The Saga of Fatima of the Gold-dust Feathers! UPDATED - Fatima died...

[HorseFeathers]

Quote:
LOL sure! Fatima feels so special. *Almost* as special as Opa with his fan club.

Sorry, I haven't been on for a while, but Chapter 25 is coming right up!

 

[HorseFeathers]

Chapter 25- Life Goes On

Fatima of the Gold-dust Feathers was used to the Small Ones by now. They were no longer quite as small... indeed, the white one, Una of the Snowy Bloomers, was nearly as large as Fatima herself! The two brown ones, Artemis of the Quick Wit and Bella of the Earthen Tones, strongly resembled Ophelia of the Chocolate Down. Poor Ophelia! She was molting, and Fatima had to try very hard not to burst out in "bawwwwk-baw-gock!" laughter each time she passed, she looked so silly!
Olympia of Midnight was well over her broodiness, and had returned as lead hen. She was now the Small Ones' arch enemy, pecking them whenever they got near her! Fatima thought that this was a bit extreme, but the Small Ones learned quickly that Olympia was no longer their momma. Olympia had also become very loud. Lillith of the Starry Night kept mimicking her yelling, that copy-fluff!
Rita of the Small Flame was no longer lead hen, but not just because Olympia had returned from broodiness. Rita was sick. Her abdomen was swollen to nearly twice its normal size, and she walked very oddly, rather like Phoebe of the Striped Wings times ten. Side to side she went. The Ones with Great Hands made concerned-noises each time they saw her. Fatima knew that Rita was dying.
On a particularly hot and sunny day, Fatima had a sudden realization during her twice-daily dust bath. A Great-Handed One might have called it an enlightenment, but Fatima was cross with herself for thinking of something so deep during what should have been a nice, carefree dust bath.
You see, Fatima had seen Rita and the Small Ones side-by-side. She realized that death and new life go wing-in-wing, and that in order for the young to thrive, death must exist also.
It was a sad thought, but Fatima's mind kept churning it over. Perhaps she was not just a carefree hen after all. She glanced at Rita and Una scratching for worms together. Life goes on.

(If you, too, have Welsummers, enter them in the Welsummer Contest !)

 

[obe10]

that was great!!! also how old is rita of the small flame?

 

[HorseFeathers]

Going on three years now. But she's a red star so she's bound to have a lot of egg problems. It's really sad, but like Fatima said... death is a part of life.

 

[mayapooh]

I just found this ... it is AMAZING! Bravo!

Please keep up with new chapters - it is awesome. It totally makes me want to run outside with a pad and pen and camera and start a chicken story of my own.

 

[TheChickenShrink]

Hi!

I just went through your whole story and I have to say it is wonderfully well written!!!

I totally agree that you should be publishing children books! What a wonderful way to present chicken to the rising generation!!!

And like everybody else, I want MORE!

 

[obe10]

three years?!?! that is really young my oldest chicken is 6 years (jap. bantam) and could live up 12

 

[Settler'sDreamFarm]

three years?!?! that is really young my oldest chicken is 6 years (jap. bantam) and could live up 12

Three years is actually a good age for a red star (sexlink). Sexlink/Commercial bird's average lifespan is 2-3 years, beacuse they lay so many eggs in their first couple years it weakens them and they dye usually a lot early than heritage breeds and pure breeds.​

 

[SeramaLife]

My red sexlink died last year from "predators" at the ripe old age of six. And still young. Westill have our black sexlink, 6 years also. Perfectly healthy and young. 7 is old for a large chicken like a RSL or a jersey giant (we have some that are 9 1/2), but not three.

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

Love the stories! Thanks so much for taking the time to write them!


Sorry about your hen....
Maybe someone will post a solution or remedy?