Koekoe

by Karen
(Durban south africa)

Koe-koe was a white fat lively chicken who I would actually have conversations with in chicken language.

She would run like a velocicaurous raptor when ever I called her "Koe-Koe Koekoe". She gave me 3 years of eggs except in the winter months and when she was moulting.

I loved that crazy chicken!

Butters aka "Big Red"

by Mar
(Crystal Falls )

I bought 6 chickies at Tractor Supply in Iron Mountain, MI. 3 Buff Orpingtons, and 3 Barred (Plymouth) Rocks. All girls.

They have (had) a good life. I admit that I've been a bit cavalier about caging them. They have a lovely coop, fresh water, good food, plants, bugs, etc..to eat.

The first ones to "disappear" were the Barred Rocks. Black n white striped birds. And then I had 4. -2 Barred.

I go out and rewire their pen in a (failed) attempt at containing the now half wild fowl. The girls just laugh at me and fly over the 4" fence. I turn my back, -3 Barreds.

Today, I go out to my 3 remaining Buffs. Beautiful birds, glossy feathered, bright eyed, red combed ladies.

Go out to put them to bed and "Butters" is sitting in front of the feeder not moving. Comb is all white, drained of blood. No blood anywhere externally.

I'm at a loss.

Lacie

by Barbara Peters
(South Jordan Utah)

My friendly girl, Lacie died today.... I am so sad and as I’m writing this tears are streaming down my cheeks... sounds silly over a chicken, but I raised her from a chick and she was my most favorite because she was so trusting of me.

I feel like I let her down, why did she die? I had a chicken in August that was sick and got her well, but my dear lil Lacie died and I didn’t know she was sick...

She was an Americana and gave me beautiful green eggs...she was white with touches of red in her feathers....

I have seven girls left and hope I won’t let them down... I had just clean their coop the day before, plenty of food and water... why did this happen?

I will miss her... I hope heaven reunites us with all creatures great and small I have had over the years♥️

A tribute to Milly-Moo

by Marie-Claire Piga
(Sydney NSW, Australia)

Milly-Moo was an Isa Brown who came to us three years ago as a small chick with her "sister" Molly-Moo.

Over the years both girls were prolific layers, providing us with beautiful eggs each day.

The girls were treated like royalty, with a gorgeous coop and plenty of yard to free range. They had no-one else to compete for our attention.

Both were taken to the vet on occasions when they were not feeling well. Milly got terribly sick two weeks ago and despite making an amazing recovery on very strong antibiotics, she rapidly declined yesterday.

A visit to the vet confirmed the worst news - that there was nothing more we could for our little lady. We sent Milly-Moo to heaven.

Molly seems to be doing okay without her soul mate but I am sure that she misses her as much as we do.

Vale, Milly-Moo.

To my little struggler

by James
(Point Pleasant NJ USA)

This was my second time raising chicks from eggs. First time I got 3 chicks (who are all living happily on a free range farm I work on) with one not making it, never made it out of the eggs.

Second time first chick born well, second looking little weak at first but now is coming along, third was born with its organs displaced out of its body.

I just remember seeing it trying to walk around and be with the other two, but it just wasn't strong enough to make it. Had to cull it to put it out of its misery.

Frieda

by Cara
(Chesapeake, Va USA)

Frieda was a frizzle barnyard mix. We raised her from a chick. She was truly the most docile and loving chicken we had.

She was perfectly healthy and then this morning I found her dead in the nesting box. No signs of any issues or illness. We can only assume this is a case of Sudden Death Syndrome.

We have lost others before for the same apparent reason, but it never gets easier. We loved her very much. She held a special place in my heart. Whenever she was unsure of a situation, she always looked to me for comfort and protection.

I couldn't protect her or comfort her from this and it breaks me heart. She will never be forgotten. She was not just a chicken. She was a family member. We love you Frieda! Rest in peace my dear girl!

We will miss you Ruby

by Tiffany
(Flintstone, Maryland)

Ruby, also known as Du-wop, was the friendliest chicken in Allegany County. She always met you running with all of her might.

Du-wop was a buff Orpington that would occasionally rest in your lap, and enjoyed hikes in the woods.

She will be dearly missed. Thank you for your friendship.

Missing a piece of our heart named Omelette

by Brooke Lavin
(Las Vegas, NV)

Omelette was hand picked on March 13, 2020 by my 9 year old daughter that had longed to have her very own chicken. She had read, looked at photos, and researched exactly what she wanted to be her very first chicken. She wanted an Americauna chicken and nothing more.

The day she picked Omelette up, she knew they would be best friends. She read to her, would put her on the swing, sleep with her, have her on her lap during school time. Omelette came into our lives the day before our town was shut down from the COVID 19 pandemic.

