lost my brown leghorn

don't know why she died. stopped layinga few days ago then I found her dead yesterday evening. darn. I only have  4 real layers. I might capture one of the older birds or banties to keep them under the light and get them laying and roosting in the hen house to replace her. I really liked her though. 

I can relate.  Most people don't know chickens have personality.  I like each of mine and hate that I lost some to the coon before I could get to fixing the barn.

I don't place the same emotional value on them as I do other animals but I still have my favorites. i have 3 banty hens that are around just 'cause I like 'em  they are great brood hens also so that is my logical justification....

I could see someone getting pretty attached to a pet hen.  I even have some with names.  In fact my old rooster is such a good guy I hate to think of replacing him. 

my grandpa used to have a flock of chickens that lived in a pine tree
there was a great big ol rooster that roosted on the top of the tree
they had lots of chicks, but usually the cockerels were eaten
but one day one cockerel challenged his father the old rooster and beat him and kept him from the top of the tree
the old rooster was broken and got very sick, even though my grandpa took him to the vet nothing could be done

well what do I learn from this? eat all your roosters before you get too attached to them!

One reason that I like the Easter Eggers (hatcheries label them Ameraucanas, although they really aren't) is because they come in so many different colors that it's easy to tell them apart.  I have some Golden-laced Wyandottes that I think are about the most beautiful breed of chickens, but I can't tell them apart.  I don't make pets of mine or name them, but I'm still fond of them and love to watch them running around the yard.  The eight Silkie X Easter Egger chicks that were hatched out in August (six pullets and only two cockerels, YAY!!!) are all different colors, too -- they look like small Easter Eggers with crests, and are adorable.  I'll keep them because I want broody hens, and they ought to be very good at that, but it's nice to have them be attractive and a variety of colors, too.

Kathleen

My flock is part Cochen and part Ameraucana.  Blue egged, feathered legged, chickens...say that out loud. 

Jennifer Hall wrote:
My flock is part Cochen and part Ameraucana.  Blue egged, feathered legged, chickens...say that out loud. 

LOL! 

Some of my Silkie X Easter Egger chicks have feathered legs, but I'm sure they aren't as heavily feathered as your Cochin crosses.

Kathleen

Jennifer Hall wrote:
My flock is part Cochen and part Ameraucana.  Blue egged, feathered legged, chickens...say that out loud. 

sounds like a doctor seuss book! I have two ameraucanas and some big black hen left. 

my neighbors dogs were up on my porch trying to get my rooster yesterday morning I hatched him and I am a little attached. now I know what probably happened to my RIR rooster. one of them is just a daschund but the other is a big dopey older lab pup. my poor rooster was shocky. just let me walk up to him and grab him which is unusual. the lab kept trying to come to me and go belly up. I finally pelted him with enough rocks he got the idea...... still......if he gets one he will go home with a dead chicken strung around his neck.

my worthless dogs were just watching with a...."you'd better not do that!" look.

Sorry you lost your chicken, Leah. That's a shame!

at least the rooster lived through his attack. thankfully that lab must have a soft mouth and was just playing with and plucking him. I have found at least 2 piles of chicken feathers from him. I don't know how long he was tortured. lost alot of feather but not other bodily damage. poor guy probably finally ran up to the porch for help where I rescued him!