My roo died , should I let his girls see his body so they know?

[LindsayDarling]

This is prob a weird question. My roo got frostbite, then got into a bad scuffle defending his girls. He lost alot of blood. I did all I could do to save him, but he died this am in my room Should I show his girls his body so they know? Is that worst than him just disappearing? I've gone through alot of loss myself and am sensitive to grief even with animals. I'm going to bury him on my property. RIP Theo!

 

[WingItRanch]

I'm sorry for your loss. He was beautiful! I personally would not show his body to your flock. I understand your idea and get that humans have this need to say goodbye but to be perfectly honest, it would be best to just have him disappear. I know you don't want to hear this but chickens can be cannibalistic and it may upset you more if you see them pecking at his body.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Sorry about your boy. The girls will not know about his death.

 

[EChicky]

I’m so sorry for your loss! I know how hard it is to work as hard as you can to try to save a chicken only to loose them.
I personally wouldn’t show the rest of the flock his body. When birds cross the rainbow bridge in my flock, all of the other birds are confused for a week and then return to normal. Sending love and support!

 

[LindsayDarling]

I'm sorry for your loss. He was beautiful! I personally would not show his body to your flock. I understand your idea and get that humans have this need to say goodbye but to be perfectly honest, it would be best to just have him disappear. I know you don't want to hear this but chickens can be cannibalistic and it may upset you more if you see them pecking at his body.

Gosh i never thought of that. Thank you for bringing that up!

 

[LindsayDarling]

I’m so sorry for your loss! I know how hard it is to work as hard as you can to try to save a chicken only to loose them.
I personally wouldn’t show the rest of the flock his body. When birds cross the rainbow bridge in my flock, all of the other birds are confused for a week and then return to normal. Sending love and support!

Augh ok thank you! I've never lost a main character in my flock before. So hard

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm sorry you lost your beautiful boy in spite of your best efforts. I agree with the others. His loss will be harder on you than on them.

 

[CCsGarden]

Very sorry for your loss! He loved you and you loved him! He was a beautiful boy! Give your hens an extra hug!

 

[RoyalChick]

So sorry that you lost him. I will be a dissenting voice. I have never had an issue with cannibalism and most of my chickens who have died have been seen by the flock so they understand.
Now it is a bit different because mainly they have died in the coop and the hens seem to know and have often done a sort of 'last visit' kind of thing.
I recently lost my top hen in the middle of the night. She just fell off the roost dead. Everyone came and inspected the body before getting on with their day. Then I removed her.
I don't think we can really know what chickens think and feel so do what feels natural to you.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

I'm so sorry for your loss