The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That is the one I teeter on so often, when has quality of life gone over the edge into not worth living any longer. I knew it with my last dog, but it's easier with a dog, I think, to know when is the right time. They really seem to tell you. Never easier to do, just easier to know when it's right to let them go.

It was hard at first when little Carly had what I think was a stroke, but as her seizures became more and more frequent and she couldn't balance herself well enough to eat and drink, it became more clear that it was right. Never easy, just what had to be done. Your winters are so brutal compared to ours and he would have suffered in it unless you literally moved him into the house, and then, you'd have been thinking you didn't let him go soon enough. Such decisions we must make because they can't do it for themselves. But, I'm sure you are okay with the decision itself, knowing what you know about your birds, just that the sadness has to be traveled through and time has to pass to heal your heart.

I have these pictures in my mind of all the roosters I've loved who have come and gone over the years, more so than the hens. I was so blessed to have had them as long as I did, especially Isaac and Suede. Both went out on their own terms, taking the decision out of my hands, on their feet until the last minute, such valiant and noble creatures. I look at Isaac's painting beside my bed and sometimes, I even tell him how much I miss him. But, now, after two years, it's easier and the great things, I remember about him. You'll have your little guys with you forever and I'm glad you had them, and they had you. Gosh, I love my roosters! I know, I'm insane, but it's just what it is. I wake up every a.m., no matter how early, hearing all the roosters in the neighborhood around me crowing and it makes me smile.

Thank you always for you kind words, and understanding exactly what I'm feeling. I never feel like I did enough, but I also know I wouldn't decide such a thing unless I felt in my heart it was the right thing. I often wish I could be like others who make decisions on culling so easily, but maybe I wouldn't like myself than.

I constantly think about life and death, and the whole meaning of life stuff. I know death happens, my perspective on it changed when I heard the words cancer, and that became part of my story. Life is much too precious to be thrown away lightly. Others would say it's just a chicken, but I say it was my chicken, and it has become a part of my life and story.

I put up a big front, but inside I'm made of jelly. I've always had a soft spot for critters. I used to sit with the dying animals on the farm when I was a kid so they weren't alone. Everyone else was in the house watching tv while I was out sobbing with a sick cat or calf in my hands. I guess I'm feeling sappy and sharing too much tonight. Thanks for listening.

 

[speckledhen]

I constantly think about life and death, and the whole meaning of life stuff. I know death happens, my perspective on it changed when I heard the words cancer, and that became part of my story. Life is much too precious to be thrown away lightly. Others would say it's just a chicken, but I say it was my chicken, and it has become a part of my life and story.

I put up a big front, but inside I'm made of jelly. I've always had a soft spot for critters. I used to sit with the dying animals on the farm when I was a kid so they weren't alone. Everyone else was in the house watching tv while I was out sobbing with a sick cat or calf in my hands. I guess I'm feeling sappy and sharing too much tonight. Thanks for listening.

Like you, I won't apologize for feeling for my animals. Both Tom and I are softies, him even more than me. The chickens and I, we have a relationship and it's just between us. When Amanda or Gypsy look me deep in the eye, we have a connection. Snow adores my husband, absolutely will forgo all food and water to get to him. And he will be a mess when she's gone. No one needs to understand it and if they mock you and me, Lisa, well, it's just so sad that they never had that, never realized in a personal way what complex and dignified creatures chickens can be.

Atlas looks at me with such kindness in his eyes, really looks at me and responds to my voice, much like Isaac did, and I can see his grandpa in those soft eyes. He trusts me and I can trust him not to ever hurt me. We have that more and more as he gets older. It will be hard to lose him one day, but he has made his mark here and will never be forgotten. I know you completely get that. People disappoint me so often, even those I thought I could trust, but I always seem to know where I stand with my animals, can trust them to behave in ways I understand. They rarely surprise me in a negative way. So, yes, we are much alike and I am very sad tonight for you and for your little blind guy. He lived a decently long life for a rooster and had a caring owner, which is more than you can say for millions of chickens all over this country.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You always know know what to say. Thanks for being a good friend. It nice to talk to like minded people. I can't find people in my life who see things like I do. That's probably why I'm on here so much. Everyone I know talks about people, children in particular, places and things. Not too many have animals, and those that do don't understand them or their needs, nor do they like listening to my rambling about them.

 

[getaclue]

My chickens are part of my extended family. I don't take it lightly when having to dispatch one. It does have to be done at times though. Just part of their trusting you with their overall well being. That extends to trusting you to end their unbearable suffering too. It's still not a pleasant thing, and leave a little hole in your heart.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@oldhenlikesdogs
Everything has already been said so well that I can't add anything.

 

[speckledhen]

Lisa, ramble away. This is the place to do it. I think we all get it.

 

[speckledhen]

@getaclue Cheryl, I think we've solved my computer issue. It seems to have been the fault of the driver for the onscreen keyboard. It hasn't shut down for two days now.

This a.m. in the dark, one of the Belgian D'Anver roosters was crowing, a sleepy-sounding short crow, not a full-on belt-out, and he did it about 20 times in a row, with no answer from the local roosters or my own. Haven't been to the barn yet, so I hope it's all okay in there. It was just the oddest thing, that little crow over and over again, all by itself.

 

[1muttsfan]

Oldhen, no matter how small each life is a jewel. If we are fortunate eventually time smoothes away the sharp sorrow and leaves the softer memories of all our friends who have left us, both human and animal.

 

[getaclue]

I'm so glad your Dh found the problem. Of all the drivers I would have suspected, that one would be way down the list. There have been a couple times though, when repairing other people's computers, that I've gone to the manufacturer's website, and re-installed all the drivers one by one, until I found the one causing the problem, but that's not typical. It sometimes happens with automatic updates, when the updated driver goes in, but not correctly, and doesn't show as failed, so it doesn't reinstall itself. The other situation that will do that, is when you update a driver, but the updated driver doesn't work, and you have to wait until they release a fix for the updated driver. That's happened to me a few times through the years.

 

[getaclue]

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