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.