A week or so ago we noticed that Rudy was having trouble crowing. After doing some research online to see what could cause that, I found that there were a lot of vague possibilities that could cause roosters to have trouble crowing.
Then we noticed that Rudy was wheezing, which indicated that he was having more than just crowing problems, but that he was actually dealing with some type of respiratory issue.
I called the vet to see what we could do to help Rudy and options of treatment were shared with us, which mostly involved isolation and watching him closely. So we isolated Rudy away from the flock, and fed him soft foods and special treats that he liked.
Unfortunately he did not seem to be responding to those efforts, so as a last resort we began to give him antibiotics.
And still, he was not getting better.
Even while he was sick, separated from the flock (in the garden), he stayed busy trying to keep watch over his girls.
On Monday morning, as we went to check on him, we found he had passed in the night. My husband had gone out to check on him and let the girls out. It was with great sadness that the news came to me as I was still sleeping on July 4th morning.
While Rudy had been a rascal, he was a handsome fella, and my heart grieved for his passing.
We took him out to our pet cemetery and my husband dug a hole for him.
His favorite treat was scratch grains, and I just so happened to have an empty feed sack of the scratch grains with which to bury him in. Besides his girls, scratch corn was his favorite treat ever, and I was glad that I had this sack to bury him in.
I have been missing our Rudy. And so have the girls. Especially Momma Mia, as she and Rudy were hatched together at the same time, and have always been together. She even slept by him on the roost at night. Momma Mia has been wandering around the yard, and keeps going back to the garden where the hens could see Rudy while he was still alive and seems quite distressed about it all.
Rudy is buried next to our precious Cosmo who passed away almost two years ago. Having animals always raises the possibility of great sadness when they pass, and I grieve deeply for our animals who are no longer with us, yet I know that it is the circle and cycle of life. And life must go on. Rudy has three descendants who we hatched out this spring, and for that I am grateful. Pepper, Buttercup and Sally will carry on Rudy's legacy.
Until yesterday, we had no idea what may have caused Rudy's demise. However, while I was working in the yard yesterday, I found something that saddened me, and has led us to believe this may be the cause of his death. We have two "Beware of Dog" signs in the front yard. A recent windstorm had knocked one of them down. I found the plastic sign in the front yard, and it had been pecked away until there wasn't much left of the sign. No doubt Rudy had pecked at a piece of the sign and got it caught in his throat. I had no idea that chickens would peck a plastic sign, but apparently they do. We will be inspecting our yard for any other things that could possibly cause the rest of our hens harm by pecking.
Such is life on the farm, and it continues to be a learning experience.
Rudy will always hold a special place in our hearts, the handsome rascal that he was!
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Awww...sorry you lost your Rudy. :(
ReplyDeleteThe "girls" and I are really missing him too!
DeleteAwww...sorry you lost your Rudy. :(
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss - I also grieve the loss of my critters very deeply, and it is for that reason I no longer keep chickens. I had a hawk come and leave one half dead in my garden, suffering....we had to end her life. I couldn't bear to have to do that again, so I don't keep chickens. Poor Rudy, what a handsome rascal he was. So sorry for you and the girls...hugs from NY. xoxo
ReplyDeleteOh that is just awful! I would hate for that to happen too! It seems that chickens are so prone to terrible things happening to them! Yet, I can't help but think that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, and that is how I feel about Rudy. He was such a handsome fella and we will always miss him :)
DeleteI am sorry for your loss. He was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Chrissy, I appreciate your kind words!!! He was a handsome fella for sure!
DeleteAWWW.....I am so sorry....he sure was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHe really was so handsome, and knew it too, lol! We will always miss him!!!
DeleteOh my, I am just so sorry to hear this. Rudy was absolutely a beautiful boy and I know you will miss him terribly. I love chickens and hope to have some one day and our son also has them. They become part of the family just like a dog or a cat! Well, there is one thing...you have certainly captured some stunning images of him. Maybe even frame one of them?
ReplyDeleteYour words are so sweet and mean so much to me Debby, thanks so much! I have thought of getting my daughter to paint a picture of him for me. That would be really special to have. Having chickens is a lot of work, and tough at times with losses, but overall, it brings me great joy to be with them! :)
DeleteYes, we grieve for our pets, no matter who they are.
ReplyDeleteRudy, the rascal, was a very HANDSOME roster! My heart goes out to you and Mamma Mia, too.
(I love all the names of your pets!)
He was a handsome rascal that is so true, and we will always miss him! The girls and I are adjusting to his loss, and it will just take some time. I still look for him every time I go out in the yard still! Thanks for your comment about loving the names of the pets, I like the old names, they seem to fit and work well :) Hugs to you today!
DeleteOh, so sad and something that was preventable! I guess like with us here on earth, it was his time to go. He was very handsome!
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a cycle and a season to all things, and we must just wrap our minds around it, and that is what I am trying to do. It is so easy to get attached to our animals around us though! Thank you for your kind words, they mean so much!
Deletefarm life's not fun and games, is it ... losses, as well as life, abound ...
