Another one walking the rainbow bridge

[windwalkingwolf]

Buddy the old blind rooster. Half white Chantecler, half buff Orpington, he was a big and tall red splash boy I got six or seven years ago with a eye to adding size and cold hardiness to my layers. It never happened, the hens didn't like him and the feeling was mutual.
At about 3 years old, another rooster caught him and with a well-placed peck, rendered Buddy almost blind.
Buddy learned quickly to find the sound of swishing grain or pouring water, and stood proud and stoic as chicks, newly abandoned by their mothers, found warmth and comfort in his feathers.
Cause of death? Well, at the end of evening chores, I'd gotten in the habit of putting Buddy in the grain bin until morning. He could eat without supervision, without others shoving him aside, and fall asleep when done. Morning chores he would be taken out, and reminded where water was.
It worked great, until night before last. He was put in the feed barrel as usual, but squished dead come morning... several of Doug's meat chickens hopped in as well. 12 of them. And the stupid, fat beach balls couldn't get out again.
My husband, who generally does morning chores, woke me up to tell me all this, and to tell me, finally, to make the fat, stupid meat chickens disappear.
I don't get it. He's the first to complain about the poultry mess, cost, etc., but is bringing me a bird to "fix", every other day it seems. He takes every loss to heart. Buddy's death elicited tears.
I don't know what to do, except eulogize Buddy.I wish he had lived until he died of old age. He was an awesome "mom" to abandoned chicks. He lived through many things that killed weaker chickens.
Bye, Buddy. Sorry it ended this way.

[ross]

RIP Buddy
The best go first . Sorry Richard .. Oh & you to Jan .

[Killerbunny]

Poor Buddy, sounds like he lived a good life though.

[kenya]

Oh poor boy, sometimes just happens that you wish you could change. RIP Buddy

[TomK]

..Jan, that's sad...there's always one that is special and when they go it hurts...btw, you write well, I always really enjoy your posts regardless of topic...

[Jaye]

Oh no, that's so sad. , Buddy. It sounds like you were a lovely boy. At least you were warm and had a full belly.
Sorry you lost him, Jan. And Richard.

[Happy]

RIP Buddy. It does sound like he had a good life with people who understood him. Sorry WWW and hubby.

[labradors]

So sorry for your loss. Sounds as if he was a great rooster and well-loved.

Linda

[Nickyn]

Awwww... so sorry for your loss.

[Skinny rooster]

Well look at it this way, he was kindly taken care of long after most people would have given up on him.
:smilewithrooster: