Making the Tough Calls - Difficult but Essential

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In a mad frenzy of enthusiasm - that's how we seem to dive into the world of raising chickens. It is so exciting – and scary! For most of us first came the idea, then the research. Questions, answers (sometimes conflicting), ideas and visions consume us. Then comes the big day. Chicks are chosen, brooders set up, and when those little peepers arrive it is all we can do to keep from hovering over them with big smiles on our faces.

I was no different. I plunged in, less prepared than some but with the same eagerness to begin this journey. When my first batch finally arrived I fussed, I worried, I panicked more than a few times, and because of my care (sometimes despite it) they grew and thrived.

Have you seen the Luv’s commercials – you know, first kid vs second kid? Yeah, it was like that. The first batch was raised indoors under strict supervision with a heat lamp in the house. By the time they were 5 weeks old, I had to get them out. They were messy. They were noisy all night long. They were dusty – and so was everything else within 2 miles of them. I evicted them to their still-unfinished coop. It was them or me. That was my first really tough call.

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First kids....

The second batch of chicks was kept a couple of days in the house to make sure they were sound and healthy, then out they went. A wire pen was set up within the run, and these chicks (and every subsequent batch) was raised out there in full view of the rest of the flock, using Mama Heating Pad. This was a pretty radical way to raise them. Temperatures were still cold – in the twenties dipping into the teens – yet those little stinkers absolutely thrived. That was another tough call, but a good one.

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Second kids...

We sometimes ended up with a surplus of roosters. From time to time we’d have an older bird who just wasn’t comfortable or “happy” anymore. We had a couple of girls who just weren’t all that we’d hoped they would be. They’d grown up to be poor layers, or extremely temperamental…..not at all what we wanted in a peaceful and productive flock. And more often that I’d like to admit, chicken math got the best of me and we overcrowded our space and abilities. Those were the times when the need for a little flock management became essential and the tough call to do some culling came into play.

Fast forward a few years and several batches of outdoor-raised chicks. Hubby Ken had advanced in his position so that what was once a few trips a year became a few trips per month. Our best chicken sitter, granddaughter Katie, and her family were moving from across the street to a new house on the other side of town. It wouldn’t be easy for her to come and care for them while we were gone because that meant her mom having to pack up Katie’s little sister, drive her and Katie over, then sit and wait while Katie did chores before loading Kendra back up and taking the girls home. Twice a day. Yeah, that wasn’t happening. And my personal health began to deteriorate. It was harder and harder for me to take care of them. More of that work was being dropped on Ken, and he was still recovering from shoulder surgery for much of that time. It was time for another tough call - and I didn't want to make it.

I sat on the deck watching my chickens free-range…Silkies and Easter Eggers, Andalusians and Red Sex Links, Orpingtons and one affectionate Brahma named Tank. They were busy doing what they loved to do. The sun hit their little bodies and reflected back in their glowing feathers. They were fat, sassy, laying great, and absolute pictures of health as they waddled around. I looked over at their coop/run. It needed a good deep clean, although even if it had been at its worst it was still a setup I would be proud to have anyone see. But signs of neglect were creeping in around the hidden corners. I could see it, Ken could see it, but we were still at the point where no one else would see it – yet. As I sat there, good old Agatha, one of my original flock, left the yard and went into the coop to lay her almost daily egg. The door to the coop was open and from where I sat I could see her make a beeline for her favorite nest, climb in, and settle down. And it dawned on me – they deserved better. They weren’t being neglected, they were well cared for, strong, active and healthy, but for how much longer? At what point would getting out there to do what had to be done…when going out there just to spend a little time with them and enjoying them…might become so difficult that chores for that day were put off? And the next day, and the day after that? And worst of all, would I reach the point where I began to resent the responsibility of caring for them? No, it was time.

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A little free-range time.

So the final and toughest call was made. After a few weeks of talking, trying to come up with alternate plans that meant we could continue to enjoy our chickens without them beginning to suffer, we finally came to the realization that we simply had to rehome them. Most of them were still pretty young and still had good years of production and life in them, although we still had our special “old ladies”. Would it be right or fair to wait until they weren’t thriving anymore? We had to decide what to do, and the solution fell into our laps.

A friend of Ken’s mentioned his flock while he and Ken were driving to a meeting, and casually said that with his newly expanded setup he wouldn’t mind getting more birds. Ken explained our situation and his friend said he’d be happy to come and look at ours. He did, and he wanted them all. So late one evening when they’d all settled down to roost, he and his wife came over with several dog crates. One by one I plucked them off the roosts, gave them a final pounce of dusting powder just in case, and put them into the crates. Then I stood in the street and watched the tail lights on that pickup full of chickens get smaller and smaller.

