05/06/2026
It is with deep sadness that we share that Rosie passed away today.
She wasn’t acting like herself this morning. Her comb had lost its usual vibrant red, her breathing was labored, and she didn’t want to move. We rushed her to the vet, where we received the news we were fearing, that she likely only had a few hours left. Before we could make the compassionate decision to help her pass peacefully, Rosie took her final breaths in Rae’s arms.
Rosie came to Fluffy Butt Rescue in September 2020. She was one of five Cornish Cross hens who made up our very first flock of chickens. She is now the last of those five to cross the rainbow bridge. Along with the grief of losing her comes the heavy feeling of the end of an era.
Caring for birds, especially factory-farmed Cornish Cross hens, has been incredibly challenging. We are grateful to have a compassionate and knowledgeable vet, but these birds are bred to grow rapidly for slaughter at just eight weeks old, and their bodies often struggle under the weight of that reality.
Rosie, however, had a different plan. On her way to the slaughterhouse, she jumped from the transport truck. Someone witnessed it, stopped, and brought her to safety. She arrived at FBR in very poor condition, but with time, care, and love, she transformed into a healthy bird who experienced life in sanctuary.
She didn’t live without challenges, though. Like many meat birds, Rosie required ongoing medication for heart failure and inflammation. But despite it all, she lived years beyond what was intended for her.
Rosie leaves behind a quiet space that will be deeply felt. She was part of our beginning, and saying goodbye to her feels like closing a chapter.
We will miss our warrior, always.
