Sad after losses

[Worm94]

well, I lost a hen recently to what I'm pretty sure was heart failure. She had the purple comb, she slowed down bad in her last few days and she died in her sleep, about as peaceful as I guess they can. She was about three and she'd struggled with weight her whole life and maybe it finally got to her but I loved her and she was a dear favorite in the flock and she's deeply missed.
just between that and my sweet rooster goose losing his foot last year, and recently another rooster getting foot complications from frostbite of all things? No one else has had issues. I think he stood out in the cold too long so when I found him he already had the problem.
Id gone out to put them to bed and I hadn't heard anything but the poor fellow just was out there in the worst of the wind and hadnt gone to shelter.
It seemed minor at first but I don't know. Of course he had to be one of my favorites too and I've been treating him best I can from what I've read up but I am so sad for him and I feel so defeated. I'm worried I'll have to put him down and it's going to destroy me if I have to.
I don't think I want chicks from him anymore either because I'm worried that because his father had bumblefoot he's predisposed to it and he did have some small bumbles. Was treating them with drawing salve up until he got the other foot issues.
I'm worried I'm a bad chicken owner. The rest seem fine, happy and healthy but it's just painful to feel like I keep losing them or they keep getting hurt. I've gotten paranoid about checking them, but also afraid that if I catch something going on it'll be too late or I'll make it worse by trying to fix it.
I don't know if this is the correct forum, searched around a bit but winter's been very very hard this year and spring still feels way too far away.
On one hand I try so hard to spoil em, they get to free range some because I'm lucky enough to have space for that and I give em veggie scraps and rare corn for the coldest nights. On the other, it hollows me out inside when I lose them and I'm still struggling to cope with the grief and it's been one thing after another this last year and now.
I want to remember them happy but it still doesn't feel like enough when they go.

 

[Slothinc]

well, I lost a hen recently to what I'm pretty sure was heart failure. She had the purple comb, she slowed down bad in her last few days and she died in her sleep, about as peaceful as I guess they can. She was about three and she'd struggled with weight her whole life and maybe it finally got to her but I loved her and she was a dear favorite in the flock and she's deeply missed.
just between that and my sweet rooster goose losing his foot last year, and recently another rooster getting foot complications from frostbite of all things? No one else has had issues. I think he stood out in the cold too long so when I found him he already had the problem.
Id gone out to put them to bed and I hadn't heard anything but the poor fellow just was out there in the worst of the wind and hadnt gone to shelter.
It seemed minor at first but I don't know. Of course he had to be one of my favorites too and I've been treating him best I can from what I've read up but I am so sad for him and I feel so defeated. I'm worried I'll have to put him down and it's going to destroy me if I have to.
I don't think I want chicks from him anymore either because I'm worried that because his father had bumblefoot he's predisposed to it and he did have some small bumbles. Was treating them with drawing salve up until he got the other foot issues.
I'm worried I'm a bad chicken owner. The rest seem fine, happy and healthy but it's just painful to feel like I keep losing them or they keep getting hurt. I've gotten paranoid about checking them, but also afraid that if I catch something going on it'll be too late or I'll make it worse by trying to fix it.
I don't know if this is the correct forum, searched around a bit but winter's been very very hard this year and spring still feels way too far away.
On one hand I try so hard to spoil em, they get to free range some because I'm lucky enough to have space for that and I give em veggie scraps and rare corn for the coldest nights. On the other, it hollows me out inside when I lose them and I'm still struggling to cope with the grief and it's been one thing after another this last year and now.
I want to remember them happy but it still doesn't feel like enough when they go.

I am so sorry for your losses. Most of us here have lost birds in one way or another. I lost my very favorite girl last year (she was killed by neighbors pet) and it was the most heartbreaking thing for me.
I cried for weeks over her. There is nothing that can completely fill the hole she left in my heart. But because I lost her, I ended up hatching more babies that I wouldn’t have hatched otherwise, and they are so sweet.

I ultimately am very glad that I decided to welcome more babies into my life, even though at the time it seemed too difficult to think about. I hope that your boy with foot issues can recover and remain with you hugs!

 

[townchicks]

I'm sorry you're going through this. It's always hard to lose them, but that shows you care. I hope your rooster recovers.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

I'm so sorry for your losses

 

[MountainWoman73]

You're not a bad chicken owner, just a chicken owner. They come and they go. Sometimes it can be a bummer. Sounds like you're on a streak of bad luck. Hope it turns around soon.

 

[Noralynn]

well, I lost a hen recently to what I'm pretty sure was heart failure. She had the purple comb, she slowed down bad in her last few days and she died in her sleep, about as peaceful as I guess they can. She was about three and she'd struggled with weight her whole life and maybe it finally got to her but I loved her and she was a dear favorite in the flock and she's deeply missed.
just between that and my sweet rooster goose losing his foot last year, and recently another rooster getting foot complications from frostbite of all things? No one else has had issues. I think he stood out in the cold too long so when I found him he already had the problem.
Id gone out to put them to bed and I hadn't heard anything but the poor fellow just was out there in the worst of the wind and hadnt gone to shelter.
It seemed minor at first but I don't know. Of course he had to be one of my favorites too and I've been treating him best I can from what I've read up but I am so sad for him and I feel so defeated. I'm worried I'll have to put him down and it's going to destroy me if I have to.
I don't think I want chicks from him anymore either because I'm worried that because his father had bumblefoot he's predisposed to it and he did have some small bumbles. Was treating them with drawing salve up until he got the other foot issues.
I'm worried I'm a bad chicken owner. The rest seem fine, happy and healthy but it's just painful to feel like I keep losing them or they keep getting hurt. I've gotten paranoid about checking them, but also afraid that if I catch something going on it'll be too late or I'll make it worse by trying to fix it.
I don't know if this is the correct forum, searched around a bit but winter's been very very hard this year and spring still feels way too far away.
On one hand I try so hard to spoil em, they get to free range some because I'm lucky enough to have space for that and I give em veggie scraps and rare corn for the coldest nights. On the other, it hollows me out inside when I lose them and I'm still struggling to cope with the grief and it's been one thing after another this last year and now.
I want to remember them happy but it still doesn't feel like enough when they go.

I truly understand your feelings I've been going thru losses and it's heartbreaking.I never knew like most people ,that you could love a chicken so much.