Lost two of my six precious silkies tonight. So sad. I was a little late getting out to put them up, but it was still quite light out. Four came running when I called "Here, chickie chickie chickie!" Two did not. I looked in the shed, in the bins, under the shed, in all the corners. Nothing. I called. I fed treats. The other chickens called. Nothing.
Sadly, I gathered up my remaining four and put them up in the brooder where they've been sleeping till I can fix their shed from the fire. They tucked themselves in for the night and I locked them in.
Went in the house and sat down at my computer feeling sad. My husband, who doesn't care a bit about having livestock, came in and said, "Go feed the kids. There is salad and chili in the kitchen." I shuffled back to the kitchen, surprised at his unusual manner but too sad to question it, and mechanically started feeding the kids. I was thinking about two little chickens either dead or soon to be dead of either cold or predators. And four little chickens who would have a harder time staying warm without their companions. I was worrying about how if I lose another one or two, the remaining chickens won't be able to stay warm enough at night at all (they are only 9 weeks old).
Finally I get food down in front of the last of the kids, and there is a light flashing in the window, quite insistent. Finally I see that it's my husband signalling to me.
I go outside and he is standing in the backyard with a flashlight in his teeth and my two lost chickens, quite unharmed, in his arms.
My hero.
Because they are in temporary quarters at the moment, they are confused about where to go to bed. Apparently these two had decided to tuck in a little early tonight and had gone to sleep under an old dog house lid that was providing temporary shelter in case of rain. I had thought that if they were around, they would have come running with the others when I called out and started handing out treats. It also didn't occur to me that they would go to sleep there of all places. Apparently, they were quite soundly asleep. Carey (my hero) says they didn't even move when he picked them up--just kinda sleepily sat up a bit and nestled closer to him for warmth.
Yay.
Sadly, I gathered up my remaining four and put them up in the brooder where they've been sleeping till I can fix their shed from the fire. They tucked themselves in for the night and I locked them in.
Went in the house and sat down at my computer feeling sad. My husband, who doesn't care a bit about having livestock, came in and said, "Go feed the kids. There is salad and chili in the kitchen." I shuffled back to the kitchen, surprised at his unusual manner but too sad to question it, and mechanically started feeding the kids. I was thinking about two little chickens either dead or soon to be dead of either cold or predators. And four little chickens who would have a harder time staying warm without their companions. I was worrying about how if I lose another one or two, the remaining chickens won't be able to stay warm enough at night at all (they are only 9 weeks old).
Finally I get food down in front of the last of the kids, and there is a light flashing in the window, quite insistent. Finally I see that it's my husband signalling to me.
I go outside and he is standing in the backyard with a flashlight in his teeth and my two lost chickens, quite unharmed, in his arms.
My hero.
Because they are in temporary quarters at the moment, they are confused about where to go to bed. Apparently these two had decided to tuck in a little early tonight and had gone to sleep under an old dog house lid that was providing temporary shelter in case of rain. I had thought that if they were around, they would have come running with the others when I called out and started handing out treats. It also didn't occur to me that they would go to sleep there of all places. Apparently, they were quite soundly asleep. Carey (my hero) says they didn't even move when he picked them up--just kinda sleepily sat up a bit and nestled closer to him for warmth.
Yay.
