I have some terribly sad news. Rosebud, my ten-month old White Silkie Chicken, died Saturday afternoon after being nearly pecked to death by one or more of the other chickens. Ginger is the main culprit for the death of Rosebud. I came home mid-afternoon and found Rosebud huddled under the coop, her neck ripped apart and her head cleared of all skin and feathers. Her eyes were closed shut and a muscle or two was exposed on the back of her head. However, she was still alive, breathing through her nostrils and making a sort of muffled sound. My dad and I brought Rosebud to the vet, but he told us nothing could be done to keep Rosebud alive and that her spinal cord was exposed. Twenty minutes later, after laying her last egg, Rosebud was put to sleep. The vets, before they put her to sleep, discovered a little cream-colored bantam egg on the bottom of the cage. Some may think it very sad that she laid her last egg a few moments before she died, but I think it is quite beautiful — you know, bittersweet.
Some reasons as to why Ginger, and maybe the other chickens, would do this Rosebud would be because of boredom or dominance. My grandpa said that chickens want order in a flock, and if you have a small flock like mine, then the more dominant chickens will bully the chickens at the bottom of the pecking order because they want to feel important and superior to the other chickens. My mom read online that chickens will kill their other flock members if there is a shortage of food or lack of sufficient space. But that did not pertain to our chickens.
I am going to miss Rosebud greatly — the way that she would ferociously tear apart bread and apples, the way she would snuggle next to Dali on the roost at night, and the funny little way she would lie on her side in the sun on summer days, one wing held high in the air, her head tilted back. I am going to miss holding her after a rain storm, her little wet body curled next to mine. And I’m going to miss the anticipation of going into the coop and discovering her tiny bantam egg in the nest box. I’m even going to miss her broody little attitude!
Cheers to Rosebud, a truly amazing chicken!
Shannie's Chicken Chat 