Daisy - our first beloved head hen

by Melinda
(Templeton Ca)

Daisy was a beautiful buff Orpington and one of our first flock.

She was the head hen and kept everyone in line. She was only a year old but she was our favorite. She was the friendliest of all the flock and will be greatly missed.

She loved her treats and was always the first to come running when she saw us.

We will remember you fondly dear Daisy.

Cookie

by Maggiev
(Henderson, NV)

Cookie was a beautiful Australorp with iridescent green and black feathers. She was often broody, but never aggressive. She was part of our family for almost a year.

Cookie was gentle and fast. She stood her ground when it came to the pecking order, but never hurt anyone. She always let the kids hold her and pet her.

Her favorite treats were blueberries and tomatoes. She will be missed in our flock.

God speed, Cookie! Thanks for so, so many speckled, lavender-brown eggs.

2 sudden baby chick death

We live in a desert and it's most of the time cold here.

On 3/29/23, we got 20 baby chicks. One of them died for no reason, So we buried her. They are all girls.

Then, On 3/31/23, two more chicks died, Unexplainably. Both of them were breathing normally, They died in our hands.

R.I.P. 2 chicks. (we didn't get to name them all).

Losing Mrs. Winkles

by Dale Heydt
(Coatesville,Pa, USA)

Mrs Winkles was the biggest of my 4 adult hens I got last April. I bought them as adults so I am not really sure how old they are but for the first summer we got 3-4 eggs a day, every day.

My granddaughter named her and she quickly became our favorite. She wasn’t the bossy one or like the ornery 2 who don’t like to get back in the pen. Mrs. Winkles was just the sweet one who loved to eat.

I noticed she was very lethargic when the others were loose in the garden. I was hoping to get her to a veterinarian today but she didn’t make it through the night.

I feel so bad, like I should have done something more to help her. So, I am dealing with grief as well as guilt. My brother in law told me it is all part of raising chickens and that I did the best I could for her but they are so dependent on me to make sure they are safe and cared for.

I can’t get past the guilt.

RIP Vicki

by Lydia X Chavez
(Los Alamitos, CA, USA)

I bought two Leghorn chickens about a year ago just because I love animals. White leghorn: Vicki. Brown leghorn: Icki. They were both two weeks old when I brought them home.

Just three days ago, my white Leghorn passed. By her 9th or 10th month of age, she seemed to always be tired & cold. These symptoms let me know she may have had a heart condition. I'm new to raising chickens but I follow & learn from farmers on Pinterest.

I took her to the vet but there was nothing she could do so we put her to sleep & she died in my arms. I got violently sick from crying so much for Vicki.

I'm now worried for Icki as she seems to eat very little & poops very little since Vicki's passing. Could Icki also be depressed?

I brought Vicki home to bury her & I had my cats & Icki say their farewells. Icki knew Vicki was ill. When I left to the vet, Icki looked worried.

Should I get Icki a baby chick as I do believe motherhood may bring her joy? I don't want Icki to die as well. I'll be so devastated.

Winnie, a beautiful Middlesham blue,

by Sandy
(Kent, UK)

Sadly, Winnie died today. She was nearly 3.

My partner Annette and I got 4 hens during lock down. All was great until July 2022. My partner died after receiving a terminal diagnosis. The girls were never the same after she died.

Our red hen died within 1 week (Doris). Now Winnie today. No reason. Both just died suddenly in my arms. Never really laid eggs after Annette died.

Thank you. Sandy

Marge

by LoryAnn
(Harrisville , New York )

I lost my Marge on Sunday from what I’m guessing is Sudden Death after reading the information on this page.

My husband found her in the floor of the coop with her eyes closed and not moving. He brought her in and I immediately knew it wasn’t good and my eyes tested up.

I tried to give her some water but she wouldn’t really take it. I held her wrapped in a towel and she suffered what I thought was a seizure, then collapsed.

She was fine the previous day, eating and running all over the yard. I brought her home when she was only a few days old and have had her for over 3 years. She was the queen chicken of the coop and they all looked to her.

I will miss her every day! She would lay her head on my shoulder when I held her!

To Rocky the rooster

by Bobby Howard
(Lucedale Ms )

Rocky was a good soul and a beautiful bird, always a happy crow in the mornings...he will be missed.

Gentle creatures

by Meriel Springer
(Rugby, England)

After my husband built a coop and a covered run, we purchased our first six chickens on July 10, 2021. Our first to pass was a wonderful Star Amber chicken named Henny Penny.

She seemed to be a victim of her own prolific egg production. After a year we lost her to egg peritonitis.

Later in 2022, we lost another, which was a Blue Hen named Blue Belle, to an unknown cause. She died gently in my arms.

We replaced these birds with two Devon Blues. I always wanted to keep chickens but never did so until 2021.

I am in my 60s. These are my only losses so far but they will be remembered for the love and cuddles they gave me.

Bryony the Brave

by Vicky
(Brighton, England, UK)

The cutest, cheekiest and friendliest chicken I have ever had the pleasure of owning.

Bry was not scared of anything. When she was broody she would run at me (and only me!) and just bump into my leg.

She loved a cuddle on the sofa watching snooker(!). She also enjoyed a snuggle in the dogs bed (dogs just move!) catching some sun, and particularly loved destroying my plants.

Taken way too soon by a fox (and our stupidity). My wife witnessed it but could do nothing. She assures me it was quick. We were both devastated and I still miss her - I always will.

To own a chicken is to love a chicken. Bryony was an old soul and will always have a special place in my heart.

Vicky

Dot, a good chicken

by Cile
(Harvest, Alabama)

Dot was a good chicken, a Speckled Sussex only 11 months old. She was hatched on March 29, 2022 and I received her the next day, one of a group of 8.

There were 4 Sussex and 4 Dominiques. They all spent the first five weeks of life in my spare bedroom and then moved to their coop, run and outdoor yard which my family lovingly built.

Nothing was overlooked and we put all of our energy and love into the building. They began laying at 20 weeks. Such a happy group, talkative, attentive and affectionate, loving to get attention.

They all had a fairly hard molt at 7 months, kinda early, and egg production really decreased, but in December began again.

I fermented their feed and fed them soldier fly larvae, greens and flowers for treats. At all times were protected from predators. Although she was low in the pecking order, she didn't appear to be bothered by it. Lots of room to roam, scratch, dust bath and nap in the warm sun.

This morning all the girls were let out into their big yard at 6:30, all accounted for and appearing in good spirits. After making coffee, etc, they were checked on again and Dot was lying on her side lifeless.

What an unexpected shock! She exhibited no signs of illness at all. They were all showing off for the neighbors the afternoon before and we all laughed at their antics.

So sad and, like others before me, wondering if I did anything wrong. I don't think so but, who knows for sure.

Am so grateful for her and she was happy even though her life was short. Will never forget her and she was loved by our entire family.

Dot was a very good chicken.

Astrid

We got Astrid and 7 other chicks in June of last year. I gave them the best care I could, and spoiled her with treats (in moderation, the right amount, not too many).

When she was a chick, she was spunky, and practically uncatchable! She was the smallest, yet the bossies, too! but when she started to lay, she mellowed out into a sweet lap chicken.

This morning, when I went to let them out and feed them, she was just laying on her back, stiff under the roost. She must have died in her sleep.

The reason still remains a mystery, but I loved that little chicken.