Memorial for Rose

August 13, 2026

We recently had to say goodbye to Rose, who had called Lily’s Place home since January 2022, when she arrived as an urgent intake alongside her friends Dorothy, Celeste, and Unicorn.

Rose was confident, talkative, spunky, and very good at making her wishes known. If she thought a volunteer might be hiding treats, she would tug at their pant legs, perhaps hoping something tasty might fall out, or maybe it was simply her way of offering a gentle reminder that she would enjoy some treats.

Rose was rarely far from her best friend, Dorothy. When Dorothy passed away in April 2023, Rose lost her closest companion. In time, though, she formed new friendships, particularly with Goldie and Ursula, and continued to be a leader within the flock.
Recently, Rose began showing signs that something wasn’t right. She went to the vet to explore giving her body a much-needed rest with medication that would prevent egg laying. 

Unfortunately, an examination, including X-rays, revealed that Rose was already suffering from advanced reproductive disease. Pain medication was no longer keeping her comfortable, and we made the difficult decision to let her go peacefully at the veterinary clinic.

Reproductive disease is incredibly common in hens like Rose. Modern laying hens have been selectively bred to produce an extraordinary number of eggs, around 20 times more than their wild ancestors. That enormous demand on their bodies comes at a cost, and reproductive problems are something we see far too often as these hens age.

Rose got to spend more than four years here exploring, making friends, demanding treats, and simply being a chicken on her own terms.

We will miss her big personality. And we hope that, somewhere, she and Dorothy have found each other again. 🌹❤️

Remembering Rose