We have hatched almost 15 eggs in the last few months, not many for a “real” farm, but lots for our little hobby spot.

All the chicks are cute, and fluffy and we have had amazing success.

But now, we need to make a decision.
One of our little guys has gone funny. Not sure if it broke it neck, or if it has an internal problem, but we will need to assist it on it’s journey to the “other side”

My gut just wrenched writing that.

How do you kill a chicken? Well, a chick actually.

I mean, I know we eat killed chickens every day, and that there are LOTS of ways to kill a chicken, but how does someone like me, kill a chicken.

A chicken with a name.

You do it because our goal for raising and loving any animal is to give it quality of life. Even if it is being raised as food, it should still have a kind existence while it is here.   And when something is in pain, you need to allow it, assist it even, to move on.

So, today we will help our little friend “spark” leave this world, and it will suck.
But it will make us better humans, and better animal owners and better farmers by doing it.

And then I will pour a stiff drink and love our remaining flock and sleep peacefully tonight knowing this little one is out of pain.