Henny Penny Pearl - RIP

by Maude

We took in the 8 month old beautiful cream Legbar from a friend after neighborhood dogs killed 3 of their 4 chickens.

We have been slowly working to integrate the little blue egg laying hen in with our other 3 hens and rooster. We had to separate the two mean girls and Henny Penny Pearl seemed to be doing well.

She was the friendliest and sweetest. Would come when called and snuggle into my jacket.

Tonight my boyfriend found her lifeless, lying on her side when he went to close them up for the night. No sign of injury. Lying flat on her side in the center of the coop.

I’m traveling so he told me this over the phone. My heart is broken. I have fallen in love with this sweet girl.

RIP Henny Penny Pearl. We love you and I already miss you so much.

Mark & Jezz

by Georgina
(United Kingdom)

My girls hold a special spot in my heart, I wish they didn’t have to go the way they did.

I can’t believe how attached I got to them, but I loved them so much and I hope they had the best lives for the time we had them.

R.I.P Mark and Jezz

Pepper... the spice of the flock

by Kelly
(Reno Nevada)

Pepper was a 10-month old Barred Rock who was the mother hen to our flock of six. She made sure all her sisters were safely tucked in the coop every night before going in herself.

Afraid of nothing and very friendly, she was my favorite.

Pepper will be missed. 😥❤

Goddy 'the chicken '

by Kumkum
(India)

My chicken's name was "Goddy".

I don't know if Goddy was a chicken or rooster, but I like to address him as a male because he gave off such male vibes.

I got him on 10th of November 2022. He was 3 months and 5 days old. My parents gave him to me to divert me or to fill up void me and my duck, "Kallu," felt that day because of the death of my other duck, "Yellowie," the very same day.

He was so small and furry and so yellow (my chicken). He looked exactly like a yellow cotton candy. As the days went by and he grew up, he became all white – like a white peacock, just a lot smaller in size.

He wasn't a picky eater but he liked to eat Coriander.

I lost him today. I found him in the morning in his coop. He was a really sweet baby except he used poop on me a lot. He's been sick for a few days. There was some problem with his eyes, they were all swollen up and there was something coming out of them. It was not just his eyes, his lower face also swelled up later.

I wanted to take him to the doctor but there aren't any near here, they're all very far away. I couldn't go alone which is obviously just a excuse. I could have taken him there if I had just some will power and money .

I cried when held his body in my hand, but after I buried him I felt nothing.

My feelings are all blank. I don't know what to feel.

Morticia & Goose

by D. Bilbrey
(Indiana)

The way I met these two birds was unusual. They were part of a school project for an animal science class I was in. The school project was an experiment, sort of.

We, as a class, watched over their incubators, and once they hatched, split them into 2 groups. One was a group that was fed chick starter, the second was one that was fed cracked corn. At the end of the project, we were allowed to take 2 or more chicks home, if we paid $6 for 2 chicks.

I was one of only 4 students who were willing to help take care of the chicks. I had kind of started bonding with them. I had decided to take 2 home. They were part of the group that was fed just cracked corn, so they were much smaller than the chicks of the other group.

I was okay with that, they would grow. I took them home on Oct. 9th, 2022.

The largest of the two was a bird I immediately named Goose. He just had that vibe. The second was smaller, and much more timid. She had a variety of names, such as Broccoli and Scrappy, but Morticia (Morty for short) fit her best.

They were both wonderful birds. Goose was a goofy rooster, and incredibly loud. He was a gentleman towards Morticia, and was popular with the hens. He had horrible eyesight, but he did everything he could to protect Morticia. I later learned that he seemed to be a Barred Rock/Americana mix.

Morticia was always shy, but over time she warmed up to me and she loved being held and pet. She mostly stayed near Goose, they both loved each other very much. She was incredibly affectionate towards everyone she met. She was an Australorp/Americana mix.
They both grew quickly and faster than expected.

During the night of Feb. 11-12, 2023, they both died in a fire. We still don't know what caused it.

I will never forget them.

The life of Eevee

by Rebekah
(Georgia)

Eevee, my favorite girl, was taken too soon.

Eevee was an 8 month old Dominique. She was the absolute sweetest girl I’ve ever known. I hiked up a mountain with her in my arms. She let my friend's daughter slide down the slide with her. Although I do have other girls who don’t mind being held for a moment, Eevee was the only one who craved it and would run up to you for cuddles. She even used to purr at me for affection.

Eevee’s life was cut short on 2/7/23 from a hawk attack. To say I am devastated is an understatement.

I will certainly miss my Eevee girl.

Bully boy

by Sally Malkin
(Lincolnshire, UK)

My boy passed away suddenly this morning. He was 9, my gorgeous Bully Boy. I rescued him.

Go to Rainbow Bridge, I will look after your 2 girls.

God bless my feathered friend xxxx

Was it my fault?

by Shawna
(Washington)

One my sweet hens died...I still can't get past it. I still picture finding her dead in my head.

I found her under one of the folded chairs inside a flap in the run. I had put the chair in there for more places to perch. I had no clue it might entrap one. I don't even know how long she was there for.

