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- #11
You guys have no idea how much your support has helped me today. It is really hard to have other people understand why it hurts me so deeply to have lost Basil. To them, she was "just a chicken." It is very helpful to read that there are others out there who know my pain and that I am not alone in this. Thank you.
My flock of the remaining 14 are all very upset. They are so still and silent. They hid under the coop until I could coax them all out and then they only ran into the coop. I went ahead and locked them back up for the day to rest and recover from the trauma. I am about to go out there now and see how they are after several hours. I myself have cried all day and slept it all away as long as I could stand to. Death is what I hate about life. Death and pain and suffering. I am no good at death...
But now its time to carry on and take care of the rest of the flock.
I felt like a bad chicken mama for allowing them to free range without my protection. But I have done so since January with out any problems. Our yard is fenced and we live in a suburban area. But I like what Chicmom said about a free-ranging hen being a happier hen overall. I think I will allow them to free range still, just not for awhile. Like DDRanch said, I think the hawk will be back now looking for another meal so I will keep them in the (way too small) run for a week or so if I am not outside with them. The run was built for them when they were peeps. They are all 3 month old pullets now. The run is just too small. I would love to build a bigger one for when i am not able to supervise them, but I am keeping mine against code so I am trying to keep things small enough to be more subtle.
Sharylva,
I am sorry about your sweet babies. Where do you keep them at night?
Babyrnlc, Penny sounds just like Basil. I am so sorry from your dear loss.
Wendyrun, I am so sorry.
I am not sure losing the first will be any harder than losing another one down the line. I now know how likely it is to happen, tough so now I know to be more cautious.
ShortCircuitRanch2322, After searching and searching for Basil (I had only seen a ring of feathers, no blood, no body) I came inside and went online to the hatchery she came from (I got her at a local feedstore who bought from Ideal Poultry) and found out they do have more for sale but I would have to order at least 8 chicks. I decided it might be better to keep checking back to see when the feedstore gets more in. But thank you for the suggestion as I had thought it would help my 8 year old son (and me) cope, too.
My flock of the remaining 14 are all very upset. They are so still and silent. They hid under the coop until I could coax them all out and then they only ran into the coop. I went ahead and locked them back up for the day to rest and recover from the trauma. I am about to go out there now and see how they are after several hours. I myself have cried all day and slept it all away as long as I could stand to. Death is what I hate about life. Death and pain and suffering. I am no good at death...
But now its time to carry on and take care of the rest of the flock.
I felt like a bad chicken mama for allowing them to free range without my protection. But I have done so since January with out any problems. Our yard is fenced and we live in a suburban area. But I like what Chicmom said about a free-ranging hen being a happier hen overall. I think I will allow them to free range still, just not for awhile. Like DDRanch said, I think the hawk will be back now looking for another meal so I will keep them in the (way too small) run for a week or so if I am not outside with them. The run was built for them when they were peeps. They are all 3 month old pullets now. The run is just too small. I would love to build a bigger one for when i am not able to supervise them, but I am keeping mine against code so I am trying to keep things small enough to be more subtle.
Sharylva,
Babyrnlc, Penny sounds just like Basil. I am so sorry from your dear loss.
Wendyrun, I am so sorry.
ShortCircuitRanch2322, After searching and searching for Basil (I had only seen a ring of feathers, no blood, no body) I came inside and went online to the hatchery she came from (I got her at a local feedstore who bought from Ideal Poultry) and found out they do have more for sale but I would have to order at least 8 chicks. I decided it might be better to keep checking back to see when the feedstore gets more in. But thank you for the suggestion as I had thought it would help my 8 year old son (and me) cope, too.
