Before I return to the Tale of Taos, I would like to take today to thank everyone for all your kind thoughts, letters, comments, and support regarding the loss of our chickens. Sometimes I don’t know if anyone is reading my verbal dribble; I’ll pour my heart out writing and writing, receive perhaps two comments, and, insecure being that I can be, wonder if anyone cares. Well, yesterday you proved that indeed you do care and it means the world to me.
To put your minds at ease, we only lost chickens. Magic and the rest of the Pen of Misfit Fowl inhabitants are fine and healthy for now. After returning home from school and receiving the bad news, the boys rolled their grief into work, albeit tear-laden. We spent the entire afternoon reinforcing pens until they now resemble Attica, rolling barbed wire and all.
In total, we lost 22 chickens, every hen we incubated here, all the crested and feather-footed breeds with the happy exception of Medusa, a Golden Polish. We lost the Barred Rocks, the Black and Partridge Cochins, the Black Andalusians, and the gorgeous Buff Polish hens that young David wanted to show through 4H. Those who remain are from our original flock plus Medusa: 2 Buff Orpingtons, 1 Buff Minorca, 2 Blue Andalusians, 2 Silver Spangled Hamburgs, 2 White Wyandottes, 1 Rhode Island Red and 2 mutt roosters, Slick and Big Red, who saved themselves on high. Each remaining hen which hid in the hen house on top of the nesting boxes is quickly getting past laying stage. In fact, I gathered just two eggs yesterday compared to the dozen plus we typically get. I am NOT going back to store-bought eggs.
We can rebuild; we have the technology. What we need is time, patience, and a stiff upper lip.
Thank you again to everyone. You were the light in an otherwise very difficult day.
Lauren,
I am so sorry to hear about your losses… I read the posting yesterday and thought of you many times throughout the day. I know each and every one of them where precious and irreplaceable. Try to concentrate on the fulfillment that unfolds day after day on your farm. It’s your sincerity and uncanny wit that keeps us tuned in every day…
~jackie
Posted by: Jackie | October 11, 2007 at 10:07 AM
We're here! And we've all been very worried about you the last couple of days. Hang in there babe, and be extra nice to those scared survivors. Did you ever confirm the species of the marauders?
Posted by: Beth in WI | October 11, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Way to go. You guys have inspired me, and I am glad to see you haven't strayed from the Poultry Path. (From the sound of it, you still have a very handsome flock.) Today I became the owner of 4 turkey poults, and so I am going out to the pen with you in mind, resolved to making it critter-proof. Sometimes we others need to hear your stories, however tragic - so don't stop writing, even if we don't always write back.
Posted by: melanie | October 11, 2007 at 11:19 AM
I'm so sorry to hear of your losses! My husband grew up on a ranch in northern CA and had a similar coyote incident. Only one chicken survived it, and she never went back to the coop again. She made a new home for herself on the front porch, where she lived out her days with the dogs and cats. I guess they made good wildlife deterents!
Posted by: Lauren | October 11, 2007 at 05:15 PM
We're always here for you, Lauren.
We just can't say what we want to as well as you do.
Posted by: Margery | October 11, 2007 at 05:28 PM
Lauren - so sorry to hear about the loss of your little flock - that is the part of farming this I hate - when something like that happens. I'm glad that the rest of your critters were safe. Tina
Posted by: Tina T-P | October 11, 2007 at 10:08 PM
I am SO sorry! We had a similar situation here last month (for 2 Sundays in a row). The coyotes are getting very bold here ... They killed one of the baby chickens up on the front porch before I saw him and scared him off. I have been able to keep them away from the hen house using a trick an older man told me of ... have the men in your house go pee around the perimeter. I know it sounds a bit odd ... but the hen house is the one place I haven't had trouble with them. Of course ... I live in the middle of nowhere ...
Posted by: Meg | October 12, 2007 at 06:32 AM
I'm commenting because I wanted to let you know there is one more reader that really enjoys your posts. I've been reading since sometime this past summer. I followed a link from Franklin Knits (he answered a question you had about the Glencora shawl) I like following the tales of your family,farming and fiber life.
I am sorry to read about the midnight raid of the chicken coop. I feel especially bad for your boys. Farming, even pretend farming has some tough times. The way your boys went to work and harnessed their grief into protecting the rest of the flock is impressive.
Posted by: SheilaZ | October 12, 2007 at 10:44 AM
I think your polish chicken is soo cute! I have 3 of them but 1 is a mix.
Posted by: Pearl | February 28, 2009 at 10:07 AM