Loss of a Hen

so, we lost a hen to the dogs over the weekend. Its bound to happen, and you prepare yourself for it, but still it's no fun. Two things make this a tragedy, one is that the hen was one of our Black Jersey Giants, and two, she was the broody hen that was sitting on the nest of eggs. Actually i can count a third here, i was unable to butcher her for our freezer. Not for lack of trying, mind you...... One cannot force herself into the right frame of mind for chicken butchering early on a Saturday morning before the coffee has perked. And add anger at yourself for not being able to accomplish the task and this episode quickly turned to disaster!

Since we only calculated about a week until those eggs were due to hatch, and out incubator is on loan to a friend, i gathered the eggs and made an impromptu brooder, two heating pads, a box, bowl of water, and some towels. Maybe we can still have those chicks.....

We also are in the process of having those trees felled so we spent the day Sunday moving the backyard around. the hen house was quite a challenge, and almost more than we were prepared for. But it was moved safely, and we dread the day we have to move it BACK to its permanent location! The goats were left in their pen since we ran out of time, they will be easily moved when the time comes. And the dogs have been limited to a smaller penned area until all this is done. Nobody is thrilled around here with all the commotion, but we keep our happy thoughts by imagining sunshine and green grass to come in our yard!!

The garden is being planted and it's coming along nicely! i love the clean look of a newly planted garden. I still need to get out there and put up two more trellis frames - one for the peppers and one for the tomatoes! I will get some pics while i'm at it to liven up my thoughts! Happy gardening!

cheers, Nyn