There are a few things about chickens that will never change.
1. They lay eggs.
If they are young enough (but still mature) and healthy enough, of course. Every day, or every other day, our laying hens will lay yet ANOTHER egg for us. Over and Over until they are done.
2. They will die.
This is actually true of all living things. Eventually everything dies. Sometimes it passes gently of old age, other times it leaves us dramatically, causing pain and suffering.
This weekend we lost on our of our little bantam hens. She was an older girl, and looked to be heading on her way out, but she was still sweet and the favourite of our daughter.
Little Shimmer was found, and did not go gently into the night. With many a hungry predator around trying to feed their babies (eagles, crows and the like), chickens are easy picking and a tasty snack.
Tears ensued, and shimmer was “laid to rest”
Alas the next day we noticed we were missing yet another bantam hen. (what’s a bantam? Click here to find out) Little misty, the lone survivor from a hen we lost last year, had not been seen for days. While the kids were inside I searched the property looking for “anything” and knowing it is ALWAYS better that I find it, than the kids.
Not a feather to be found, but Misty obviously gone from us as well. When the kids came outside we broke the news that yet another little hen had been breakfast for the big birds.
The kids were obviously upset, and took on the task of counting ALL the chickens, making sure we hadn’t lost any more. Now, this seems like an easy task, and can be, IF all the chickens are in the coop, resting for the night.
But when you have thirty-something chickens running around 3 acres, it is nigh impossible.
Now lo and behold, an hour later we hear calls of “WE FOUND MISTY”
Of course my motherly heart crashes thinking “in what condition” but the kids rushed to the house and showed me a happy, and healthy little hen.
Well, a happy, healthy, broody hen. (What’s a broody hen you ask, check this out)
Our dear Misty had taken it upon herself to make a nest in our salal bushes. The kids fed her up and then followed her back to her eggs.
Her very many, many eggs.
It looked like our little misty had been storing eggs for a few weeks, as well as collecting eggs from a few other hens in the yard.
We couldn’t safely leave her to brood in the forest, not with owls, eagles and dogs roaming around. As well, once the chicks hatch they would be easy snacking for all sorts of things.
We prepped a large dog crate, filled it with hay and salal branches, so it would be similar to the nest she had worked so hard to build. We gently moved her, and her eggs into her safer home.
Misty transferred well, and we are able to keep her safe, and provide her with access to food and water. As a young hen, not even 10 months old, it is a real treat for her to be such a committed “mom”
The day turned around on us, after losing shimmer, with the discovery of Misty and her brood. Perhaps this is the last sure thing we have learned about raising chickens. . . there is always a little give with the take, and some days, they sure can surprise you.