Saying Goodbye to Dolly

[BY Bob]

Thanks for tagging me @WhoDatChick

I tend to stay away from memorial threads because I cry too much.

Whodat may not remember but Dolly was the name of one of our original 2 white leghorns. One day there was squawking in the backyard and I came out of the house to see what all the rukus was about and a Red Tail hawk was standing on her back. She was the first hen we ever lost.

Daisy, the greatest hen ever, was a white leghorn. Everything you say about these misunderstood birds is true. They are extremely smart, great fliers, affectionate, they want to be with us. They have curiosity that I just haven't seen in any of my other breeds.

Daisy was the last of our leghorns. I haven't been able to bring myself to replace her with another one. Now I follow @GrandmaDeKorte10 to get my leghorn fix. She has a wonderful flock of them.

I know how much this hurts. I am terribly sorry for your loss.

If it helps, here is my Daisy at her curious best.

 

[lbgreenfield]

Everything you say about these misunderstood birds is true. They are extremely smart, great fliers, affectionate, they want to be with us. They have curiosity that I just haven't seen in any of my other breeds.

I know how much this hurts. I am terribly sorry for your loss.

Thank you @BY Bob for the kind words. Your Daisy and Dolly sounded like such sweet chickens.

And I completely agree with what you said about leghorns, they are so underrated. My Dolly was sooo smart compared to my other birds, knew to follow us to the patio because that’s where secret treats were given out, wouldn’t get fooled by the shaking of the treat bag to corral them to the run because she knew she was going into the run and didn’t want to do that (haha), knew the best spots to lay in sun or dirt bathe, loved to sneak into the house and walk around on the carpet (must’ve felt nice on her feet), the list goes on.

I’m with you in that I don’t know if I can bring myself to ever get another leghorn but time will tell.

Thank you again to everyone❤

 

[mviera101]

So sorry you lost your Dolly gal , You gave her a great life

 

[Grandmas Coop]

Thanks for tagging me @WhoDatChick

I tend to stay away from memorial threads because I cry too much.

Whodat may not remember but Dolly was the name of one of our original 2 white leghorns. One day there was squawking in the backyard and I came out of the house to see what all the rukus was about and a Red Tail hawk was standing on her back. She was the first hen we ever lost.

Daisy, the greatest hen ever, was a white leghorn. Everything you say about these misunderstood birds is true. They are extremely smart, great fliers, affectionate, they want to be with us. They have curiosity that I just haven't seen in any of my other breeds.

Daisy was the last of our leghorns. I haven't been able to bring myself to replace her with another one. Now I follow @GrandmaDeKorte10 to get my leghorn fix. She has a wonderful flock of them.

I know how much this hurts. I am terribly sorry for your loss.

If it helps, here is my Daisy at her curious best.

View attachment 2304307

Bob, you are a brother here on BYC- you have a sweet heart, you and your wife are a blessing to us all. I thank you both for helping us all these last 8 months of national hell. Right here on BYC the American family is one. Love and big sister hugs to you both! -- Becky

 

[lbgreenfield]

Bob, you are a brother here on BYC- you have a sweet heart, you and your wife are a blessing to us all. I thank you both for helping us all these last 8 months of national hell. Right here on BYC the American family is one. Love and big sister hugs to you both! -- Becky

Looking forward to following your Leghorn adventure for Dolly’s legacy, @GrandmaDeKorte10

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I just lost three birds this weekend to a predator, and I was devastated. The miracle is that my sweet Burrito bird (pictured in my avatar) survived. She is just like your Dolly. I carry her everywhere and she loves spending the day in the kitchen with me. I leave the door open for her to come and go as she pleases, but most days she's happy to nap at my feet while I cook. I've cried because I got to keep her in my life, I cry because she is four and I know her time could be short. I only got her last year. People under estimate the enormous personalities that chickens are capable of having. I feel so deeply for your loss. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. RIP Sweet Dolly.

 

[Fuchsia]

I am so sorry for your loss @lbgreenfield she was a very pretty bird!

 

[ChickenGirl300]

We had to say goodbye to our sweet Dolly this morning. She passed away overnight and we found her dead in the coop this morning. She had been sick for about 2 months now. She had lost a lot of weight (her breast bone was really, really protruding), her comb had flopped over and turned light pink, she was having trouble walking, not eating or drinking as much, and was just generally off. After consulting with a few people on BYC, I started treatment with Corid and Valbazen, but last night as I carried her to the coop, I found her vent covered in mites. I was ready to disinfect the coop and all the other chickens plus Dolly this morning with permethrin, but it was too late. I feel absolutely horrible and have been crying all morning. She was in so much pain these past week and really took a turn for the worse over the weekend. We buried her under her favorite tree on our property that she liked to sit under (I couldn't bring myself to do an at-home necropsy or to send her body away). We had adopted her a year ago after her previous owner's flock all got killed by a fox, except Dolly. She was a survivor from the beginning, and I'm just so sad to lose her. I still plan on doing a complete coop/run clean-out and treatment of all areas and remaining flock members.

I just wanted to post a few pictures of her here. I know a lot of folks say that they had the sweetest chicken, but I kid you not, Dolly was literally the sweetest chicken I have ever come across in my life. She'd follow us around, peck at our feet to be picked up, would fall asleep in our lap and in our arms, make happy sounds all the time, loved all kinds of melons, was never in a grumpy mood, and was just happy.

She will be missed by everyone in our family.❤

I'm sorry for your loss. She sounds like a great hen

 

[lbgreenfield]

I just lost three birds this weekend to a predator, and I was devastated. The miracle is that my sweet Burrito bird (pictured in my avatar) survived. She is just like your Dolly. I carry her everywhere and she loves spending the day in the kitchen with me. I leave the door open for her to come and go as she pleases, but most days she's happy to nap at my feet while I cook. I've cried because I got to keep her in my life, I cry because she is four and I know her time could be short. I only got her last year. People under estimate the enormous personalities that chickens are capable of having. I feel so deeply for your loss. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. RIP Sweet Dolly.

Aw, I’m so, so sorry about your losses I’ve lost a total of 5 chickens now, 4 to predators, and it unfortunately doesn’t get easier. Though Dolly was by far the most painful of all.

You are so right about people underestimating chickens’ personalities and that they are capable of so much love, I’ve been struggling with my family to understand that. I’m glad we have a community of chicken lovers here on BYC that understand!

Wishing you and Burrito many happy months ahead, @humblehillsfarm ❤

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Aw, I’m so, so sorry about your losses I’ve lost a total of 5 chickens now, 4 to predators, and it unfortunately doesn’t get easier. Though Dolly was by far the most painful of all.

You are so right about people underestimating chickens’ personalities and that they are capable of so much love, I’ve been struggling with my family to understand that. I’m glad we have a community of chicken lovers here on BYC that understand!

Wishing you and Burrito many happy months ahead, @humblehillsfarm❤

My boyfriend asked me why I want chickens if I'm always so upset over them. I've bawled over them so many times, but I could never live without them now that I have them.