Goodbye Precious...

Farm living has its ups and downs and yesterday was definitely a downer. Awhile back I introduced you to Blind Chicken aka Precious.

She was of the breed Cherry Egger. She was a very sweet lil chicken, she just couldn't see. Over the last week, I noticed that she was having trouble finding her way down the ramp of the coop so each morning I would pick her up out of the coop and put her on the ground so she could join her sisters and have breakfast. Then, a few days later, I noticed that she wasn't eating or drinking so, thinking that she was having trouble finding the food and water, I tried to feed her by hand. She wasn't having any of it so I took her to the waterer and she refused to drink. I also noticed how her comb had shriveled up and was almost nonexistant. She looked nothing like she did in the picture above. I was hoping that if I just left her alone for the day, she would perk up, but I knew it was a matter of time. My son was out cleaning the chicken coop that afternoon and he said he thought she was dead. I went out and she was lying right where she had been all morning. Her head was on the ground and her feet out behind her so I was quite surprised when I picked her up and she lifted her head up. However, it was one of her last movements. I couldn't bear her fading anymore slowly so hubby came out and "took care of it". I absolutely HATE this aspect of farm life. It would have been different if we had raised her to be butchered and eaten. At least I would have known that she had a spectacular life right up until the end. The thought that she may have been suffering for up to a week just kills me. Needless to say, I will NOT be buying anymore of this particular breed. Of the 5 we bought, 3 have died. The first one died after 3 days, the second a few months later and now Precious a year later. There were no wounds on any of them and the deaths were unexplainable. Live and learn I guess. I am quite happy with the hardiness of the Buff Orpingtons and Americaunas. Very healthy, happy chickens. They are "quite robust" if you know what I mean!

Anyhow, we are still having some internet connectivity issues. Narrowed it down to the wireless router. We will be replacing it soon so the posts may or may not get done in a timely fashion. Thanks for sticking with me!