Miss Chicken
Nov 8th, 2007 by Manerva
I’m sad to say we (my husband) had to put down one of my hens. She was one of my 3 year olds, a Black Australorp that did a fine job of entertaining us, eating bugs on our farm and she provided us with many fresh eggs over the years. She will be missed much. I gave her a nice spot on the property where she can see the sun rise and fall each day, so I think she would have been happy there.
I don’t know what happened. My thoughts are that she ate something she wasn’t suppose to. She just kind of quit eating and drinking water and there was no longer a spark in her eye. The last thing she had was homemade zucchini bread (her favorite) as I tried to coax her into eating. She did eat a bit, but it was a far cry from her normal self. Really I think she did it to appease me… She was a good hen.
I give you this one thought to keep –
I am with you still — I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift, uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone –
I am with you still — in each new dawn.
~ Native American Prayer
That is one of the most beautiful prayers I’ve ever read. I’m so sorry about Miss Chicken.
Oh, Manerva…I’m so very sorry about the loss of your beloved hen. It’s very hard to say goodbye to them. She might have gotten into something…we are just getting past the botulism season. Earthworms aren’t good for them either. I’ve lost a few that way.
Bohemian Girl- Thank you. I’ve had this poem laying around for some time, can’t remember where I found it, but I know I want it read before the party begins when I go…Morbid ha?
Rosie- Thank you too. I had thought about botulism but it never occured to me about earthworms as I am guilty of feeding them to my chikkers when I kill them while digging in the garden…