Tom and I had a wedding to attend today. We left the house around 11am, and didn't get back home until 7pm. We had left the nursery in good shape. All the chicks were happy and moving around well. There was absolutely no reason to belive that Ariel was in trouble before we left.
However, when we returned, I found her alone in the corner of the box, and she was already gone. From her condition, I suspect she had died several hours prior. I can't tell you why she died, anymore than I could guess why Midge did. Our suspicions are that they were just not very healthy to begin with, and because of their size didn't have enough in them to really thrive.
We also have considered that perhaps the walk-in closet where they are kept with their brooding light, became too warm during the day while we were away, and that caused her to perish. The other hens in our flock seemed to have been fine when we returned, so we're less inclined to belive that, but nonetheless, we are truly saddened to have lost another one. And it deeply troubles us that it was the two smallest ones. Now we watch our little Gertrude like a hawk, checking on her nearly every hour or so to make sure that she is doing okay.
Ariel was buried next to Midge and we pray that we won't have to add any others to our hydrangea bed.
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