Three days ago we received 13 chickens and 8 ducks.
This morning when we went to check on them one was “sleeping” awkwardly and when I gently poked her I realized we had a “man down” 🙁
Nothing had been obviously wrong with the little Barred Rock the night before but she was spending a lot of time under the Chick Heat Plate (12″ X 12″ Brooder Hen / Electric Mama Hen Low 20w Chick Heat Plate) so she probably wasn’t feeling very well at that point and just trying to stay warm.
I checked on everyone at 5:30am and all were alive and accounted for. By 8am the little one was gone.
We took her out near the second pasture and buried her under a tree. Then we chanted three “Akaals” for her. “Akaal” means deathless or undying in Grumuki and refers to the soul being released. It is traditional to chant this for someone that has passed.
It’s our first death on the farm…
While we were sad, we couldn’t dwell on the death for too long. There’s so much to do here that after our little funeral (our youngest joined us as she is the official chicken tender), we had to get back to work.
And we had to tend the 25 other little ones still with us…
And try to keep this naughty puppy outta trouble…