My best friends.....

I had 3 chickens and they followed me everywhere and I spent a lot of time with them. I carried them around and we enjoyed every minute we had together. They were my best friends for over 2 years.

Today was my birthday and I went with my sister to get some flowers. I came home to a silent chicken coop, which was very abnormal because the girls always greeted me.

Here they were in there coop and all but one dead. The 3rd one was still holding on, but couldn't keep going.

Something had chewed their heads off and left them lay!! I can't stop thinking of that gruesome sight and feel so bad for my 3 innocent sweet chickens that I loved so much!!

Definitely a birthday I will never forget, turned into a very sad day for me.

Thank you for reading my story.

In Loving memory of my special girl Faith

Faith and Hope were two Isa Browns bought to offer company to another v special and loving chicken called Piper who lost her friend Stompy.

Faith was just over two years old and had to be put down today as she couldn't stand and they found a big mass in her tummy.

She was like a big sis to Hope who liked to eat and eat and Faith would step back patiently and allow her to gobble. She was a big chicken with a beautiful regrowth of feathers and so delightful to touch.

They both loved to call out for company and also followed me everywhere in the garden. She loved grapes and they both looked like punk rocks when they got wet in the rain.

She had a funny walk and would run to greet me when I went to the backyard. A life cut so short and very sad at her loss - tears come to my eyes. I do not know how her sister will cope without her as Piper passed away over a year ago.

Chickens are so precious and God's gift to us.

Big Baby - So sad to see you go...

by Amy Yeager
(Danville, KY, USA)

My son and I began raising chickens back in March. We babied them and built a nice coop.

We've gotten close to our 'babies' during quarantine. We had three large white chicks of which we do not know the breed. They've gotten very large quickly.

Tonight I went out to the coop to put them 'to bed', and found one of my white babies dead in the center of the coop. No blood, no bugs, no predators - just dead.

Thank you for having this memorial page. It helps!!

Atila the Hen - Tilly bird!

by Fern
(Mckinleyville, CA)

Today I found my dominant hen dead in the bushes. It looked like she was sleeping.

She was such a good leader. She patrolled while the others ate snacks, and she interrogated EVERYTHING that came into her territory.

She loved tomatoes, to be snuggled, and attempting to eat my freckles.

I miss her.

Clay's hen

by Rachel
(United States)

She was the larger of the two hens... beautiful iridescent black feathers. Strong and proud. Sweet and loud.

Clay's grade hatched eggs at school. He instantly fell in love with two black chicks. He gently plucked them out of the box...one in each hand. He was beaming happiness...he picked two beautiful girls. We had the room in our yard for such an adventure as raising chickens...how could I say no to love?

Today, I went out for eggs...I thought she might be inside the coop, resting on them, but instead I found her passed. Such a shock of sadness at only two years old. She was so healthy...just the day before...I had even taken pictures...so photogenic!

The sister seems lost now...we feel a bit lost too...

When you care for something, no matter the being...its heart has etched itself to yours forever.

Keep the beauty alive in memories shared.

Stay well.

Two little chickies

by Angela
(Colorado, USA)

I am sorry to hear about your rooster, Charlie. One of my hens died today, also suddenly. This is after a cat got one of my chicks, so I lost 2 in one week. 😔

Big Birtha

by GRooster
(Hardy, AR)

She was the best egg layer ever, despite being bow-legged. I should have known better than to take her motorcycle riding.

RED

by Dawn R.
(Florida)

Red was a hen, my favorite. She was the most calm of all the hens and curious. I would call the hens in at night and she would be the first one at the run door.

She was only 8 weeks old. She was a beautiful copper color Jersey hen. She died in the coop. All the other hens were just fine.

My coop is a fortress, it has to be due to the wildlife area I live in. There were no signs of trauma, no blood, nothing. She must have just died right before I went out to open the coop to the run. I say that because she was still warm.

The night before was their first night in the coop. They had been in the garage due to unreasonable cool temperatures at night. However, I would introduce the hens to the coop so they could feel it out and get used to it.

I think Red died from stress.

Anyway, that's my story. Like others who have written about their chickens, I know I cared for all of my hens. They were spoiled.

Muriel

by Georgia Mullin
(Somerset, UK)

My rooster, Muriel, was a really cute Japanese Bantam, with gold, blue, and black feathers. I first got him in 2012, when I was 8 maybe 9.

When we first got him, I used to always come home from school, and pick him up for a hug, and after a few months, I had practically tamed him. This meant that I could pick him, and he wouldn't run away from me.

I think the special thing about this chicken was, we had such an unbreakable bond, almost like a bond between dog and human, but chicken and human. He was the sweetest chicken ever!

It was only on 15/08/2018 that I realized how strong our bond really is! I had just come home from a holiday with my real dad, when the unbearable happened. Half an hour later after coming home, me and my mum heard the sound of chickens being attacked, so we went in the garden, to find next door neighbour's dog, and a not very well looking chicken!

