Théo and the chickens des Sauches

[Molpet]

we nursed them issue after issue we grew very attached to them and they to us.

This is so true

 

[ManueB]

It's just like you said ~ sweet little Piou-Piou was tiny even for a bantam plus her shorter legs made her even smaller. We found in the past that our most loved hens were because they had health issues & because we nursed them issue after issue we grew very attached to them and they to us.

Since keeping chickens I often think of the mushy peas children's book, "the little prince". Not sure how known it is outside France, here it was unavoidable for every child of my generation and that of my parents (yours).
The ending is spot on :
“And he went back to meet the fox.
“Goodbye,” he said.
“Goodbye,” said the fox. “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
“What is essential is invisible to the eye,” the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.
"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”
“It is the time I have wasted for my rose–” said the little prince, so that he would be sure to remember.
“Men have forgotten this truth,” said the fox. “But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose…”
“I am responsible for my rose,” the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.
(Saint-Exupéry).

I hope so too! I certainly coped better with losing Bernadette-the- brave than I expected and than I did with some of the others.
Partly I think though it was because she had what I will weirdly describe as 'a good death'. Far too young of course, but in her sleep and after a fine dinner.
Who could ask for more!
I also feel in her case I really could not have done anything different. So I miss her companionship and she was an unusual and remarkable hen in many ways which I enjoyed. But I am at peace with the memories.

Bernadette would be proud of you. I'm sure she would not have approved of any tears. She would probably have pecked your hand off to let you know .
Yes, some deaths do not feel completely wrong.
I know it's weird, but when a chicken has already been through some miraculous recovery (as was twice the case for Bernie, with her leg and then being an only survivor) for me it's in a way like death is just catching up the time that has been freely gifted.
************
The gorgeous weather is over and we're back to grey, damp and cold for a few days. I'll be short but I wanted to post two things.
Chipie had a seizure this morning. It's the first since I began supplementing her every morning a year ago. It did not manifest like wry neck as it used to : she was perched on a roost and she started flapping her wings on and on, and she couldn't stop. I took her in my arms and she was still flapping - I admit I though this was maybe death thrash. Then she stopped and breathed loudly and painfully for about a minute. She was able to move after a few minutes, and after about an hour, she was almost back to herself, just looking tired.
She's an old lady with a bad temper - my partner calls her the queen .
The second thing is more positive -Alba has really taken a shift toward getting better. I think she will likely recover. Hopefully she is well enough on wednesday to go see the vet with Laure.

Two roosters .

I love that the new window door allows us to watch the chickens from the entrance!

Chipie doing better this morning.

Fence fighting, again. Now it's Annette who's the cause of the fights .

 

[RoyalChick]

Since keeping chickens I often think of the mushy peas children's book, "the little prince". Not sure how known it is outside France, here it was unavoidable for every child of my generation and that of my parents (yours).
The ending is spot on :
“And he went back to meet the fox.
“Goodbye,” he said.
“Goodbye,” said the fox. “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
“What is essential is invisible to the eye,” the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.
"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”
“It is the time I have wasted for my rose–” said the little prince, so that he would be sure to remember.
“Men have forgotten this truth,” said the fox. “But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose…”
“I am responsible for my rose,” the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.
(Saint-Exupéry).

Bernadette would be proud of you. I'm sure she would not have approved of any tears. She would probably have pecked your hand off to let you know .
Yes, some deaths do not feel completely wrong.
I know it's weird, but when a chicken has already been through some miraculous recovery (as was twice the case for Bernie, with her leg and then being an only survivor) for me it's in a way like death is just catching up the time that has been freely gifted.
************
The gorgeous weather is over and we're back to grey, damp and cold for a few days. I'll be short but I wanted to post two things.
Chipie had a seizure this morning. It's the first since I began supplementing her every morning a year ago. It did not manifest like wry neck as it used to : she was perched on a roost and she started flapping her wings on and on, and she couldn't stop. I took her in my arms and she was still flapping - I admit I though this was maybe death thrash. Then she stopped and breathed loudly and painfully for about a minute. She was able to move after a few minutes, and after about an hour, she was almost back to herself, just looking tired.
She's an old lady with a bad temper - my partner calls her the queen .
The second thing is more positive -Alba has really taken a shift toward getting better. I think she will likely recover. Hopefully she is well enough on wednesday to go see the vet with Laure.

Two roosters .
View attachment 4045218
I love that the new window door allows us to watch the chickens from the entrance!
View attachment 4045219View attachment 4045232
Chipie doing better this morning.
View attachment 4045264
Fence fighting, again. Now it's Annette who's the cause of the fights .
View attachment 4045267

Thank you for the kind words on Bernie and the reminder of The Little Prince.
So wise.
I still have my childhood copy. Maybe I will pull it out and read it again.

 

[Sylvester017]

The gorgeous weather is over and we're back to grey, damp and cold for a few days. I'll be short but I wanted to post two things.
Chipie had a seizure this morning. It's the first since I began supplementing her every morning a year ago. It did not manifest like wry neck as it used to : she was perched on a roost and she started flapping her wings on and on, and she couldn't stop. I took her in my arms and she was still flapping - I admit I though this was maybe death thrash. Then she stopped and breathed loudly and painfully for about a minute. She was able to move after a few minutes, and after about an hour, she was almost back to herself, just looking tired.
She's an old lady with a bad temper - my partner calls her the queen .
The second thing is more positive -Alba has really taken a shift toward getting better. I think she will likely recover. Hopefully she is well enough on wednesday to go see the vet with Laure.

I love that the new window door allows us to watch the chickens from the entrance!
View attachment 4045219
Chipie doing better this morning.
View attachment 4045264

I didn't know Chipie had a past health issue. These birdies love to worry us!

Window sliding doors are best for entertainment ~ better than TV! One of our favorite home improvements....

 

[BDutch]

Our view from the diner table. Like to throw some old bread or put an almost empty yoghurt package out there to watch the chickens from the inside when its could out there.

A stranger cat always seems to know and takes over after the chickens have their pecks of yoghurt.

Glad Chipie is back to nornal. It must have been a scary experience for the both of you.

I do know about the existence of Le Petit Prince. Even a school in the next village was named after the book. Thought I should loan and read it, when my children where young, and then forgot to loan it when I was at the library. I thought it was a childrens book. It’s the first time I hear about it’s beauty. Maybe next time.