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. The cycle of life and nature itself is full of losses and difficulties. But, it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all :)
DeleteI'm so sorry. He really was a beauty. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteHe really was so handsome, and he knew it too, lol! We are all missing him, but life around the farm goes on. :)
DeleteOh Marilyn...I can hardly write this comment for the tears that are filling up in my eyes. I adored your Rudy and looking at these photos of him just makes it even harder.
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry for your loss as I too find it difficult when loosing a pet.
I feel your pain and sadness, my dear friend.
How special that you were able to bury him in that grain bag.
That is good to know about the plastic, but sorry that it found it's way onto dear Rudy's path.
Sending much love and hugs your way~~
Thank you Debbie for your sweet words, they mean oh so very much to me! I have been thinking of the little saying "it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all". I learned a lot of things because of Rudy, and he will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you again for your kind and understanding words, they mean so much!
DeleteOh, my dear friend! I am SOOOOO very sorry! Oh, my heart goes out to you so much! I know that even though he was such a rascal, you loved him oh, so much. Animals can surely work their way into our hearts, and it is such a deep loss when we have to say good-bye to them. May the God of ALL comfort (including the loss of a precious, beloved pet), hold you extra close, as you mourn this loss. And may He bless you with a new rooster that you will love as much as Rudy. Wish I could give you a big hug. Love you, sweet friend, and I am so sorry.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cheryl for your kind and heartwarming words, they mean so much! I never expected chickens to work their way into my heart, or that I would grieve so when losing one of them, but as with all pets, they become part of your world. Thank you again for understanding, and for your words, they touched my heart and I appreciate you and your friendship!
DeleteI am so sorry to hear about Rudy. (((((HUGS))))) He was such a beautiful rooster and I know you will miss him terribly.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie! I appreciate your kind words so much!
DeleteI am so sorry to hear about Rudy. (((((HUGS))))) He was such a beautiful rooster and I know you will miss him terribly.
ReplyDeleteDear Marilyn: Im trying to write between the tears. I thought he was the most gorgeous rooster I'd ever seen and was so glad to have met him when we were there a few weeks ago. That"s one of the reasons why I do not like to have pets anymore. I dealt with that so much when I was a child working on the farm. We do have memories and that is what you hold on to. some of them will make you laugh and some will make you cry; that's life. Love ya. Mom
ReplyDeleteThanks Mom, your comment means so much! I never knew one could get so attached to chickens, but I suppose anything that you nurture and take care of, you get attached to. I keep thinking of the saying "better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all", and that has helped me in my grieving for Rudy. Yes, that is life indeed, as you said! Thanks for commenting, it really made my day :) Love you!
DeleteMarilyn, I am so sorry for your loss. Rudy sounds like an interesting character! {{HUGS}}
ReplyDeleteHe was full of character and life, and things around the farmyard are not the same without him, but life does go on. Thanks for your sweet words!
DeleteOh how sad for you, I am so sorry your Rudy is not longer with you. He was a handsome fellow. It is always tragic when our pets pass from our presence. Sending you an armful of hugs. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for that armful of hugs, they are much appreciated! :)
DeleteAwe...has sad! I'm so sorry. He was a very loved Rooster I'm sure! You took very good care of him. :)
ReplyDeleteSending hugs your way!
Amy
That should have read how sad not has sad. Darn phones! ;)
DeleteHe was much loved and is very much missed... things are not the same around the yard without him. But, life does go on. Appreciate your kind words! Hugs to you today :)
DeleteSo sorry about Rudy! I'm sure that we can even get attached to roosters. Gosh, I would not have known that about a sign either. Hope your girls get along o.k.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
No, I had no idea when I began to raise chickens just what all goes into keeping them happy and healthy, but they do bring endless joy with their antics and funny little personalities. Appreciate your kind words, they mean so much!
DeleteHi, I am sorry for Rudy. I do understand what you mean. My son Sam lost his bunny on Thursday. She died of old age, we had her a long time. She was a good bunny. She was a Lionhead, so she was a fuzzy bunny. She was the mother of all the bunnies we raised.
ReplyDeleteSending a hug, I do know how you feel.
Carla
Oh, I am so sorry to hear about your rabbit! Please give Sam my condolences, because I understand only too well how hard it is to lose a pet!!!! Hopefully you still have some of her offspring to enjoy and remember her by. We do have three "Rudy Jr.s" that we hatched out from him this spring, and I'm so glad for that. Appreciate your visit, and kind words, they mean so much! Hugs appreciated and returned!
DeleteMarilyn I'm so sorry to hear this sad news. I've been slow lately visiting blogs and just saw this post. - Rudy was such a handsome rooster. I feel so bad for you all at his passing. Your tribute to him was just wonderful and I know he was loved. Hoping in time you will have a new Rooster to enjoy and may the sweet memories of Rudy bring you comfort.
ReplyDeleteHe was a rooster we will always remember! My daughter is going to paint a picture of him for me, and that brings me joy. We also have 3 of his offspring too, so his memory will live on. Appreciate your kind words and visit today, I understand about the delay in visiting, spring and summer are quite full of outdoor activities, and it is hard to keep up with blogging as we enjoy the beautiful weather we are having. Hugs to you today Ida!
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