My SLW died...

[MaggieRae]

Everyone was fine this morning. I went horseback riding, came home, and found my poor girl keeled over in her nest. The fire ants had eaten her pretty eyes and covered her face. She had been acting "off" for the past couple of months. Lethargic, yet noisy, surprisingly. It's been hot, but everyone else is fine. They have their mister and ice water. This brings me down to 6.

I'm so sad. I love all my chickens and this is absolutely heart wrenching. They're my babies. She was just hardly a year old. I knew I'd lose one eventually. I knew it. But I never saw it coming.
Oh another note, I'm even more sad now because of a callous remark on my 'Grandfather's' behalf. "Are you goin to bake it." Of course not. It was via facebook, so I'm hoping it was one of my cousins or other extended family members (Thankfully, they all live nearly a thousand miles away) who wrote that as they set the account up for him. I can't imagine he would say such a thing since he knows how much I adore those birds. He also uses better grammar in the letters he writes me.

But does anyone have any ideas? I didn't deal with the body. I was too upset and it was covered with fireants so I just picked her up with a shovel and buried her. I never expected to be this upset about one of my birds. My horse, well, I'd probably go crazy. But my chickens? I'd underestimated how much they'd endeared themselves to me.

Thanks.

 

[chickflick]

So sorry! It's funny how they worm their ways into our hearts even tho they are "just" chickens. But, they have their own personalities and quirks. They run to greet you and make you smile. I'm so sorry for your loss. I don't have any idea why she died, but it happens.

 

[MaggieRae]

A picture of the gal...

 

[conroy]

SO sorry about your chicken... I have family members who are always joking about eating/cooking my ducks and chickens.... I just blow them off

 

[8hipchicks]

I'm so sorry you lost her - she was quite a beauty
I have absolutely no idea what was wrong with her, though.

 

[justbugged]

I am so sorry about your loss.

Chickens are very good at hiding the fact that they are sick. So unless you have a lot of experience with chickens, it can be very hard to know when to worry.They do sure take over your heart though.

 

[MaggieRae]

Quote:
I normally do as well, but right after her death... It was rather traumatizing.

I guess I forgot to mention her name. We called her Tejas. She was a big girl compared to the others.

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your well-wishes and help.

 

[conroy]

Quote:
I normally do as well, but right after her death... It was rather traumatizing.

I guess I forgot to mention her name. We called her Tejas. She was a big girl compared to the others.

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your well-wishes and help.

I understand that it was soon... I would probably be upset too

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

So sorry. She was a beautiful bird. Look at your others and see if you see any of early expressions of symptoms that lead up to your bird's death.

 

[chicmom]

So sorry to hear that Maggie.

I would just ignore the facebook remark from Grandpa because you truly don't know who wrote it. I've lost two chickens, and had to cull one, and I know it can make you really sad. I love my chicken's and they each have their own funny personality. So I can relate......