It was Muriel. He had been attacked by a dog! After that, I was trying to get my mum to take him to the vet's, and so I was carrying him up to the car, passed him to my mum so I could get in, and then when my mum put him on my lap, he had sadly passed away.

After this, I was left speechless, and shocked! So the next day/later that night, I went to bed feeling sorry for myself, and then all the emotions hit me! I woke up at 3 am, crying my eyes out! And this went on for a few days. And then I got a new chicken, Myrtle, but she will never replace Muriel!

If I could say a few words to my chicken I would say, "I love you so much Muriel, you are my brave chicken!"

Snowy peacock

She was a cheeky girl, loved to sneak inside whenever she could to peck at the floor and the cat's food. She would catch sight of me from across the yard and run as fast as her little legs could carry her, hoping for a treat.

Snowy was fine one day and not eating, drinking or standing by herself the next. It happened so quickly we don't know what it was that killed her.

We loved you Snowy, and don't really know what we will do now that you are gone and won't come running when you spot us anymore.

RIP.

My little Eloise

by Anne Wedlund
(Seattle Wa)

Ellie was born 5/15/19. She was a beautiful Speckled Sussex that we got at 5 weeks of age with her best friend Olive.

They were always together being 2 months younger than our other two. We originally had 3, but the buff Brahma bantam turned out to be a roo.

We regimes him to my daughter horse boarding farm and then went to the grange to pick out 2 babies.

Ellie was the best. Silly. Funny. When she came running she would spread out her wings and “fly” along the ground to us as fast as her little feet could carry her. She had just the run of our yard with a 6 foot fence and a French Bulldog to guard her.

I had just been outside with her on a sunny morning. I went inside to my bedroom and heard a flapping noise. Looked out window and she was flapping on her back for a second then lay stiff on her back.

Her 3 friends looked on in confusion. Ran outside and she was already dead. Just that fast. I will always miss her and wonder what happened to her.

Rip my beautiful Ellie.

Ceda

by Emily
(Connecticut)

My little hen Ceda was only 3 years old when she died.

Ceda never really cared for people, until a few days ago. I knew something was wrong the moment I saw her sleeping on the ground in the corner by herself. I picked her up and put her in a laying box where she usually sleeps with her sister.

I did that for 2 more days until I realized something must be wrong here. She never let people touch her and she never kept to herself like this. I brought her in and noticed her crop was swollen and she was wasting away to nothing.

We didn't have the money for a pricey vet visit so we did the best we could on our own. The last 2 days I spent with her, I spent every moment with her. Trying to get her to eat, or drink, or make her feel better and do whatever I could.

I figured she missed her flock, so I let everybody out into the yard to scratch and she loved every moment of it.

The day after was when something was really wrong. She wouldn't eat or drink or stand on her own. So I force fed her to give her at least a chance. But nothing worked.

She passed away today in my arms. During her last few days I spent every moment I could with her to try and make her feel not alone. I also created a bond with her I've never ever experienced with another bird before, so it shattered my heart when she passed away.

But while she was passing, I told her it was okay and that I love her. I am so unbelievably beside myself and don't know what to do. I know it was just her time and there was nothing else I could do.

Hopefully I gave her the best last days and everything she needed, and she passed peacefully.

Matilda

by Hilary
(Bedford UK)

Gorgeous... one of an initial 6 bought together. White.. One of a pair and so much space to wander and such a large secure area to keep them all safe at night.

Cheeky... She loved coming into the house if she had a chance but had been enjoying the bright sunny weather we've had over the last few days.

Last night she couldn't climb up her ramp to bed and her head was leaning to one side when we checked on her in the middle of the night...

This morning she was dead😥

Just so unexpected.

She was only about two years old and had such a lovely life.

Don't know why she died... Her brother and sisters seem really healthy... So sad 😭

Poppy the hen

by AJ
(Batemans bay)

Poppy was a lovely brown hen. She was the only one in the coop of 8 chickens that didn't run away from me.

Our electric fence to keep the dogs and foxes out wasn't working one day, so the dogs had dug a hole into the coop. The dogs couldn't fit in, but Poppy could get out.

A few hours later, all there was left was a pile of feathers.

Poppy loved snuggles, and was always the first one to race to the door.

I just want everyone to know that it isn't dumb to be sad over chickens, so be happy to know that people who think it is, are even dumber than they say you are.

RIP Poppy.

My pretty girl

by Mj Reyes
(Nj)

She was such a sweet, shy, lovely hen. I miss her so much.

She was just a year old, was fine in the morning, and a few hours later I heard a squawk and saw she was on her side and couldn't get up.

I got a pail with warm water and held her for a few minutes thinking it would help her if she was egg bound. But she couldn't keep her eyes open and was very weak.

