Flora, my heart is broken

[joyce_huang]

It is w tearing eyes and a heavy heart I wrote this. My heart is broken today when found my dearest sweet hen Flora was killed by a hawk. It is being sunny and no much wind so I let her and the flock out of coop for a dust bath steps away from my house under a tree. They were doing it happily so I got inside do a little work. Flora then got herself inside garage that's where they all stayed in this winter, and took a bite so I thought she would stay inside for a little while. I left the garage door open in case other hens wanted to get inside after bath. When I got out again after about 30 minute to gather them inside they were no where to be found. Searched a little I saw a white large hawk was standing by Flora. It flew away after saw me. But my poor Flora was already died. I am so heartbroken and filled with guilty. No word can describe it. My most beautiful, healthy, happy, egg laying (yes through the whole winter) hen is dead. So suddenly, so abruptly, and had suffered enormous pain killed by a hawk. So cruel. My Flora in the past suffered wild cat attack and survived, she sustained bully from roosters and another aggressive hen also survived. Not this time, and I wasn't there to help her when she had loved and trusted me so much. I just so devastated. I'd in the past seek help when she was injuried in this forum, I once got a lot of aound advice on how to raise a small flock and take care them, a few times, for Flora. I just want to remember her here, express my profound sadness of losing her. It has been a few hours since, my heart stays broken..

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm so sorry you lost your sweet Flora! May your memories of her bring you comfort.

 

[WingItRanch]

I'm sorry for your loss. She was so pretty and sounds like she was well loved.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

I'm so sorry for your loss of flora
Its always heartbreaking to lose a well-loved chicken, and it sounds like you gave her an amazing and happy life.

 

[Callender Girl]

Losing beautiful Flora in such a sudden and brutal way is unimaginably horrible. You gave her a life full of love, and she gave you joy in return. No wonder your heart is breaking.

Flora was an incredible girl, one tough hen who survived more than any chicken should have to. Her life was cut short, but it was an amazing life by any other measure.

I am so sorry.

 

[ksbkeys]

It is w tearing eyes and a heavy heart I wrote this. My heart is broken today when found my dearest sweet hen Flora was killed by a hawk. It is being sunny and no much wind so I let her and the flock out of coop for a dust bath steps away from my house under a tree. They were doing it happily so I got inside do a little work. Flora then got herself inside garage that's where they all stayed in this winter, and took a bite so I thought she would stay inside for a little while. I left the garage door open in case other hens wanted to get inside after bath. When I got out again after about 30 minute to gather them inside they were no where to be found. Searched a little I saw a white large hawk was standing by Flora. It flew away after saw me. But my poor Flora was already died. I am so heartbroken and filled with guilty. No word can describe it. My most beautiful, healthy, happy, egg laying (yes through the whole winter) hen is dead. So suddenly, so abruptly, and had suffered enormous pain killed by a hawk. So cruel. My Flora in the past suffered wild cat attack and survived, she sustained bully from roosters and another aggressive hen also survived. Not this time, and I wasn't there to help her when she had loved and trusted me so much. I just so devastated. I'd in the past seek help when she was injuried in this forum, I once got a lot of aound advice on how to raise a small flock and take care them, a few times, for Flora. I just want to remember her here, express my profound sadness of losing her. It has been a few hours since, my heart stays broken..

Such a lovely girl. So sorry this happened to you and Flora!

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

So sorry to hear about Flora!

 

[Callender Girl]

I know you are especially hurt and saddened by the thought that Flora was in severe pain and terror as she died. It took me a while to look up a few passages that I hope will bring you a little peace. It's something I took to heart years ago when a mink killed three of my chickens and a duck.

In explorer and medical missionary David Livingstone's 1857 biography, he wrote of being viciously attacked by a lion that "shook me as a terrier dog does a rat." Livingstone sustained a compound bone fracture, blood loss from 11 lacerations and subsequent infection.

Livingstone said the sudden attack produced "a shock similar to that which seems to be felt by a mouse after the first shake of the cat." There was, he wrote, "no sense of pain or feeling of terror ... this peculiar state is probably produced by all animals killed by carnivora." Livingstone called it a "merciful provision" for "lessening the pain of death."

I sincerely hope he was -- and some modern researchers are -- right, that animals as well as people are allowed to experience a stress-related, biochemical altered state that protects them from unimaginable fear and pain. I hope Flora felt that protection.

 

[joyce_huang]

I'm so sorry you lost your sweet Flora! May your memories of her bring you comfort.

Thank you. Still devastated, will remember her for a long,long time

 

[joyce_huang]

I'm sorry for your loss. She was so pretty and sounds like she was well loved.

She was precious. Thank you!