Unfortunately, this is not a post with good news, but one which hopes to capture the sheer joy that it has been to be Sweet's caretaker. I'm saddened to share that on Tuesday, March 23rd, the Lab hen, Sweet, passed away. She spent the majority of her final hours with me at my home, swaddled like a baby, as comfortable as can be given the circumstances. I'm grateful for the support of Heart of Brooklyn Veterinary Hospital during her final moments with me.
Sweet was a Rhode Island Red Hen, who arrived to the Lab under my care during summer of 2018. She and her partner Sour, arrived as pullets (teenage chickens) and quickly transitioned to the VIP life in the Lab backyard. Sweet was always the more social chicken, curious about the young scientists, and quickly learning that pets equals treats.
With our physical doors closed, the chicken care this last year has included creative ways to keep them entertained, like letting them explore the Lab and seeing what a bathroom looks like.
Sweet was....sweet. She was a surprisingly lovable and interactive chicken, who much too often climbed onto the window ledge to see what was going on inside. She actually laid her very first egg there, then screeched the most horrible sound in order to get my attention. I often wonder if that's what dinosaurs sounded like. Ultimately I had to teach her where to lay, which was an unexpected but rather hysterical responsibility.
That pretty much sums up what my experience has been caring for Sweet, unexpected but rather hysterical. There was always something with that chicken!
I'm thankful for the support and advice I've gotten over the years with the hens. Throughout this entire adventure, I've had people I can count on to help ensure they receive the absolute best care possible. Everything I've learned about hens (and know about living things in general) came to a head that morning, and despite how much it hurt my heart, I will forever be grateful that I fulfilled my responsibility to Sweet to the very end.
~ Ms. Carmen
Sweet was a Rhode Island Red Hen, who arrived to the Lab under my care during summer of 2018. She and her partner Sour, arrived as pullets (teenage chickens) and quickly transitioned to the VIP life in the Lab backyard. Sweet was always the more social chicken, curious about the young scientists, and quickly learning that pets equals treats.
With our physical doors closed, the chicken care this last year has included creative ways to keep them entertained, like letting them explore the Lab and seeing what a bathroom looks like.
Sweet was....sweet. She was a surprisingly lovable and interactive chicken, who much too often climbed onto the window ledge to see what was going on inside. She actually laid her very first egg there, then screeched the most horrible sound in order to get my attention. I often wonder if that's what dinosaurs sounded like. Ultimately I had to teach her where to lay, which was an unexpected but rather hysterical responsibility.
That pretty much sums up what my experience has been caring for Sweet, unexpected but rather hysterical. There was always something with that chicken!
I'm thankful for the support and advice I've gotten over the years with the hens. Throughout this entire adventure, I've had people I can count on to help ensure they receive the absolute best care possible. Everything I've learned about hens (and know about living things in general) came to a head that morning, and despite how much it hurt my heart, I will forever be grateful that I fulfilled my responsibility to Sweet to the very end.
~ Ms. Carmen