Chloe, my girl...

My baby Chloe is not well. She has not walked for 3 days. Every few hours or so I need to carry her to the water for a drink. She has eaten some grain but no where near enough. Her legs are rigid & her feathers are fluffed up. She is warm & comfortable but I thought this morn she'd be gone. She is still battling on but....

Poor Chloe and poor you!

Poor Chloe! Hope she's better soon!

Unfortunately, I dont come with good news.
Con went to give Chloe water this morn, she drank alittle, had a few seeds, then passed away very suddenly.

I remembered a vet once said to a friend of mine whos dog passed away.... (sorry if this sounds harsh. I find it quite....? Insightful?

Never stop or exclude an animal being there in the final moments or allowing it to both see & smell death. They DO understand & cope far better if they know why another pet is no longer there.

I have never allowed any of mine to say good bye to a passed pet before. They were just gone. But I did allow & actually incouraged them to see her & say good bye today.

They both smelt her, nuzzled her. Its hard to explain in text but, they both knew she was gone, as did my other chook Alice. She hopped in the hutch to sit with her as the dogs went flat & sat with their heads by her.

I'm sorry if this sounds awful written, because it wasn't.  It was trully beautiful to see mine just "being" with Chloe. There was true love for her.

Jess was alittle flat all day. Tyson....he was an emotional car wreck. Alice, she was wandering around, then just went into the coup. She did not eat dinner tonight.

I have to say.....
though they all, & Con & I have a bad day, I am actually pleased they all realized what had happened to Chloe. I will never not let mine know again.

R.I.P. Chloe. I know we shouldn't have favorites..... but you were my favorite chook! Sweet dreams baby.

I think that was a beautiful thing you did. RIP Chloe, fly free.

Lorraine wrote: I think that was a beautiful thing you did.  RIP Chloe, fly free.

I agree. RIP Chloe, you were loived right upnto the end and beyond.

I trully believe,  letting everyone see, smell, nuzzle, sit with her was the best thing. That vet was spot on!

Alice is still alittle aloof,  disoriented,  looking for her. The dogs went looking for her this morn, ( they always come to the pen & sniff them.) then just sat by the coup door. .. Waiting... They got it. She's not here. 

They know she's gone, sullen, but, habit is strong, they waited for all to get up. Then licked Alice. It was trully a sign of support.

We went for a walk then they both wanted to go in the yard. Both sniffed & nuzzled Alice' bottom in the air & sat by her.

I really can't explain it well. But they were both seaking out Alice to sit by her. The vet was dead on. It wasn't easy but it was right. The animals all understood, we did what was needed.

Poor Chloe.
Chickens form bonds so Alice will be very upset until she adjusts.

I'm so sorry Tracy, I know she meant a lot to you.

You're right, animals DO understand death and handle it a lot better than we humans do, as long as they understand where their friend has gone.

Fly free at Rainbow Bridge, Chloe

LyndaW wrote:I'm so sorry Tracy, I know she meant a lot to you.

You're right, animals DO understand death and handle it a lot better than we humans do, as long as they understand where their friend has gone.

Fly free at Rainbow Bridge, Chloe

That is so true. 

When we buried her, I took the dogs inside till we buried her. We placed a huge log on the ground to ensure neither dog nor the chooks, could dig her up. I found them both sitting there today with Sooty. Alice was in the chook pen at the gate. She couldn't get to them but was as close as she could be.

How did they know where we had buried her bar scent?

Yes, I'd guess it was scent. RIP under your log, Chloe

Rest in peace, Chloe!