Mabel

by Jill McMahon
(East Sussex England)

We lost our beautiful girl today – Mabel. Best friend of Isobel the brave who we lost Oct 2022 and Walter her ardent but ineffectual suiter.

Mabel was a big and blousy dark Sussex (3.5kg) and she was 7years 8months of age. Very old for a girl of her breed and her size.

She has lived with us indoors since we lost Isobel. She would have been by herself outdoors and I think she would not have lasted the cold winter of 2022.

She has been a friend to Ivy, our disabled chicken who I think is going to miss her greatly.

Rest well my funny girl. Big chicken, big heart.

Goldie, the golden hen.

by Remi
(Stansbury Park, Utah, )

My family and I got Goldie about a year, maybe two, ago. She was my little sister's favorite and she named her. My sister loved her "Easter egg" blue eggs. I think she was an Araucana. Well, she looked like it the most.

She died on Christmas day. I was going out to feed the hens. And there she was, lying on her side with a hole in her neck down to the bone.

I ran inside crying, when I told my little sis she was devastated.

It suddenly didn't feel as happy and jolly as that morning, but I hope to see her in heaven.

My boy Arlo

by Leo Baker
(Australia )

Arlo was an amazing protector to my girls. I raised him from a chick with one other and they became best friends as they grew up.

His father was a beautiful boy, but we had to get rid of him as he was so aggressive and hated us for no reason at all.

I loved watching Arlo patrol the run and alert the girls when any bird flew by. He was such a good boy. We recently moved them into a new large coop and run and they were loving it.

While I was on vacation I was told he had randomly died and it was so weird. I felt so bad for not being there and I wish I could've spent more time with him. It hurts that this could happen to any of my chickens at any time and I feel helpless when I try to protect them as best as I can.

I guess it's made me remember that lives of our pets are short, and that I will always remember him as a funny little guy who thought he was the boss.

My sweet Little Nugget

by Margie
(Michigan, USA)

My sweet little Nugget joined our family on May 1, 2020 along with her 2 siblings Mango and Baabaa, and triplets of another breed.

Nugget and her siblings were absolutely gorgeous Blue Plymouth or Sapphire Plymouths. Nugget was such a beauty, and the sweetest girl. She and her sister Mango were the best of friends, inseparable.

I worry now that Mango won’t make it long without her. I’m not sure what caused Nugget’s death, but I pray that she didn’t suffer, and most of all I hope that she knew that she was so deeply loved and appreciated.

Rest in peace my sweet girl ♥️

B TOO

by Jim n Shell
(Wauchula, Florida)

B TOO came to us in a flock of six chickens and one rooster three years ago. She was a great girl as her sisters are also.

Proverbs 12:10

“A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.”

Butters

by Hildy
(Vermont)

Butters The Big Buff, Butters for short, was raised by another family who loved their chickens. They would select eggs and raise and care for the hens.

The Lenox family had to move and were unable to take their four remaining chickens with them so I adopted them. It was the end of July 2023, the foursome were only 1 yr old. I was very excited and honored that I was chosen to adopt these beautiful girls and yet very sad to say good bye to great friends.

Butters and her "little" sister Butter Jr, also a beautiful buff, Gladys and Blackie were accepted pretty easily into my flock of six buffs and rooster King and later The Three Amigos (3 chickens my neighbor raised for me).

Fast forward to today, I opened the small coop door and greeted those that came out and went around to the "human" door to change out water and check the coop as per normal, and found Butters dead.

It never gets easy losing a member of the flock. I immediately looked her over and found no apparent reason why. I'm sitting here at work, going on with my day when inside I'm sad. Really sad and feeling like I failed her. But how?

Butters was a big beautiful buff that walked with grace and held her ground with King. She had the softest feathers and the best disposition. I know her little sister and adopted sisters and King will all miss her as much as I do. I believe she is with God and no longer in pain or feeling ill.

My chickens are an extension of my family, my outside kids. Butters The Buff will be missed.
Thank you for letting me share my story. I'm sending hugs to all of you who have had similar experiences.

One Eyed Willy

by Ken Cerra
(Morriston, Florida USA)

Just a great rooster that lived more than 11 years and just passed away today.

We would give him vitamins every day. He was always in our prayers along with our other animals. We always looked forward to holding him each day when we entered the chicken coop. We hatched him on an incubator.

He will be greatly missed and was a beloved pet. God bless our one eyed Willy. Thank you for the many memories over these 11 years.