My little Serama is dying. She’s never been quite right since the whole butt-falling-out-prolapse issue and over the past few days she’s just gotten worse. I’ve had her on antibiotics for a while, to no avail. I can feel a mass on her left side and its not an egg. I think I’ve done everything I can for her at this point. This morning she could no longer move on her own, so I have her in here in a comfy shoe box, keeping her warm and feeding her water from a bottle when she’ll take it. I know its silly. I know she’s just a chicken, but she is my responsibility and I want her to feel loved as she passes. I know it might be more humane to break her neck and end it quickly, but I can’t bring myself to do it. If she’s still lingering this evening I will ask my dad to come over and take care of her.

She was a good little chicken while we had her and I am feeling like a big failure as a caretaker. These things happen, I know.

Update: She passed away shortly after I wrote this. The kids and I buried her underneath the tree in the backyard and had a short ceremony for her. Ozzie played “Old Macdonald” on his guitar and Ivy sang “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. We thanked her for her eggs and told her we will miss her and said goodbye.