This morning when I went out to the chooks Vanilla was missing as well as the two broody girls. I assumed that she would be laying an early egg. I checked the nest boxes for the broodies and then checked the chicken shed.
Vanilla was dead in front of her roost spot. We have only had Vanilla for a year just like Apricot last year. She is our fourth girl to go at home and we buried her in the chickens’ strip next to the other girls.
I realised that the chickens’ strip had got rather overgrown
I have cleared the strip and we buried Vanilla here
I have planted some fox glove seedlings over her
My husband made a fourth cross for Vanilla.
Tomorrow I will do a tribute to Vanilla when I have collected together some photographs of her. It is so sad to lose these little girls after such a short time but I console myself with knowing that she had a good year with us.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
So sorry to hear this sad news. Had there been signs of her not being well?
No, no sign at all, just like Apricot last year.
I have had that happen with several new chickens this Spring. A couple showed signs of lethargy so I gave them chicken antibiotic to no avail.
So sorry for your loss! I know how you feel. Hugs.
It is good to know that I am not alone. The same thing happened last year with another serama, Apricot, who was also only a year old. I am beginning to think that getting them through the first year is the trickiest bit.
I’m so so sorry Carol!! 🙁 xx
Thank you. xx
So sorry to hear this, although as others have said, it does happen sometimes. I lost 2 Australorps that way, just about 18 months old, found on opening up in a morning – and I knew for absolutely sure that one of them had laid only the day before. Frustrating and sad, but good that we think there’s been no suffering. Feel for you.
I remember you saying about losing your girls in the same way. With Amber that’s three for me now. It is so sad but I like to think there was no suffering.