Those chickens taught us so much. They helped Katie learn new coping mechanisms to deal with her mild Autism, gave her a sense of purpose, and boosted her confidence and sense of empathy. Kendra learned to carry eggs in her red basket on her lap in her wheelchair (and wonder of wonders, walking back in her braces with her basket), happily learning that she can help too. And me? I learned about raising disabled kids and chickens together, raising chicks outdoors with Mama Heating Pad, and how to help others learn the same. Along the way I made friends. I often said that I didn’t love my chickens….that I saved that emotion for the special people in my life. Well, I lied.

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Kendra carrying in eggs - walking out there for the first time.

As those chickens were caught one at a time....as I whispered each one’s name, dusted, and put him or her into the crates bound for their new home...I learned one final and valuable lesson. It’s okay to say, “I can’t do this anymore.” It’s not only okay, it’s essential. There comes a time for each of us when we have to understand that it’s not only about fuzzy chicks, first eggs, and seeing a rainbow of chickens puttering around the yard. It’s also about recognizing that those garden-digging, egg-song singing, annoyingly loud crowing, time consuming critters deserve more than mediocre. It’s not a crime to make the toughest call of all. You just have to have the courage and compassion to make it.

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Thank you, you silly looking, quirky little birds.
About author
Blooie
I have kinda become known as a "natural chicken keeper", applying common sense to raising chickens.

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A very well written and honest article!
Thank you for sharing your story. Pets teach us so much - about themselves and about ourselves. You have had to make difficult decisions, and they were all made with love.
Great story and very directive

Comments

Wow. This article is amazing. You put a lot of time, effort and heart into what you wrote. With each sentence that I read, I am overwhelmed by your love for these animals. Life. It's all around us. And aside from love, it's the most precious of gifts. How awesome it is to care for a disabled child. To watch them grow, reach milestones that no one ever thought they could. The smiles, the laughs, and the joy that both children and animals bring to us. In life there are always Going to be "tough calls," decisions that are so hard to make, but so necessary. What you did for your birds was something that a lot of us wouldn't have been able to do. My hat and my heart goes off to you. The hardest decisions are usually always the smartest decisions. Your kind words of encouragement, your wisdom and knowledge will help so many others, myself included, reevaluate their own life and the current living situation with their own flock. I have been in a very similar situation and as a result had to make the tough call to rehome some if my birds who were too aggressive and causing dysfunction in the flock. My husband kept on and on. But I was too stubborn. I didn't realize how selfish I was being. And then it happened, I lost my favorite bird to a vicious attack from the two trouble makers. I had to swallow my pride and admit that it was my fault. If only I had made that tough call, this never would have happened. It still bothers me to this day. I learned a valuable life lesson because of it. And you're right. It does take a lot of courage to make the tough calls in life. Dig deep, find that courage needed to make the right decisions in life. Think of others before thinking of your own selfish needs. It's ok to make mistakes. That's how we learn and grow. But it's also foolish to make a mistake that you can prevent from ever happening. This article opened up my mind, my heart and my eyes to a lot of different things. Thank you so much for sharing. Best of luck to you and God bless you and your beautiful granddaughters!
 
Wow. This article is amazing. You put a lot of time, effort and heart into what you wrote. With each sentence that I read, I am overwhelmed by your love for these animals. Life. It's all around us. And aside from love, it's the most precious of gifts. How awesome it is to care for a disabled child. To watch them grow, reach milestones that no one ever thought they could. The smiles, the laughs, and the joy that both children and animals bring to us. In life there are always Going to be "tough calls," decisions that are so hard to make, but so necessary. What you did for your birds was something that a lot of us wouldn't have been able to do. My hat and my heart goes off to you. The hardest decisions are usually always the smartest decisions. Your kind words of encouragement, your wisdom and knowledge will help so many others, myself included, reevaluate their own life and the current living situation with their own flock. I have been in a very similar situation and as a result had to make the tough call to rehome some if my birds who were too aggressive and causing dysfunction in the flock. My husband kept on and on. But I was too stubborn. I didn't realize how selfish I was being. And then it happened, I lost my favorite bird to a vicious attack from the two trouble makers. I had to swallow my pride and admit that it was my fault. If only I had made that tough call, this never would have happened. It still bothers me to this day. I learned a valuable life lesson because of it. And you're right. It does take a lot of courage to make the tough calls in life. Dig deep, find that courage needed to make the right decisions in life. Think of others before thinking of your own selfish needs. It's ok to make mistakes. That's how we learn and grow. But it's also foolish to make a mistake that you can prevent from ever happening. This article opened up my mind, my heart and my eyes to a lot of different things. Thank you so much for sharing. Best of luck to you and God bless you and your beautiful granddaughters!
I am humbled and overwhelmed by your comment. All I can say is "thank you."
 
Oh that made me cry. I know I will reach that point too as I get older, but I refuse to think about it now. Right now I am able to keep up. You are brave and you loved your chickens. I admire your ability to make that tough decision
:goodpost:
Thank you. I know that they are cared for just as well now as when I had them, and will be for a long time to come.
 
