other girls. It will just always hurt when our special girls pass away.

What a lovely idea. A memory to keep. I personally keep feathers from all my special girls. I am so sorry for your loss. I know those words feel empty, but they are not. Any special pet that was a loved part of your life remains a part of your soul, your story, forever. With mine, I find peace in the circle of life. Those who have gone before, those who are with us and those yet to come into our lives. As Wordsworth said " For though the radiance which was once so bright be now forever taken from our sight, for though we can not bring back the splendor in the grass, the glory of the flower, we will grieve not- rather find strength in what remains behind."

 

[BY Bob]

Everyone who has lost a beloved pet has felt the way you do right now. Anytime it happens in your arms it is more vivid experience. My hen Patsy passed in my arms last year. It was an experience which I will never forget.

Others before me have described the greif process better than I can. My only advice is to give yourself grace. Grief is not linear. You will think you are doing well and something will trigger a memory and you will be sad again. Don't be angry with yourself. Understand that it is perfectly natural.

I offer my condolances to everyone who has ever lost a dear pet.

Here is Pasty, in my arms. It has taken a year, but I can now look at this photo without crying. I now remember the time we had together gratefully.

 

[Allthefloofs]

Everyone who has lost a beloved pet has felt the way you do right now. Anytime it happens in your arms it is more vivid experience. My hen Patsy passed in my arms last year. It was an experience which I will never forget.

Others before me have described the greif process better than I can. My only advice is to give yourself grace. Grief is not linear. You will think you are doing well and something will trigger a memory and you will be sad again. Don't be angry with yourself. Understand that it is perfectly natural.

I offer my condolances to everyone who has ever lost a dear pet.

Here is Pasty, in my arms. It has taken a year, but I can now look at this photo without crying. I now remember the time we had together gratefully.View attachment 2398012

This brought tears to my eyes. I can feel your love for her in this picture. She was a lucky girl to have someone who obviously loved her so much. I was taken by surprise at how deeply I loved our girls. I really thought they would be cute babies and then just “birds I looked after”, but their funny personalities and individual quirks really hooked me, and then they actively adored me and that was the clincher. I never set out to be a chicken person and I think that is why I can’t help how much I love them. I went in with such limited expectations and they really gifted me with so much love and personality! I feel quite humbled by the love, trust and attention that all of our girls show me. I think it is natural to grieve that relationship.

 

[BY Bob]

This brought tears to my eyes. I can feel your love for her in this picture. She was a lucky girl to have someone who obviously loved her so much. I was taken by surprise at how deeply I loved our girls. I really thought they would be cute babies and then just “birds I looked after”, but their funny personalities and individual quirks really hooked me, and then they actively adored me and that was the clincher. I never set out to be a chicken person and I think that is why I can’t help how much I love them. I went in with such limited expectations and they really gifted me with so much love and personality! I feel quite humbled by the love, trust and attention that all of our girls show me. I think it is natural to grieve that relationship.

I fought my wife when she said she wanted to get chickens. I did not want them. Now I cannot spend a day without them. You said it right when you called it humbling. My little Polish girl Phyllis ran up to me tonight at roosting time looking for my help. She came to me for help. It melts my heart.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

I've had pets pass in my arms and while no chickens of mine have passed this way, I had a baby duckling and it tore me up. Poor thing was born (hatched) with health problems and though only a short time, I loved the little baby. I have had adult chickens pass I was super close to like my dear Big Red and I mourned her a long time. I can't imagine when I lose Wally or Chicken Hawk...Hawk I raised from a baby and she was orphaned/alone for a long time and I spent alot of time with her. She's been through alot of health issues and we've fought them together. When you become attached to an animal and they become your friend - you'll mourn. Everyone has different ways they get through it. You're in a very understanding community here, @buddy18

 

[Hei 20]

Am I just over emotional or has anyone felt like this? The few chickens we have left, I just can't care about. She was a half indoor/outdoor chicken. She even had a diaper.

I only have one rooster and cat. If I was to lose any of them, I would not get over it. Ever! I'm sorry for your loss

 

[natyvidal]

My family had a pet chicken years ago. Her name was Snow White and she was very special to everyone in the family. She was with us for 12 years! Shared many adventures and antics with us and was very intelligent. The day she passed away of old age we cried for her like if she was a pet dog or cat or even a member of the family. There is nothing wrong in caring as much for your pet and grieving for her. Also, think how lucky she was to have been part of your family! She was loved, pampered, and had a great life! Not many hens are as lucky. So cherish her in your heart and don’t worry about it being wrong. It’s not. Time will help you move on.

 

[buddy18]

Am I just over emotional or has anyone felt like this? The few chickens we have left, I just can't care about. She was a half indoor/outdoor chicken. She even had a diaper.

I had a longhorn and she was some what crippled. When she was doing good she was outside. She had problems passing eggs, so I would take her the veterinarian and they would treat her. She was a pet and she also had a diaper when she was in the house. She would jump up on my bed and watch T.V. with me. Last time I took her to the vet, he did a x-ray and found out she had cancer. Broke my heart, she died in my arms also. I had her cremated and her picture, foot print and urn is on a shelve. So yes, you can become very attached to a chicken, part of the family. I miss her.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I had to put one of my more pet chickens down last night. She had frozen her feet during the flashfreeze we had and got horrible frostbite. She ended up with one permanently swollen foot and one dead foot that stayed attached. We had hoped when it fell off that her stump would be healed and closed since she still would be able to move around, but it wasn't and we knew it was more than likely so, so painful for her with a wound like that, not to mention she would certainly get an infection.

I cried the whole time I held her, which I really don't do normally, but she was one I had just found in my heart. It's okay to cry, I want to cry just thinking about it, but it couldn't have been fixed unfortunately and I couldn't bare to make her hurt even more