Rooster has a broken heart after loss of soulmate
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My rooster, Rufio, and my hen, Hooter, shared a really special bond.
They were almost monogamous. They're chickens, so, yes, they both still liked to get around a bit, but these two never left each other's sides. And Hooter had to permanently wear a hen saddle due to their frequent hanky panky.
Rufio especially was smitten. He followed Hooter everywhere and tended to her nonstop. She used to lay her eggs in my garage (she learned how to use the cat door), and Rufio (who did NOT know how to use the cat door) would wait patiently right outside the garage door, talking to her the whole time. Sometimes she'd spend a couple of hours in the garage. Rufio never strayed.
And ever since Hooter's death several months ago, Rufio has barely left the coop. He sits in there by himself all day. We've checked him over several times for health problems. I even took him to an avian vet. He appears to be in great physical health.
Is it grief or am I anthropomorphizing?
Check out the very short video below to meet Rufio and see photos of him with his soulmate and best friend, Hooter the hen.