I’ve written about a number of topics that folks might not see on most chicken blogs. Someone recently made this comment on my article ‘Chicken Obituaries & Eulogies‘: “This website is weird as f-ck.”
Far from being an insult, I actually take that as a compliment. I don’t want to be a cookie-cutter version of a chicken blog. I’ve attempted to present a wide range of chicken-related topics of interest to seasoned keepers, newbies and even those who don’t even have chickens.
I’ve also tried to challenge folks to see chickens as sentient beings capable of friendships and attachments. Certainly our own bonds with our birds can be strong and enduring. One of the sad realizations of keeping chickens is their lifespans are relatively short and we will be confronted by their loss and, in turn, our own grief.
I hold space for the folks that want to share their feelings about the impact their lost birds have had on their lives.
The following was written by one of my guest contributors, Haidy Mansfield who is active in rescuing battery hens as part of the British organization Fresh Start For Hens. I’ve followed her webpage Belle and Fleur say NO to commercial Eggs which chronicles the triumphs and the tears in her attempts at giving those hens a better life. Asha was one of them.
Here goes……
The quiet
The still
The loss
This missing
is only borne
for it is born
of LOVE
and it’s blessing
Asha has left this earthly form, and what a beautiful wee form she had, her perfectly imperfect body, hosting the gentlest, purest and oh so perfect soul.
The word that is Asha is LOVE. This wee hen had the purest love to share and Caroline and I were indeed blessed to have shared 1236 days with her.
I have so many words and at the same time none to express how I feel at her departure today. I will share tomorrow. For now I just want to sit with her and look at her wee face for tomorrow she will transition and her bodily self will no longer exist. She will ALWAYS live on in our hearts.
I have, and always will, love her beyond measure
Nest in peace beautiful dear soul xx
Asha – Hen Warrior We fight on xx
The time has come.
I have spent the day preparing for the wee ceremony of transition that is about to take place. It is a cathartic one for me as I take the responsibility of doing it respectfully and with love very seriously.
Asha and I were threaded together before we met, it was why we met and we got to share three and half beautiful years together.
I had the idea to make an orange thread for me to wear on my right wrist and one for her wee ankle. I believe we remain threaded and will meet again but I also know there will be times when I find things hard and looking down and seeing this orange thread about my wrist will be a gentle reminder. I know it will help me, Asha is here.
I have chosen mostly white flowers to reflect the purity of her spirit plus some unusual flowering rosemary for remembrance and a delicate pink japonica.
The rainbow that guided me home this afternoon was simply her message to say I am here, my body can go.
Asha you are loved by so many, you are a gift, your life will continue to matter and change hearts and minds.
Fly High Little Pea
Thanks to Haidy for sharing her love of Asha and her photos, used with permission.
If you have a story you’d like to share drop me a line using the ‘contact’ button on my homepage.
Bitchin' Chickens 
BEAUTIFUL.. thank you 🙏🏼
LikeLiked by 1 person
This story about Asha was very touching Thanks for posting this. There are other chicken owners who will read it and say ” I went through this too. There is felt grief when one of my chickens dies.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
My husband and I have adopted an unwanted rooster that was bound for the pot. We scooped him up and brought him to his new retirement home. Recently we lost our cat and maybe needed to fill a void. This rooster has brought so much happiness and joy to us. There are no hens here and he loves being with us all the time. Such a loving and emotional creature that really surprised us. We miss him when we have to go somewhere and he is so glad to see us when we get back. So glad to learn how attached and giving a rooster can be. Totally understand that there would be a lot of grief in losing him.
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is so sweet and I have tears in my eyes reading about Asha and her love for her. It’s very difficult when we lose our little cherished feathered companions. I will you peace and know you gave her a very good life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful but heartbreaking. I lost my Rex in September and have been in grief hell ever since. He truly had a soul and it was vibrant, resonant, strong. There’s a deafening silence in the house now, a stillness that just feels wrong. I miss him terribly and cry every day. My buddy is gone and I am lonely with no one to talk who simply listens and understands. I have no one to invest my time into, to care for now. I never thought I’d have a love, a bond like this with a rooster, nor the grief of him leaving me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope that you will find another companion, not a replacement for Rex, but someone new that you can take care of. Thanks for sharing your feelings about grief and loss.
LikeLike
Your words and tribute to Asha touched heart deeply. So very sorry for your loss.
I absolutely resonate with your deep feelings for these feathered angels. I feel similarly about all my girls and miss the ones who have died, as I miss any of my loved ones. I am so grateful to be able to share life with the four that we have now. Again, thank you for sharing your grief and your joy of chickens with us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, that’s tough. My heart goes out to everyone who is mourning such a deep loss. Reminds me of a poem I read called Chicken Heaven.
As for the weird as f*ck comment, have they not seen the necropsy photos ? This is real life. Yes, it is possible to be very attached to a chicken (or any animal) and to feel great sorrow when you lose them. I hope that if the person who made that comment ever finds themselves grieving that people treat them with kindness and compassion.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I honestly feel for you as I used to be terrified of birds then I rescued a little bantam chicken probably 14 years ago and she changed my life and how I felt about birds and just amazing chickens. I totally feel you; the love that they can get back to us is just so amazing. Thank you for what you do and loving these little sweeties and giving them the best life.
I lost one of my sweet quirkiest little girls I’ve ever met on October 18. I got her cremated. Her ashes as well as those of some of my other girls are beside my bed. We rescued Penelope off the highway two years ago. At that time, I couldn’t tell whether she was a rooster or a hen, she was in such horrible shape, but that never stopped her from being a sweet cute little girl. I got my husband to pull the vehicle over. As soon as I called her she looked at me and just ran over with this quirky little run and came right up to me. I picked her up and she just nuzzled to me. She came from the farm that was right there and when I saw the condition of her, I just wondered, “Oh my God, how are the rest of the chickens in this place treated?” Some people may think I stole her. I thought, “Nope, you’re coming home with me” because she didn’t deserve whatever life she had had so far and we brought her home and just loved her. Unfortunately, my other chickens did pick on her from time to time, for which I would give them heck. You were one of mom‘s little angels. I hope to see you again. You’re up in Heaven now with Dad as I lost my husband in May and he was just as much of an animal lover as I was so I hope and pray they’re together. Seeing that people in the world that actually love animals is a beautiful thing. In some ways I think animals are way better than humans because most animals that have been abused and treated badly by others just don’t seem to hold it against us who rescue them. They’re very forgiving depending on how badly they’ve been abused, of course, so keep spreading the love these babies need it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing your story. It’s heartwarming to hear about the love that folks have for the animals they care for.
LikeLike
I am so sorry. Your loss makes my heart hurt and I cried reading about you losing Asha. I love each member of my flock more than life itself and frankly cannot understand why anyone would think that is weird. I have lost three chickens over the past 3 1/2 years of being blessed to have chickens, and each death was traumatizing and I will never forget them. I have a chicken graveyard and I wrap my chickens in a ceremonial cloth and hold them to tell them I am sorry if I failed them, but for them to please know how loved they are, and how missed they will be. I have several handicapped chickens that live in the house most of the time. A few go out as their handicap allows and the supervision can be provided.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a sad indictment of our society that so many see chickens as “dinner” rather than the intelligent and social creatures that they are. The abuse and disregard they suffer is depressing. That you cared so deeply for your friend and that many others do also, is heartening, sorry for your loss 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sorry for your loss. Asha sounds like a very good chicken
LikeLiked by 1 person