- Sep 10, 2013
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I've always been an animal lover/rescuer. My first words were all the sounds of the farm animals I grew up around. We were always rescuing something or other.
When my husband and I moved into our first home together, a dilapidated farm house from the 1800's, someone had abandoned a few chickens and ducks to fend for themselves. One of those chickens was a barred cochin whom immediately stole my heart. We named her Droopy Drawers because of her ridiculous 'pants' around her ankles. She always looked like she had a full diaper on, but it didn't slow her down a bit! She'd beg for me to hold her and follow me around the yard. She was a great mama to new chicks that grew our flock and always had a great attitude. I didn't realize until I lost her, how rare her breed is.
Last weekend, my mother-in-law brought a dog out to the house that ended up taking my Droopy away from me. I cried so many tears as we buried her in the frozen ground. We had no way of knowing how old she was, and she didn't give us eggs anymore, but she was my friend, the matriarch of the flock...and I'm still sick over losing her. I feel so responsible. It was my job to protect her and I failed.
Then today I came home and called the ladies in for their dinner. They all came scampering from their prospective posts in the yard, but my little favorite, a white-crested polish named Sugar for her sweet and simple ways, was nowhere to be found. I scanned our 5 acre property and found a small amount of black feathers that I have to assume is all that is left of her. I have no idea what could have taken her..but she's gone now, too. She gave us our first egg from her two days ago. It's the most precious, snow white little egg.
My two favorite ladies in the flock in one week. I've never lost a chicken to something so traumatic before and I'm absolutely heartbroken. I just wanted to share, because I know everyone here understands what it feels like to lose the hens we love. Here is my tribute to Droopy & Sugar - I know you're chasing bugs and eating corncobs in Chicken Heaven.