Blooie, what can I say but...... WOW!
I hope I can be as loving,brave and kind when the time comes for me to let my crew go.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks. When the time comes, you've got this! I've already adjusted to a "new norm". Maybe it helps that I get regular updates on them, but even if I hadn't been friends with the man who got them I would still know that I did the right thing.
 
I see that not only your way with words tell a story or express your life choices but the manner in which you've thoughtfully answered each and every comment.

You are much appreciated for sharing your experience and wisdom
 
I see that not only your way with words tell a story or express your life choices but the manner in which you've thoughtfully answered each and every comment.

You are much appreciated for sharing your experience and wisdom
You are very kind. Thank you. I do try to answer comments but sometimes I miss a few because I don't notice them right away. But I usually catch up. That "alert" tab and I don't always get along. <sigh> But I figure it this way - if someone takes the time to form and post a response, not letting them know that it has been read and appreciated isn't quite right. Again, thank you.
 
Wonderful article. :hugsI have had chickens once before and had to give them up. I never had to cull as the foxes did it mostly for us, which broke all our hearts as we had had a broodie hen raise a beautiful set of chicks. We bought Mum and the chicks into the house in a rabbit cage for a while and it was so fun to just stop what we were supposed to do and go sit with them. We ended up selling the chicks for a couple of dollars so they all got homes and we mourned all our hens who had fed fox families one by one, no matter our construction efforts.

Years later and I am finally ready to go again. We have some chicks and they lasted two days in the house when they got here (at 3-4 weeks old :jumpy) before we put them in the coop. Luckily, our climate in Australia was spot on for the temperature they needed by then and they have thrived (now 7 weeks and I could not imagine them being still in my house), though the past few heat wave days meant a lot of frozen and cool treats and shady places to keep out of the sun. With a bit of extra care, they were fine. :thumbsup
Life is full of hard calls and you have made each well. No point hiding from them. :oops:
Glad that you had so much enjoyment from your chickens and so happy that you were able to re-home your entire flock. :ya
Take care and best wishes for lots of new adventures and pastimes to fill in those hours of cleaning, feeding and treating that your chickens took from your days. :cool:
 
Aaww... that brought a little mist to my eyes and lump to my throat. Tough love sometimes hurts. :hugs
When it's the right thing to do, you just do it. There are times when I look outside expecting to see Aggie, Tank, King Tut, Smudge and all the others puttering around in the yard and am almost surprised when they're not there. But if faced with it again, I'd make the same call, and it helps to remember that. Thanks.
 
Wonderful article. :hugsI have had chickens once before and had to give them up. I never had to cull as the foxes did it mostly for us, which broke all our hearts as we had had a broodie hen raise a beautiful set of chicks. We bought Mum and the chicks into the house in a rabbit cage for a while and it was so fun to just stop what we were supposed to do and go sit with them. We ended up selling the chicks for a couple of dollars so they all got homes and we mourned all our hens who had fed fox families one by one, no matter our construction efforts.

Years later and I am finally ready to go again. We have some chicks and they lasted two days in the house when they got here (at 3-4 weeks old :jumpy) before we put them in the coop. Luckily, our climate in Australia was spot on for the temperature they needed by then and they have thrived (now 7 weeks and I could not imagine them being still in my house), though the past few heat wave days meant a lot of frozen and cool treats and shady places to keep out of the sun. With a bit of extra care, they were fine. :thumbsup
Life is full of hard calls and you have made each well. No point hiding from them. :oops:
Glad that you had so much enjoyment from your chickens and so happy that you were able to re-home your entire flock. :ya
Take care and best wishes for lots of new adventures and pastimes to fill in those hours of cleaning, feeding and treating that your chickens took from your days. :cool:
Thank you. I'll be kept plenty busy so the time I would have spent out there will be totally filled with travel. Travel without guilt - now there's a novel concept around here! Tee hee And flowers.....did I mention being able to have flowers without fences again? I should probably be ashamed of how quickly I adapted to our "new norm" after they were gone but I think that's because it was a decision not made lightly or in haste. Knowing who has them and getting updates on how they are doing has helped a lot, too. I can go see them whenever I want, but I haven't done that and probably won't. They've adjusted, I've adjusted, and it's better to leave it at that. Thank you again, and enjoy your new chickens!
 
This is a great article. Sometimes we do have to make tough decisions. I was raising ducks and had to make that decision. They were àlot of heavy work for myself and I just couldn't do it anymore.
And if you are like me, after a few days you realized the sun still came up and the birdies still sang - it wasn't the end of the world the way I thought it would be! It was an adjustment - still is at times - but there's also that little bit of relief that there is one less stress in your life that you just didn't need right then. Good for you! Thanks!
 
I couldn’t stop the tears I love my chickens and the ducks that I used to have I had to rehome the ducks I cried my eyes out when I put them in their crates I am tearing up as I writing this it’s only been a few two months that I rehome my duckies and rooster I still fine their feathers i have kept everyone I am hoping that they are happy in there places
 

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