She was her only friend during quarantine and during forced homeschool. She was sweet, gentle, loved kisses, loved being held and loved sleeping with Aspen (my daughter)

On Saturday, September 5th, 2020 Aspen went out, just as she always did, let her chickens out to free range for a bit and of course swing with Omelette and either FaceTime her uncle or grandmother on the back porch. She eventually put Omelette down to allow her to be with her sisters that we had picked out at the same time as Omelette.

About one hour later when Aspen went to lock them all up back in their coop, Omelette was gone. No trace except 2 large feathers. We looked for hours and then days on end.

Soon we realized that a coyote had come into our backyard during broad daylight and killed our very first live of a chicken.

She was singlehandedly the best chicken we have ever known. She is missed so greatly and we all still cry almost nightly over her loss.

She was so young, brought my daughter through such a hard time in this world of chaos and gave such unconditional love.

Forever we will long for another Omelette to love on.

I love you, Archie

by Kara
(York, SC)

Archie is showcased 3 times in the August/September 2020 edition of Chicken magazine. He is a silver Sebright that's a little tiny bit famous.

I'm literally crying right now I'm so thankful for this page. He's been a source of a lot of my ankle scars but he has a lot of personality and always protected his hens. He is around a year old.

I love him. Thank you.

Chirkut , my love.

by Tuba
(India)

I never had a pet until i decided to buy a little chick from a flea market 386days ago.

Chirkut (quirky) is what called him and he grew up to be the smartest animal I've ever met. Chirkut and his buddy Chulbul were raised more like indoor cats than chickens. I spent almost all of my time with them.

Chirkut was fearless. He jumped from a 3 story building and landed without a scratch. He fought a cat. He knew to sit on a chair and eat from the table. He knew what color to peck on to get a treat. And he understood almost every word I said.

Chirkut was the best thing to ever happen to me. I loved him unconditionally and so did my family. His antics were all we would take about at the dinner table. Also Chirkut was a hen but we called used "he" when it was chick and it stuck.

Chirkut died suddenly on 4 October 2020 of a cardiac arrest. Chulbul and I are devastated. I've decided to get two new chicks to accompany Chulbul but no one can ever replace him.

I loved you Chirkut, I loved you with all my heart. Only if I could use one of your daily hugs to make me feel better.

Foghorn Leghorn

by Susan Parry
(Swanzey, New Hampshire)

Foghorn, his brother Kenny and their sister Penny were our very first chickens ever. We got them in 2016 as little kids.

We brought more hens into the flock to balance the boys out. We recently lost his sister, Penny, who just died for no apparent reason a few months ago, and now this morning I went to let the boys out of their hut and found Foghorn had died for no apparent reason.

He was a Royal rooster and would come when I called him by name, usually he was always with his brother so whenever I called "BOYS" they both came a running.

He and his brother would come to the front door every day at the same time looking for their treats.

He was so beloved, and I am heartbroken, and sad for Kenny as he has lost his best friend.

Foghorn, you were such a good boy. Thank you for giving me the privilege to know you and care for you for the short time we had together.

RIP buddy.

Our 6-month hen left this morning after an egg memory

by Hai
(Coquitlam B.C. )

It’s so sad/shocking - our young hen, One Point, has gone forever with the sixth egg.

She’s just 6 months and 2 days old, started her first egg ten days ago. She’s a locally hatched Buff Orpington without vaccines...

Relatively, she’s the weakest one among the 4 of them. We treat them as pets, let them often run inside the house.

Little Leopold

by Josie

I’m so glad I found this forum, reading other people’s stories helps make my grief less.

Yesterday I had to take my little black Silkie bantam to the vet to get put down. She was in a bad way and wasn’t eating or drinking, her crop was full of some horrible liquid and we couldn’t help her empty it. We thought it was sour crop and we were doing everything we could to get her better but she kept getting worse.

The vet thought she could have cancer or some other underlying condition, so we made the tough call to help her pass easy. She was almost four and was my favorite chicken. She had such a big personality and loved to be cuddled. She had the most knowing eyes.

Whenever any of the other birds were getting petted she would run up and start pecking my arm until I paid attention to her. She always looked at you with eyes that were so expressive and I knew she was so smart.

Leopold ruled the roost and she would parade around with all the other birds like her body guards. She loved cucumber and would make the cutest sounds whenever I’d bring some out. I had her since she was a day old chick and I loved her so much, she’s been with me through such a formative time in my life.

I decided to send her to heaven instead of letting her suffer and held her and said goodbye. Holding her that day, even though I hope it comforted her, was so painful.

I was able to be with her when they sedated her and I got a good long time to say goodbye beforehand. It still hurts so bad though, I’m worried Bubbles, her best flock friend, will not understand where she went...it breaks my heart.

I raised her from a day old chick and loved her so much. She loved me so much and as I held her for the last time I felt peace, and I know she did too.

But I’m devastated and disappointed that I couldn’t have done more for her, I’m just trusting that I gave her the best life she could have had.

Nothing will ever replace her, and I'm so lucky I was the one who got her while she was on earth.

