10 votes

Two of our chickens have died in the last week

We have a small flock of 8, and in the last week, two of our three bantams have died. It's part of having pets (and chickens in particular), but it's really bumming me out.

12 comments

  1. [4]
    Gyrfalcon
    Link
    I'm sorry to hear that! Would you be okay with sharing more about you chickens?

    I'm sorry to hear that! Would you be okay with sharing more about you chickens?

    3 votes
    1. [3]
      heliostatic
      Link Parent
      Of course :) We moved to the country from Brooklyn, and my wife really wanted to get a small flock. We ended up with eight breeds across eight chickens. Three bantams -- a silkie, mille fleur...

      Of course :) We moved to the country from Brooklyn, and my wife really wanted to get a small flock. We ended up with eight breeds across eight chickens. Three bantams -- a silkie, mille fleur d'uccle, and brahma, and five standard -- easter egger, golden laced wyandotte, swedish flower hen, favacana, and a black copper maran.

      All sweeties.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        Gyrfalcon
        Link Parent
        Sounds like a wonderful group! I'm allergic to cats and dogs, so I'm always on the lookout for other kinds of pets. Maybe someday I'll have some chickens too.

        Sounds like a wonderful group! I'm allergic to cats and dogs, so I'm always on the lookout for other kinds of pets. Maybe someday I'll have some chickens too.

        1 vote
        1. heliostatic
          Link Parent
          Thanks! If you have some outdoor space you don't mind sharing with them, they're surprisingly sweet pets.

          Thanks! If you have some outdoor space you don't mind sharing with them, they're surprisingly sweet pets.

          1 vote
  2. [2]
    Duke
    Link
    I read that as children and was absolutely horrified for a second

    I read that as children and was absolutely horrified for a second

    1 vote
    1. heliostatic
      Link Parent
      That would be... worse. Yes. Does help put it in perspective :)

      That would be... worse. Yes. Does help put it in perspective :)

      1 vote
  3. [2]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. heliostatic
      Link Parent
      Thanks. I was surprised how affected I was. I've lost cats and dogs, so knew what that was like, but hoped chickens would be easier.

      Thanks. I was surprised how affected I was. I've lost cats and dogs, so knew what that was like, but hoped chickens would be easier.

  4. [2]
    aethicglass
    Link
    Dang, sorry to hear that. Ours got taken by hawks (we think). They just disappeared. That's was a long time ago though, and lately my girlfriend has been fiending for some hens. So she found a...

    Dang, sorry to hear that. Ours got taken by hawks (we think). They just disappeared. That's was a long time ago though, and lately my girlfriend has been fiending for some hens. So she found a couple decent coups in local listings and we've been working on fixing them up.

    I've always liked having chickens around. Never been around a mean one, and roosters crowing has never bothered me.

    1 vote
    1. heliostatic
      Link Parent
      So sorry! Hawks are beautiful bastards.

      So sorry! Hawks are beautiful bastards.

      1 vote
  5. [2]
    Trin
    Link
    Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that :( My mum used to keep Pekin bantams but she stopped because they too just kept dying. They were lovely pets but they are so accident prone. With ours, a mink got...

    Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that :( My mum used to keep Pekin bantams but she stopped because they too just kept dying. They were lovely pets but they are so accident prone. With ours, a mink got two of them, one chick drowned in a bucket, another got stuck in a hedge and strangled itself, one was snached by a bird of prey, and finally a broody hen died because she would sit on her eggs all day and refused to eat or drink. I'm honestly not surprised it was too much for my mum.

    1 vote
    1. heliostatic
      Link Parent
      That sounds like a nightmare :/ But also, unsurprising given what we've seen.

      That sounds like a nightmare :/ But also, unsurprising given what we've seen.

  6. AlastrionaCatskill
    Link
    I'm sorry for your loss. We have 12 hens and 2 roosters. Lost 2 hens to illness and a rooster to a hawk the first night we attempted to give the hens reprieve from our roosters.

    I'm sorry for your loss. We have 12 hens and 2 roosters. Lost 2 hens to illness and a rooster to a hawk the first night we attempted to give the hens reprieve from our roosters.

    1 vote