Mostly about my backyard chickens. (Boring, I know), but there are a lot of us out here. Mine are only kept as pampered pets. I could eat a neighbor's chicken, but not MINE. There may be a comment on current events only if I get riled up enough. And there will always be a cartoon or a joke to cheer us. I promise to try my very best to respond to comments. Now I have to figure out how this blogger thingy works....
I tried to be, BarbaCat. Didn't know a darn thing about raising them when I first brought them home. I learned a lot - the next batch will be easier. (I hope!)
I didn't know anything about chickens when we decided to have a go at it, either. 6 years ago this Spring, my hubby built a dandy hen house. We chicken fenced in a goodly part of our yard just out the back door so we could keep an eye on them from the kitchen window. We couldn't let them run free because of the dog. I read up on them from Carla Emery's wisdom - and Raising Chickens for Dummies. We bought 4 baby chicks.
We had a lot of fun, lots of eggs, and I'll always believe they had a good time too. We learned to speak chickenese, and they coo'ed to us, we could pick them up and whisper sweet nothings to them...it was, in all, a wonderful experience. Then, last summer, one by one - first the golden hens, like yours, began to stop laying and withdrawing into themselves...then dieing. Then by the summer's end the black ones began doing the same. My two favorites, Henrieta and Hendrika were the last to go.
We looked at each other, and knew we'd close the book on this adventure. Hubby come-alonged the henhouse out of the yard and dragged it to another end of the property with the truck. I tilled the manure/straw into the ground, raked, smoothed and planted grass seed. Now the yard looks like it did before we swerved into the world of chickens.
I discovered your blog just after that, and I'm finding I can love them vicariously here. ((HUGS, Chickenmom!) - BarbaCat
Awww! Thanks for the kind words, BarbaCat! It's hard not to get attached to them. Each one is different. I'm too old to have a horse and Hubby says NO to a goat or a mini donkey so I'll just keep having a few chickens around. They don't require a lot of heavy work (except for shoveling the poop) and they keep me out of trouble. :o)
Sad, but you gave her a good life.
ReplyDeleteShe did have a good life - spoiled right to the end.
DeleteSo sorry, she will be missed. It is so very hard to loose a pet.
ReplyDeleteD
Fl
Even though she was just a chicken, she was so friendly and loved to be held and petted. I'll miss that.
DeleteReally sorry to read this, I was hoping she would rally. :-(
ReplyDeleteThanks, JMD. I was hoping she would get better too. All she wanted to do was rest. I guess her heart gave out. It just happens sometimes.
DeleteI know what you're feeling like. You were a good chicken mom to her...
ReplyDelete- BarbaCat
I tried to be, BarbaCat. Didn't know a darn thing about raising them when I first brought them home. I learned a lot - the next batch will be easier. (I hope!)
DeleteI didn't know anything about chickens when we decided to have a go at it, either. 6 years ago this Spring, my hubby built a dandy hen house. We chicken fenced in a goodly part of our yard just out the back door so we could keep an eye on them from the kitchen window. We couldn't let them run free because of the dog. I read up on them from Carla Emery's wisdom - and Raising Chickens for Dummies. We bought 4 baby chicks.
DeleteWe had a lot of fun, lots of eggs, and I'll always believe they had a good time too. We learned to speak chickenese, and they coo'ed to us, we could pick them up and whisper sweet nothings to them...it was, in all, a wonderful experience. Then, last summer, one by one - first the golden hens, like yours, began to stop laying and withdrawing into themselves...then dieing. Then by the summer's end the black ones began doing the same. My two favorites, Henrieta and Hendrika were the last to go.
We looked at each other, and knew we'd close the book on this adventure. Hubby come-alonged the henhouse out of the yard and dragged it to another end of the property with the truck. I tilled the manure/straw into the ground, raked, smoothed and planted grass seed. Now the yard looks like it did before we swerved into the world of chickens.
I discovered your blog just after that, and I'm finding I can love them vicariously here.
((HUGS, Chickenmom!)
- BarbaCat
Awww! Thanks for the kind words, BarbaCat! It's hard not to get attached to them. Each one is different. I'm too old to have a horse and Hubby says NO to a goat or a mini donkey so I'll just keep having a few chickens around. They don't require a lot of heavy work (except for shoveling the poop) and they keep me out of trouble. :o)
DeleteThat's sad, but I know she was one lucky/spoiled/pampered hen. :)
ReplyDeleteShe was spoiled - all of them are, really. (and I'll probably do the same for the new ones in the Spring). :o)
DeleteLucky little hen to have had a good life with you... Great compassion for your little friend.
ReplyDeleteCap'n Jan
I get so attached to them. (Even Charlie) I shouldn't - but I do.
DeleteRIP Miss Lucy.
ReplyDeleteAnd D is right, loosing a pet is very hard.
:-(
Terry
Fla.
Thanks, Terry. Lucy will be missed. She was kinda special. The last of the original six chicks.
DeleteSorry about the loss of your feathered friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gorges. It's strange only seeing three of them out there.
Delete