Rest in Peace Miss Ginger

Miss Ginger (my favorite chicken) is no longer with us. Yep, if there is a heaven for chickens she is there.

Sigh. I hate posts like this one. Posts that have to share the disappointment and sadness me and some of my children are going through. I get a little uncomfortable sharing because I know many of you folks that have raised farm animals might be judging me and wondering why I even let this one chicken make me so sad. After all, it’s just a chicken right?  It sounds silly to even me that I would feel this loss.  But I do. I truly am sad. I really really loved Miss Ginger the most. She was like our pet. She totally came up to all of us when we called for her. I could literally just reach my hand down and she would let me pet her without running away. Chickens just don’t usually do that, they are usually nervous around people. Ginger was a special bird.

My daughter Grace is devastated of course. Ginger was her chicken. The reason why Ginger was so friendly was because of the work and love Grace gave her everyday from when she was a chick.  Even up until now everyday she still said hello to Ginger and picked her up to talk to her. We wanted to bring her to the fair this summer as she was such a great bird.  We wanted to see her raise some baby chicks of her own someday when we moved to my future dream-farm. But those things will not happen now with Ginger.

Miss Ginger lived almost one whole year with us. One awesome year.

How it Happened

My family and I went to Boise this past week over spring break. I hired a nice girl I know to feed and water my dogs and chickens for 4 days while we were away.  I told her to just keep my chickens alive, that they didn’t have to be let out of the coop even. But that if she did have time for a few hours she could let them out of the coop so they could get some grass and take dust baths. It was optional.

Apparently all was perfect and well until the last day of her feeding. She came over, didn’t let the chickens out and just fed them. Then went home. Miss Ginger was alive then she said when she left. Later that day her little brother came over and jumped my fence to say hello to my dog. He says he noticed Miss Ginger was dead. But didn’t tell anyone which was odd.

My husband got home and found Miss Ginger dead. Broken neck inside the coop. No blood, no pecking. Laying right next to the door opening. So we know that what most likely happened is that someone opened up the coop door (to which my chickens always want to get out right away) and then accidently shut the door back up on Miss Ginger and broke her neck. We found her lying by the door of the coop.  We don’t know who did it, all we know is that she is gone.  And we are so sad.

Dad saved my daughter a few feathers before burying her.

Here is a letter my daughter wrote up for Miss Ginger that pretty much sums up her heart-break.

As for me… I am just feeling a bit sad and disappointed. Wondering if I really should have left to go out of town for spring break. I go out to see the other three chickens, knowing none of them are as friendly as Ginger was and I seem to see just see plain ole’ boring chickens.

So that is what is happening right now.

Please try not to mock me for making a whole post just for one chicken. We loved Miss Ginger. We really did. And were planning on letting her grow to a nice old age with us.

But I am still grateful to the Lord for all my blessings. And for the chance we got to experience such a sweet nice chicken.