Lost a hen today

Many things I could have written about but this wasn't on my radar. Yet as I stepped outside to check for chickens, a hawk flew into the air in front of a greenhouse where the hens like to gather. A barnevelder had been attacked; I could tell from her limp form and the feathers around her.

From left: Welsummer, Owl, Gigi-Ru, the backside of Camilla, and Nadia.

Immediately we found five living hens; Owl, Camilla, Cami, Welsummer and one of the Triplets. Nadia was missing, as were the other two triplets, though I didn't think Nature Girl was accounted for. Not for scratch or money could we lure the chickens into the run or coop, so while my husband buried the deceased hen, I kept watch on the rest, wondering if Nadia was gone. Meanwhile my back, which I wrenched on Sunday, wasn't awfully painful, which was great! I had a very nice time with my sister, but this was the first I'd been out with the hens since coming home due to a very achy lower spine.

Who I believe is Nature Girl returns to the coop!

About forty minutes later, Nadia showed up and I was so relieved! That left one missing chicken, which I didn't think would return. An hour passed and the last hen emerged! We were THRILLED and she was hungry. It was starting to get dark, so while she poked at the feeder, others headed into the coop, finally ready to call it a night.

So yeah, seven chickies now. Our molting trio Owl, Cami, and Welsummer filled in nicely while I was away, though they are weeks from laying. Camilla kept three hens safe, bless her, while Nadia hid out who knows where, as well as who we think is Nature Girl; she's molting, her tail feathers gone and her comb shriveled. Meanwhile fascinating election results are making my husband and I ponder the state of this nation. Maybe things will change? Maybe....

Camilla (second from left) and three barnevelders on the high shelf for the night.

But that's not for this post. This post is about how the ground where my better half wanted to bury a chicken was too hard so instead he dug a deep hole in the garden and placed that henny-penny into it. Seven remain, four of them roosting tonight on what we call the high shelf, another having been knocked off the high shelf, then getting her butt onto the wall. It's going to be strange not counting to eight anymore, as well as not seeing them strutting around. Thank goodness the run is secure and I brought home a very large cardboard box which tomorrow will be turned into a dust bath for the coop. We've known this was possible, a hazard of allowing them to roam. The natural life spans of hens varies from six to twelve years, they won't live forever. Still it's a loss and a change of living for those which remain.

Anyway, I'm back from my trip, Halloween is over, and Daylight Savings Time has ended. More about the latter soon, maybe with more log cabin blocks to share!