I took her out and put her on a towel and let her rest, but suddenly she threw her head back and began fluttering around and died.

I was horrified and heart broken. I don't know what caused her death but I pray the Lord has her sweet soul.

My Sweet Mona

by Carrie
(Elkhorn, WI, US)

The sweetest bird, my little Black Copper Marans was not even a year old, but she was keeping me supplied with the prettiest little eggs & greeted me each morning with her deep, throaty clucks.

Rest easy, sweet girl & I hope you are eating your fill of mealworms on the other side!

Stella Claire

by ChickenLover
(USA)

Stella Claire was the most magnificent chicken who lived for four years. She was a sassy chicken who was very elite and adorable. She was beautiful and knew it.

She would never step in her poop and she was a hugger. She would love to come up to me and to let me hold her. Her excellence did not go unnoticed however, she had dozens of fans who loved her and she even had a very caring and loving godmother.

I got her on March 22nd, 2016, when she was just a few days old. I was never told what breed she was, only that I had picked the best $4 chicken there was.

Stella was only supposed to live for about 3 years, yet she managed to live for 4. She got sick a lot in her later life, yet managed to fight every single time. Except for one, she had gotten another stuck egg but she also had an impacted crop. She as sick for about 3 days.

I was with her when she died. I spent hours with her and I comforted her. She eventually had a seizure and then died. My sister and I were greatly affected. It took months to get over her.

If I could say a few words to Stella now, I would probably say that I loved her and that she has made herself a legacy, as I constantly talk about her and spread awareness for the under appreciated species - chickens.

P.S. Stella knew how to jump hoops.

Midnight's passed

by Des and Shan
(Tennessee)

On monday morning, 8:17am April 7 2020, I went to feed my roosters and suddenly I found Midnight on the floor injured and I didn't know what to do.

So I laid him on my lap and he fell asleep. Then the next day I found him on the floor unconscious, not moving and barely breathing. So I put electrolytes in his water and force fed him.

Then I sat down with him and suddenly he passed right in front of my eyes. I watched him take his last breath and I busted out in tears. he was the sweetest chicken and he was always right there by my side.

I really love you and miss you Midnight. 💖

April Harper

by April Harper
(North Carolina )

I’ve already submitted my story about my daughter Squeak, but I wanted to add her picture.

Hopefully when I die our ashes will be mixed under a weeping Japanese cherry tree. My little baby, 6 years old.

Can’t wait to see ya again Squeak. Mommy Loves You. Stay with your brother Boo till I get there!

Rest In peace Sweet Virginia

by Joy Sorrows
(Loganville, GA)

I will miss you Sweet Girl!

RIP Goldie, Penny and Pickles

by Jacqueline McCoy
(Newcastle NSW Australia)

Goldie was an ex-battery hen that I adopted at 18 months old in 2017.

She was originally named Scrawny because she didn't have time to be pretty or fat and healthy. She was an egg slave.

She had two happy years with me and grew so beautiful I renamed her Goldie. She got sick suddenly in December 2019 and had to be put to sleep. I loved you Goldie and I am sorry you didn't have a longer life.

Penny was adopted from a backyard in March 2020. She was one of three hens and was the fattest and prettiest which is why I called her Penelope...a posh name for a pretty girl.

She and the other two girls had bad scaly leg mites and I gave them many pedicures to get their feet back to health. She died in her sleep last Sunday the 5th March. She only had four weeks with me and one week free of quarantine. I loved you Penny.

Pickles was one of the three hens I adopted in March. She had the worst of the scaly leg mites and was the feistiest. She wanted to escape quarantine which I why I called her Pickles because she seemed cranky.

She began to be unwell on Tuesday this week the 7th and I took a lot of care of her. I was going to take her to the vet tomorrow as her condition started to worry me but she died this afternoon when I put her to bed.

She died in my arms. I'm so sorry Pickles.

My Pretty Pearl

by Lynn
(Northern Idaho, USA)

My sweet Pearl was our very first we got as a chick. She was a Leghorn, and they say they are very flighty and don't want to be held.

Not so with my Pearl!

Once out of the run, she would run to me and demand that I pick her up and give her cuddles.

I love all of our girls but she was my baby, my favorite!

Yes, I have thought about giving my other girls away because I am absolutely devastated right now, but I know it wouldn't be fair to them. My heart is just broken right now but it will heal in time.

I just loved how she she would come up to me or follow me and talk to me in her sweet own way. I hope she knows how much she is loved and how she brought so much joy to my life.

I will forever miss you my sweet, beautiful little girl!

Lavender

by Colleen
(Logan county )

She was a guinea fowl bird but I loved her dearly.

Every day I would go out and feed her bread and she would come by, sort of. She's shy around others but she was a great girl.

I started with 5. One was killed by an owl while nesting. The other one disappeared on 4th of July last year. And now I just lost one from a heart attack.

Now i have 2 left, Arianna and Sakari.