Henrietta, my Big Bird Buddy

by Stephanie
(USA)

Henrietta was a rescue. I got her at about 2 months old, she had the biggest yellow feet, so big that her back toe looked like a human thumb. She was 15lbs and the biggest chicken I've ever seen. She had huge breasts and thighs. They told me she was a Cornish broiler hen. She was really sweet and loved being around me, looking at me, and running to me.

I loved how we bonded, she was my first backyard chicken. She showed me just how much love you can share with a chicken. Her run was so funny, and everybody who met her loved her. She had a ton of personality and was very friendly and interactive. She liked my dog and was a caretaker for the ducks & chicks we rescued a few months later.

She would talk to you and imitate the sounds you made. If you said "bed time", she would make a sound that was just like that "brak, brim". She had a name for me and would make the sound whenever she saw me. At first people thought I was kidding until they saw it and heard it.

She was killed by an opossum. I blame myself because I didn't close up the house fast enough that night and she was too big to run from it. By the time we heard them scream she was gone. I hope it was fast and that she didn't suffer. I miss her and keep looking for her in the yard. She free ranged during the day with the rest of the girls and went into a secure house at night. I know it was the opossums natural tendency but I wish it hadn't happened. I learned to never delay in closing them up at night.

She was having trouble with a blocked crop and was so big that the vet told me to prepare that she may not live very long. I was hoping she would prove us all wrong. I'm scared for the other girls and have been following them around the yard and putting them away when I'm not outside. They are looking for her too, I hope they are ok going forward without her.

Henrietta, my sweet girl, you gave me so many laughs and love. I miss you a ton and hope to see you someday on the other side. I love you.