I thought I was keeping count of how many I have at night when they were up in the coop (we adopted a spare one) but I was obviously miscounting. I built what I thought was a great coop, a place that would protect them not knowing what I placed in there would possibly harm them.

I know she had a good life as she got to roam all over the place on our property...and I have to remember that. What I do hope is that she did not suffer.

How does one get past the death of a pet chicken?

Pepper roo

by Timbra
(Oregon )

Just lost my boy tonight. He was at my feet eating his grubs, and he had a heart attack all of the sudden.

I picked him up instantly and within seconds he was dead in my arms.

He was the best boy. Not rough with the hens. Never bothered other roosters, was just sweet and loving.

He was 8 years old. And I will miss him forever.

Sudden death

by Patty
(USA)

One of little 9 month old hens named Pterra, was found dead in the coop by my husband yesterday morning and we are both upset and wondering what we missed or should have done.

No sign of predator or trauma. Behaving normally etc. She was found on her side off the roost with her legs straight out behind her.

She was an Ancona with black and white feathers. I had her since she was 2 days old.

We even had her drooping comb over her right eye surgically sutured in the summer so that her vision was unobstructed.

A heart attack possibly? I guess it will remain a mystery.

Dixie

She was my baby, beautiful barred rock. Loved cuddles and treats. She came in and played with my family. Loved jumping on me when I did yard work.

My buddy Nelson

by Brody Rouse
(Haynesville, Maine. USA)

Nelson was a brown and black rooster who we got when he was only a few months old. His comb was very small and he was very skittish. He didn’t want to be touched or anything.

I love chickens. So much. I have 10 hens and I’m getting more soon. We got Nelson October 23, 2022. And on Jan 22, 2023, he had to be put down. He was suffering. He was getting so big so fast. Learning how to be a big rooster on his own. He was quadruple the size of the hens.

I started spending time with him. Having him get used to me. And before I knew it we were with each other all the time.

And on Jan 19, 2023 I noticed something was off about him. He stayed in his box and didn’t come out. He wouldn’t eat. He wouldn’t drink. He wouldn’t even move. I started to panic.

After a day of letting him rest and hopefully getting better, I tried feeding him again. No budge. I read I can give him some antibiotics because he had yellow poop and his comb was going to a dark purple/black. He had no energy.

And each day he got worse. With me trying everything, everyday, all day, to make him better, it wasn’t helping. He was giving up and I was getting even more heartbroken by the moment.

We saw him with his head hanging low and hardly breathing. And I decided I wanted to end his suffering. He was too far gone. It has only been over 24 hrs.

And I still can’t help but to think my buddy is gone.

I love you so much Nelson 💔.

Frazzle

by Kelley Pruitt
(Nc, usa)

We are new to raising chickens and Frazzle was one of our first Easter Eggers.

She was only a few days old when we got her, but from early on she was a crazy, wild headed girl! Scared of everything but the queen of the roost!!! She did not take crap from the other girls but let the wind blow and – well, that's how she got her name haha.

She passed suddenly yesterday. She's the first baby we've lost. We think she may have been egg bound.

I never realized how much these girls would touch my heart. But when I sit in my chair and they fly up and sit in my lap waiting for their snacks, man, you can't help but fall in love.

We love you Frazzle and will miss your crazy fluffy butt.

Hana my little boy

by Parisa
(Tehran, Iran)

I bought two little chicks. Their name were Tala and Hana.

They grew up and they were 7 months old. Hana as a rooster and Tala as a hen. They were really like my child. They knew their own name when I call their name. They loved pasta and orange and tomato.

About three days ago, Hana suddenly got sick and died. Doctor said respiratory infection was the reason.

Now I have very bad days. Tala and me will never forget him. He was very pretty. I don't know how to forget him...

Our little one!

by Alessandra Silva
(Mackay, Australia)

One day visiting a farm, my partner and I got offered a little chicken that got hatched by the ducks. They didn’t know who was the mom and didn’t have a safe coop to leave it, so we brought it home.

We have two other chickens but we kept him inside. He didn’t want to stay alone and followed us wherever we went. He got very noisy if left alone.
After a few weeks he stayed out with the other chickens that accepted him.

I have two Silkie hens that are very scary and he was already looking after them, being just 7 weeks old. We don’t know the breed or the sex but we have a feeling that it was a boy.

During the night he came inside the house where he watched TV with us, he had his towel that stayed on the couch – because he thought it was his couch!

He was very fun and active, he loved to sleep on his side with his legs outstretched.

Yesterday I left the house on the morning and he stayed in the backyard like everyday. He seemed happy in the morning.

When we came back I called his name but he didn’t come. I went to look for him and I found him dead on the floor. He had no sign on his body, he didn’t look sick at all. I cannot understand how it happened.

My heart is broken, I cannot believe how much I loved him in very short time.

Today has been a quiet day, my hens doesn’t want to stay outside, they spend the day inside close to the door, they also look upset.

I miss him already, my smart and sweet boy.