I'll see you again Leopold, I love you so much and I miss you.

Leopold will forever be in my heart ❤️1-19-17 to 10-15-20

Bob the builder. Onix. Siren. My babys...

by Maddie
(Wisconsin.)

I had three chickens that I claimed as my own...
Bob the builder was some sort of fluffy chicken. I can't remember any breeds, my mind is kind of lost at the moment.

Bob was just a chick, she died due to my sister's knee, she had gone to get hers and crushed mine's eye, causing it to die. :(

I screamed at my sister after it seized for 30 seconds or so. I carried her outside till she was fully dead, singing to her quietly, thinking about that makes me teary. I buried her. RIP.

Onix: she was Siren's sister. She was a black bantam, calm, yet active, she was scared of me one day and flew away into our horse pasture. She was stepped on, I found her... She had fly eggs all over her dead body...I was sad and scared, I was mad, I felt that I was done.

I took my anger out on other people for a while. I didn't bury her due to the fly eggs. I didn't know what to do.

Siren. Siren wasn't his name, I never named him, he was smart, handsome, beautiful, and all. I begged my family for chickens and this was the first batch. We had Siren and Onix (and their live siblings) from when they were 2-3 weeks old. They came with their mother, which we named Karen. I doubt she'd ever die.

I don't have much to say about Siren...I didn't know him very well.

I loved all of them, they may have been chickens but they were my babies.

I don't have any pictures...sorry.

I miss u Sunny

by Shreya and my mum Sumona
(Bangladesh)

Her name was Sunny. Because she was the beam of sunshine in our lives.

She was the most important, nicest, kindest and friendliest of all of the chickens in the flock. We never knew what we would do without her. She sounded and looked so innocent.

She once fell sick, me and mum took care of her day and night. She was like old but she never pecked one life. She never troubled us. She was sooooo good I can't even describe in mere words.

But snakes came. And one scared her. She felt so scared she had an heart attack and died immediately.

It's just sooo sad. I didn't even get to kiss and hug her for the last time. I didn't got to tell her I love her. I can't imagine this.

Sunny, even though I act like everything is normal, you are irreplaceable. I love u sooo much and I miss u😭😭😭😭😢😢😢😢❤💛💚💙💜💖💔

Cleopatra - Cleo

by Lisa Gurian
(Sonoma County Callifornia (USA))

I had only had her and 3 others for one week. I waited so long to have chickens again after a dog got in my yard and killed some.

I tried to save my favorite hen so long ago - 1,000 at the emergency vet, but she was too injured. For so many years I did not have them but I missed them so.

Finally I worked out a better safe, confined space, and place to range, the neighbors no longer had that dog, I changed my fencing.

I brought home Cleo who was the biggest Austrolorp, and a rooster, Antony, and Persephone and Antigone. I spent time with them before and after working and all week end getting to know these beautiful 4 month old chickens.

Suddenly Cleo went from sunning and resting to just laying there, eyes closed. She was cold and not easily roused.

I brought her in a carrier and held her and warmed her. A little clear fluid came up her beak. No other injuries, nothing amiss.

I went to check on her and she was gone. The biggest of the 4, the most friendly, and sitting on my arm for the first time just that morning. How could she suddenly be dead?

I feel so sad and so bad. I can think of nothing else. Only a week with me but already I was so attached. It is never easy and tomorrow I have to dig a hole deep enough to bury her properly. I hate that part.

Because it was nite when this happened I have had to put her body outside in a carrier to protect her. I know from so many others, cats, dogs, horses, wild life what it will be like. But it is part of life and having beloved creatures to be part of our family and share our life. I hate being alone when this happens but I am single with no children.

Thank you for providing this space. People do not understand, they say the most unkind uncaring things.

Cleo you were so awesome. I am so sorry I did not know what was wrong and how to help you.

Chicky Boo

by Kris
(Louisiana)

You were fun, and would be the first to run to us when we came outside. Beautiful, small buff Orpington.

From the hatchery in Iowa to my brooder, then the kennel, feathering out and then to the coop, to the freedom of freerange, you lived.

You fed us and we fed you. You loved the melons I grew to feed you. Bok Choy, too.

Thank you God for this life. 1 August 2019-26 October 2020.

Custard you were my favourite. RIP

by Sam

I didn't know you for very long but you were my favourite and always the first to greet me out of the coop.

RIP little buddy.

Marek the Polish cockerel

by Graeme Blackmore
(Aldershot)

Marek was born in July 2019 and we adopted him with another chick and a hen.

The other chick died on the day we adopted the family, but we raised Marek in the living room until he was old enough to go into the coop with the hen.

He developed into a beautiful Polish cockerel but sadly the neighbours disliked his crowing so we had to rehome him at a sanctuary in Kent in January 2020.

He sadly suddenly passed away in September 2020 having made friends with another cockerel and they had adopted a chick each.