I couldn't think of a better place for this since I don't think that this would work in the disease section - I don't think it's a disease - and it isn't an emergency since it's simply a question. I'm gonna be all over the place since I'm rushed and a thousand thoughts are running through my head right now so I apologize
I am curious as to whether this is common, or if anybody out there has experienced this with their Buff Orpington chickens or not.
Okay, about a year ago my best friend had six chickens and wanted to rid herself of 3 of them - though now she rid herself of the others as well. They were the most rowdy of the bunch in particular that she gave me, which I turned into quite sweet and adorable little ladies. They were Buff Orpington chickens. Three hens. They would've been almost a year by that time. Never really handled as much as I have done now, or given as much attention as I do now though so not too tame. But still, very sweet and friendly
About a month after we got the chickens - my favorite - passed away. I went to work (used to work as a Nanny) at 3 pm, and when I came home at 5 or so, I saw that she was laying down and I felt like something was wrong. When I went out there, saw her dead. Nothing was wrong. I had read [somewhere] that some chickens become almost predator-like and will start pecking at the dead animal which I didn't want (though I don't believe that since mine have never shown that type of mean attitude) so I quickly removed her from the pen and noticed that nothing was wrong with her so I assumed that it was a heart attack. Also since there was nothing that could've hurt her - also since no damage to her or the other one. She'd been just fine and dandy up until that moment. She woulda been around 1 yr.
Now, yesterday it happened to the other one that finally! come out of her shell. I've worked with her for a year to stop being so afraid of people and she'd finally started giving attention to me and just all-around, came out of her shell. So yesterday I saw her laying down in their new place we made them and again, felt something was wrong and went out to find her dead. She would've been around 2 yrs now. Once again, there wasn't anything to have hurt them. We do have many predators, but I have dogs that are constantly going out their to roam the yard, also we have never had any problems with them bothering the chickens for some reason, but we do have them predator proofed. Also nothing wrong with her. She had just laid an egg that day, or the day before so I know that wouldn't have been an issue. They didn't seem sick. No bugs. No blood. No disease prevalent. Nothing at all as far as I can figure. They are active, happy, friendly, lovey ladies. They have a healthy diet. They get lots of all around foods, fruits, veggies, grass, greens, all of it. Her sister helped me bury her today. I have never owned chickens before them, but as with any animal - even if I've owned one before, I read up anything and everything I can get my hands on about them and I swear I read somewhere that the Buff Orpingtons in the first couple years, have issues with heart attacks, but is that true?
Not only wondering about what could've happened, but also what to do about her sister? I feel so bad about her being alone. She knows her sister is gone so I'll see her waling around her coop looking around like she's looking for her sister. She and her sister loved playing tag a lot so I know that she knows that she isn't there. They were very close - as with the other one. I'm just curious about how to make sure she doesn't feel lonely? I placed a stuffed animal in the coop last night, and it seemed like she slept next to it - it's a safe one, she can't harm herself with it, otherwise I wouldn't have put it in there, but I wanted something for her to snuggle on and make sure she was kept warm. It seemed to work to give her something to snuggle against luckily
I'm curious about what to do with her for now? Any tips, suggestions on that as well? About introducing another one or two chickens to go with her? I live in Bothell, WA and contacted our city official who told me that we can't have more than 3 chickens so I can only get one or two more. (Our neighbors enjoy them though so I know that they wouldn't have hurt the chickens either.) I know that you have to be careful with that. I'm also curious as to what would go with her better that would be good egg layer, friendly, quiet, and a good winter weatherer?
http://youtube.com/user/katkisa - a bunch of my videos of my chickens. And my small dog playing with them
Any help on any of it would be so appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read and help me out
Kim
I am curious as to whether this is common, or if anybody out there has experienced this with their Buff Orpington chickens or not.
Okay, about a year ago my best friend had six chickens and wanted to rid herself of 3 of them - though now she rid herself of the others as well. They were the most rowdy of the bunch in particular that she gave me, which I turned into quite sweet and adorable little ladies. They were Buff Orpington chickens. Three hens. They would've been almost a year by that time. Never really handled as much as I have done now, or given as much attention as I do now though so not too tame. But still, very sweet and friendly
About a month after we got the chickens - my favorite - passed away. I went to work (used to work as a Nanny) at 3 pm, and when I came home at 5 or so, I saw that she was laying down and I felt like something was wrong. When I went out there, saw her dead. Nothing was wrong. I had read [somewhere] that some chickens become almost predator-like and will start pecking at the dead animal which I didn't want (though I don't believe that since mine have never shown that type of mean attitude) so I quickly removed her from the pen and noticed that nothing was wrong with her so I assumed that it was a heart attack. Also since there was nothing that could've hurt her - also since no damage to her or the other one. She'd been just fine and dandy up until that moment. She woulda been around 1 yr.
Now, yesterday it happened to the other one that finally! come out of her shell. I've worked with her for a year to stop being so afraid of people and she'd finally started giving attention to me and just all-around, came out of her shell. So yesterday I saw her laying down in their new place we made them and again, felt something was wrong and went out to find her dead. She would've been around 2 yrs now. Once again, there wasn't anything to have hurt them. We do have many predators, but I have dogs that are constantly going out their to roam the yard, also we have never had any problems with them bothering the chickens for some reason, but we do have them predator proofed. Also nothing wrong with her. She had just laid an egg that day, or the day before so I know that wouldn't have been an issue. They didn't seem sick. No bugs. No blood. No disease prevalent. Nothing at all as far as I can figure. They are active, happy, friendly, lovey ladies. They have a healthy diet. They get lots of all around foods, fruits, veggies, grass, greens, all of it. Her sister helped me bury her today. I have never owned chickens before them, but as with any animal - even if I've owned one before, I read up anything and everything I can get my hands on about them and I swear I read somewhere that the Buff Orpingtons in the first couple years, have issues with heart attacks, but is that true?
Not only wondering about what could've happened, but also what to do about her sister? I feel so bad about her being alone. She knows her sister is gone so I'll see her waling around her coop looking around like she's looking for her sister. She and her sister loved playing tag a lot so I know that she knows that she isn't there. They were very close - as with the other one. I'm just curious about how to make sure she doesn't feel lonely? I placed a stuffed animal in the coop last night, and it seemed like she slept next to it - it's a safe one, she can't harm herself with it, otherwise I wouldn't have put it in there, but I wanted something for her to snuggle on and make sure she was kept warm. It seemed to work to give her something to snuggle against luckily
http://youtube.com/user/katkisa - a bunch of my videos of my chickens. And my small dog playing with them
Any help on any of it would be so appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read and help me out
Kim
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