Sorrow in the Barn Yard
So, Saturday was a sad day on our little chicken farm. We had 47 birds; 3 roosters and 44 hens. Yesterday morning we had a total of 41, having lost 5 hens and 1 rooster to a neighbor’s dog. It was a sad day for sure. I had a water leak at a rental, and was forced to spend my day at that place taking care of tenant needs. After arriving home about 4 pm, I rounded the corner of the front yard and immediately saw black chicken feathers. I knew it wasn’t good. As the auto continued toward the house, I noticed my neighbor with a bag collecting chickens- dead ones. I was sick. As it turned out , 1 rooster, Pretty Boy and 4 hens were gone. Later, 3 birds were discovered safe, 2 roosters (over the fence) and a Buff Orpington near the house. The rest of the flocks were in their runs. Two other hens were found alive but both bitten on the back side by the dog.
Yesterday when the yard man across the street came, I went and asked him to look at Lil, one of the hurt roosters. She had a horrible smell and maggots were crawling on her back. I tried to clean the wound and put medication on her but he told me she could not be saved and it would be in her best interest to put her down. I cried. She would be hen number 6 to go.
Larry took her away leaving one lone Jersey Giant in the hospital coop. Today, I put that girl in a new and improved hospital coop with fresh hay and a wire door giving her sunlight and even providing a place she could be in the shade if she chose. Fresh water and food were placed inside the new area and her wound was doctored. I had tried to put her with her own flock but they were pecking her so I knew it would not work. Tonight when I closed her in for the evening, she seemed a little better and besides being alone, I knew it would be best for her to heal in that situation.
In living on a farm of any size there is bound to be loss. I know this but it does not make it any easier. This is my 2nd year with chickens and I’ve had some loss over these two years. The very first loss was this same dog killing 3 of my hens and my only rooster leaving me one chicken. I thought the world would end. It was the first loss on my mini farm and it was devastating. Then, after replacing those, a raccoon got two of my English hens by pulling them through the fence. When these type things occur you tend to blame yourself thinking you could have done better securing them.
All along, I’ve learned ways to keep them safe. That very next day, I secured their pen away from the fence and closed all birds inside a coop at dusk to stay until after dawn the next morning. There is nothing to do in cases like those but cry, figure out how to remedy the situation as best as possible and then go forward. There is often sorrow at the barnyard.
This past week when we lost so many hens and our special and beautiful rooster Pretty Boy probably died a martyr protecting his hens, there was a silver lining which was that two of our roosters flew over the fence and this morning while feeding breakfast to the flocks, our crooked tail hen came waddling by. She escaped the wrath of the dog and made it to safety somehow. I was so happy i could have hugged her but as you may know, nervous chickens don’t go for hugging! I did in fact talk sweet to her and by the close proximity of her visit, i think she may have wanted to hug me too. When she was caught to be pinned, I did hug her neck and tenderly brush her back. Love is love.
The sun came up this morning. The sorrow of yesterday was still on the farm and yes, even some of the feathers left strewn around from the horrible dog event but today was a better day. Our birds cannot really be replaced but we can look to the future and appreciate God’s comfort for He says He will never leave us nor forsake us and assures us of His being there during sad times.
Josie
