This is wonderfully said. For me, and this is going to sound weird, I appreciate the grief and sadness. I think we wander through life so often without experiencing deep emotions: the great highs and deep lows. Chickens have brought that to me.For me a major part of looking after chickens is the emotional connection. We disregard so much of what gives us sadness in our lives; the assumption seems to be that we are all entitled to have everything we want and to be constantly happy. Just look at many of the greetings and posts that almost demand we have a happy this day, or a happy that.
For me, chickens have provided a balance as I believe it should be.
You can only do so much Scrambles83.
My view is when a chicken will no longer eat, their will to live has gone. I try to stick to the rule that if after three days they are still not eating then the kindest thing to do is to put an end to their lives as quickly and painlessly as possible.
I've broken this rule on a few occasions and each time I have regretted it. Realising that my need to keep a chicken alive outweighs their need to die is something I still feel guilty for.
As you've probably read, Fat Bird is now elderly and I was most concerned at the point where she seemed to have lost interest in eating. Thankfully it only lasted a couple of days. One more day and I would have put an end to her. I've known Fat Bird for ten years. That's a long long time but I would still kill her when she has shown she has lost the will to go on.
Thankfully, she's out under a bush with her tribe now stuffing her face, looking like she has the will to struggle on. I will try to match that will.
I think you're an ideal person to keep chickens and assuming you carry on, I think you will come to appreciate the sad and the happy and the emotional peaks and troughs will subside and balance will come.
