Another one walking the rainbow bridge
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 2:08 am
Buddy the old blind rooster. Half white Chantecler, half buff Orpington, he was a big and tall red splash boy I got six or seven years ago with a eye to adding size and cold hardiness to my layers. It never happened, the hens didn't like him and the feeling was mutual.
At about 3 years old, another rooster caught him and with a well-placed peck, rendered Buddy almost blind.
Buddy learned quickly to find the sound of swishing grain or pouring water, and stood proud and stoic as chicks, newly abandoned by their mothers, found warmth and comfort in his feathers.
Cause of death? Well, at the end of evening chores, I'd gotten in the habit of putting Buddy in the grain bin until morning. He could eat without supervision, without others shoving him aside, and fall asleep when done. Morning chores he would be taken out, and reminded where water was.
It worked great, until night before last. He was put in the feed barrel as usual, but squished dead come morning... several of Doug's meat chickens hopped in as well. 12 of them. And the stupid, fat beach balls couldn't get out again.
My husband, who generally does morning chores, woke me up to tell me all this, and to tell me, finally, to make the fat, stupid meat chickens disappear.
I don't get it. He's the first to complain about the poultry mess, cost, etc., but is bringing me a bird to "fix", every other day it seems. He takes every loss to heart. Buddy's death elicited tears.
I don't know what to do, except eulogize Buddy.I wish he had lived until he died of old age. He was an awesome "mom" to abandoned chicks. He lived through many things that killed weaker chickens.
Bye, Buddy. Sorry it ended this way.
At about 3 years old, another rooster caught him and with a well-placed peck, rendered Buddy almost blind.
Buddy learned quickly to find the sound of swishing grain or pouring water, and stood proud and stoic as chicks, newly abandoned by their mothers, found warmth and comfort in his feathers.
Cause of death? Well, at the end of evening chores, I'd gotten in the habit of putting Buddy in the grain bin until morning. He could eat without supervision, without others shoving him aside, and fall asleep when done. Morning chores he would be taken out, and reminded where water was.
It worked great, until night before last. He was put in the feed barrel as usual, but squished dead come morning... several of Doug's meat chickens hopped in as well. 12 of them. And the stupid, fat beach balls couldn't get out again.
My husband, who generally does morning chores, woke me up to tell me all this, and to tell me, finally, to make the fat, stupid meat chickens disappear.
I don't get it. He's the first to complain about the poultry mess, cost, etc., but is bringing me a bird to "fix", every other day it seems. He takes every loss to heart. Buddy's death elicited tears.
I don't know what to do, except eulogize Buddy.I wish he had lived until he died of old age. He was an awesome "mom" to abandoned chicks. He lived through many things that killed weaker chickens.
Bye, Buddy. Sorry it ended this way.
just happens that you wish you could change. RIP Buddy
..Jan, that's sad...there's always one that is special and when they go it hurts...btw, you write well, I always really enjoy your posts regardless of topic...