The Old Folks Home

[Stumpy]

gryeyes, so sorry about your guy. He sounds very special.

 

[Cynthia12]

So sorry Linda. Sounds like you will have great memories of him. You have already shared a few of those.

 

[Arielle]

I feel sort of silly posting this, what with recent bad news certainly overshadowing it, but I found my house rooster, Jack, dead on the sofa this morning. He was still warm, but gone. My silly, special needs WCB Polish boy would surely have died months ago had I not brought him into the house permanently, after the third time he suffered crest and head pecking damage, so he had some very special time with me, but I didn't think he would die with so little warning.

He was a little off last night, holding his wings away from his body as he perched on the back on the sofa. He also wanted to snuggle right against my body. I brought him a cup of water and he drank quite a bit, eagerly.

He has never shown all that much energy (except when crowing!) and his movements have always been measured and deliberate, due to his blind eye. He never ran or scampered anywhere, the two pullets often ran past him and he'd start turning circles as if the girls' passing had enough force to whirl him around like some cartoon scene. I had to encourage him to jump up on the sofa and he always clawed /climbed up my torso or the arm of the sofa to get to the sofa back. So, he's never been "right" - I just didn't expect to find him dead.

I could always tell it was Jack walking around - laminate floors - and his steps sounded like he stomped everywhere, carefully placing his feet for each step. He stopped frequently, as if to rest in his explorations.

I am so sad. Quivery lip sad, leaky eyes. I wrapped him in a t-shirt but am not ready to bury him
yet. He was a big lunk of feathered, trusting company.

LInda, it is never easy to lose a friend, especially one as special as Jack. He clearly made an impact in your life and you will miss him for a long time. Bury him when you are ready to say good bye, been there. (( hugs))

 

[Cynthia12]

Icy roads, fog..gunk in the air...weird winter. Next month, we can say, next month is March. Hang in there is all we can do.

Clear this morning, then fog again, now rain. Maybe it will clear the air! It's been horrible! Everyone around here is sick. First the upper resp. now the tummy stuff.

 

[Wisher1000]

So sorry about your loss, Linda. I know how much enjoyment he brought you and how much company he was. He was truly a lucky chicken haveing spent the last weeks of his life in the warm embrace of his human who adored him, shared her sofa, her soup and her heart, with him. There is no greater blessing than to die happy, and I assure you, he did. Greive, cry, mourn your loss, and resign yourself to miss him for selfish reasons, and then, when you can, think of him only with fond thoughts of the special joy he gave you with his special little personality and be glad you knew him.


Cyn - Hope you stay well, or get well quick!

 

[Cynthia12]

So sorry about your loss, Linda. I know how much enjoyment he brought you and how much company he was. He was truly a lucky chicken haveing spent the last weeks of his life in the warm embrace of his human who adored him, shared her sofa, her soup and her heart, with him. There is no greater blessing than to die happy, and I assure you, he did. Greive, cry, mourn your loss, and resign yourself to miss him for selfish reasons, and then, when you can, think of him only with fond thoughts of the special joy he gave you with his special little personality and be glad you knew him.


Cyn - Hope you stay well, or get well quick!

I'm the well one. My husband just got sick this afternoon. But when I said everyone around here, I meant the whole state! No kidding! Utah is up there as being one of the highest in rater of people with the flu. It's sad. I know a lot of our neighbors are sick. I am trying to stay in while all of this crud in the air is sticking around..but! It is raining hard outside! This is good news..I hope I wake up to a clear day tomorrow.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Linda and Jack...

He had an extended and happy/safe life inside. Not many people would have done that.

 

[dsqard]

Linda so sorry to hear that you lost Jack. It is so hard to lose such a special one.

(X a bajillion) I know you will always have such fond memories of him and I hope it is those memories that help to ease the pain of losing him.

 

[wolftracks]

Well I came in to gloat, but now I'm not going to. Sorry about all the sickies on here. Lots of my family is sick right now too. When my 16 year old says yes to missing school, I know he doesn't feel well.

Linda, I'm so sorry about your little guy. I lost 2 of my favorites during that dog attack earlier and saw nothing as nice as Baby at the shows and came home with a trio from the same breeder as Ganache.

 

[gryeyes]

Thank you for all the kind words. Here's a recent photo of Jack perched on his stool on the coffee table. He was LF WCBP, not some bantam fella.


And then, what has cheered me immensely today was picking up Sparkle, the silkie hen another BYCer needed to re-home - and *I* was selected (mostly because of my explanation about my House Chickens).. These shots were all taken while we sat in the parking lot after the exchange.

. .

We had a lovely ride home from Sacramento - she's so docile and trusting. We brk-brked at each other the whole distance. We're home, now.... acclimating. Dooley, the No Chickens In The House guy is horrified with the new Inside Addition. Zorro doesn't give a .... hoot.... about her at all, just as long as she doesn't ever get between him and his dog dish. Lizbeth is the absolutely fantastic cat she is and just sniffed Sparkle then sat back when Sparkle flapped in surprise.

Simba the rabbit probably hopes there won't be another chicken roosting on his hutch at night.