Remembering the Chickens You've Lost

[outdoorsii]

Our vet says that 30-40% of production hens get reproductive track cancers by their 4th year, because of the stress of pumping out an egg every day in their first years. She thought the particular line our three came from might accidentally have a greater susceptibility. Since most production hens don't see their third birthdays, the breeders don't really have a reason to notice this.

Anyway, I try to focus on the parts where they'd snuggle up under my chin even when they were too big to fit more than just their head. They loved their hugs.

Interesting fact about the reproduction track, I guess it makes sense, I sure as heck wouldn't wanna lay an egg everyday lol. chicken hugs are nice, when they are clean lol, my lil whitey gets dirty too much

 

[Mac14]

I lost my only Amerucana (T.C. Tough Cookie) when she was about 6 weeks(?) She was my second favorite out of 9 chickens. They had all got out and my dog got her. I don't really blame my dog because she is a Golden Retriever and they are bird dogs, but for a week or two I wouldn't pet her and told her she was a bad dog. But the more I think about it, T.C. didn't have a very good personality, I liked her because she was beautiful and a lot of people liked her. Probably going to get another one next year, my friend really enjoys hers.

 

[outdoorsii]

I lost my only Amerucana (T.C. Tough Cookie) when she was about 6 weeks(?) She was my second favorite out of 9 chickens. They had all got out and my dog got her. I don't really blame my dog because she is a Golden Retriever and they are bird dogs, but for a week or two I wouldn't pet her and told her she was a bad dog. But the more I think about it, T.C. didn't have a very good personality, I liked her because she was beautiful and a lot of people liked her. Probably going to get another one next year, my friend really enjoys hers.

!! didn't pet your dog for 2 wks lol, thats mean!, Dogs don't really go for the "long term negative reinforcement", kinda like when they pee on your carpet or something you have to discipline them RIGHT THEM, not later, b/c they'll be like "what the heck was that for?? I didn't do anything!"...

 

[OneLostHen]

Just today I lost Rojo.... Our RIR, was supposed to be a pullet, but ended up being a roo. Naturally... So I was wanting to re-home him just as I did for Buck. Well Rojo was acting lethargic late yesterday, worse today then later died. Showed NO symptoms!!!!!
RIP buddy... Wish I knew how to save you.

Her he was with his lady, Marble

The day I brought him and Marb home


Poor fella never got to attempt to crow.....

 

[thechickenwhisperer24]

My lovely Elenor (my only white rock) who we lost to a mystery predator. (Fishercat?) Whatever it was climbed eight feet to the top of the run, pulled away some already loose chicken wire and killed her and left a cut on Morgan and a 5-inch gash on Molly. We found a single white wing on top of the run.

Lily was a gorgeous Red Star. (I think) She started out the morning limping and then slept in my arms for 3 1/2 hours and passed on at four. She just wouldn't do ANYTHING! I miss her terribly. She is buried with some of Elenor's feathers.

Morgan was an adorable massive Jersey Giant. (I think) We went out while the birds were free-ranging and when they came back they were in our neighbors front yard and Morgan was gone. We think it was our neighbors dog. (If that thing comes near my birds again, its gonna get either paintball grenaded or shot multiple times by airsoft and bbs. We can't legally shoot the dog in this town.

)No body was found.

Britney, an EE pullet passed on this morning of unknown causes. Please use the link in my signature!
What a pretty girl! We will miss you baby!

 

[Mac14]

!! didn't pet your dog for 2 wks lol, thats mean!, Dogs don't really go for the "long term negative reinforcement", kinda like when they pee on your carpet or something you have to discipline them RIGHT THEM, not later, b/c they'll be like "what the heck was that for?? I didn't do anything!"...

Ya I probably shouldn't have done that, it's just I could not bring myself to pet her. Now I am the one that spends the most time with her. She has learned that the chickens are not for her to eat, but I still worry that she might snap.

 

[outdoorsii]

Ya I probably shouldn't have done that, it's just I could not bring myself to pet her. Now I am the one that spends the most time with her. She has learned that the chickens are not for her to eat, but I still worry that she might snap.

lol well its good that she's learned they aren't food...

We taught our duck hunting choc lab easy enough - he started associating us feeding/playing w/the chickens as him getting food as well plus we kept saying NOooooo...& we have this tone we get w/him, so he knows -- plus his age helps, he's almost 12 now, so I think he's gettin lazy.

 

[thechickenwhisperer24]

lol well its good that she's learned they aren't food...

We taught our duck hunting choc lab easy enough - he started associating us feeding/playing w/the chickens as him getting food as well plus we kept saying NOooooo...& we have this tone we get w/him, so he knows -- plus his age helps, he's almost 12 now, so I think he's gettin lazy.

My Golden Retriever couldn't care less about the chickens, if anything she protects them. She runs around chasing other dogs away and sniffing for predators. When the girls are free-ranging they will sneak up behind her and peck her tail. When she wags it they run and cluck dramatically.

 

[outdoorsii]

My Golden Retriever couldn't care less about the chickens, if anything she protects them. She runs around chasing other dogs away and sniffing for predators. When the girls are free-ranging they will sneak up behind her and peck her tail. When she wags it they run and cluck dramatically.

Yea, my babies, the 17 wk'ers, lol Pinky & Greeny will hop over him if he's laying down in his way & they'll just hop on his back JUST BECAUSE lol, and he tries to look around back at thtem like "HEY, whatchoo doin!", i think he likes their claws in his back lol, good scratch!

 

[thechickenwhisperer24]

Yea, my babies, the 17 wk'ers, lol Pinky & Greeny will hop over him if he's laying down in his way & they'll just hop on his back JUST BECAUSE lol, and he tries to look around back at thtem like "HEY, whatchoo doin!", i think he likes their claws in his back lol, good scratch!

LOL! We brought my Molly to our Cape house last summer when she was recovering from the five inch gash she received from the mystery predator that took Elenor. We were bored once so we put Molly (a skinny pullet) on Lola's back. I don't even think she noticed until my mom got a camera (she has an irrational fear of cameras) to take a picture and she walked away. Molly did a "surfer chicken" trying to stay on and fly away at the same time.