Just like the title says.. We have lost a lot of chicks this year for various reasons,
most unknown. Yesterday I found one of our 6 week old Spithauben chicks laying
down on her side and cold. Her leg appeared broken. I gave her some water to
which she responded a little and then fell down. I shoulda taken care of it yesterday
instead of the wishful thinking we all let ourselves sucumb to.
So my son, Drumstick (7), calls me at work this morning to tell me about the chick.
I told him I would take care of it when I got home. He was upset and said
"Daddy, I don't want to leave it there to suffer anymore and I know how much
it bothers you to kill a chick so I will do it". I told him to put his mom on the phone.
I told my wife not to worry about it and I'll handle it. He got upset because his mom
had to drop him off at his grandmother's house and he didn't want to leave the
chick to slowly die, and trust me, it would have.
So I gave him my ok, asked him if he was sure, and praised him for being
a strong young man. He called me back 20 minutes later from his mom's
cellphone and said he handled it. My wife got on the phone and said he did
everything exactly as I would and was sad, but didn't cry. She hid behind my
truck as he dispatched the bird.
I'll tell ya people. Getting chickens was one of the best things I could have done
for this kid. He has learned so much on so many levels about life. Our flock is our
family, it provides us with food, and we must take care of it, even when it's not
so easy. I am a very blessed man.
most unknown. Yesterday I found one of our 6 week old Spithauben chicks laying
down on her side and cold. Her leg appeared broken. I gave her some water to
which she responded a little and then fell down. I shoulda taken care of it yesterday
instead of the wishful thinking we all let ourselves sucumb to.
So my son, Drumstick (7), calls me at work this morning to tell me about the chick.
I told him I would take care of it when I got home. He was upset and said
"Daddy, I don't want to leave it there to suffer anymore and I know how much
it bothers you to kill a chick so I will do it". I told him to put his mom on the phone.
I told my wife not to worry about it and I'll handle it. He got upset because his mom
had to drop him off at his grandmother's house and he didn't want to leave the
chick to slowly die, and trust me, it would have.
So I gave him my ok, asked him if he was sure, and praised him for being
a strong young man. He called me back 20 minutes later from his mom's
cellphone and said he handled it. My wife got on the phone and said he did
everything exactly as I would and was sad, but didn't cry. She hid behind my
truck as he dispatched the bird.
I'll tell ya people. Getting chickens was one of the best things I could have done
for this kid. He has learned so much on so many levels about life. Our flock is our
family, it provides us with food, and we must take care of it, even when it's not
so easy. I am a very blessed man.
