Now picture me aimlessly wondering around my home sobbing and carrying a nearly lifeless little chicken, so pathetic right? When my sister arrived she asked where Lily was; I had put her on the work table out back, in order to regain some sort of composure. I needed to think and it was hard to think looking at Lily's nearly lifeless body. When we went to go get her, all the water I had managed to get down her little throat had come up in a pool around her little head. Not a good sight.
When my sister got back in front of the computer, she emphasized that malnourished birds recover SLOWLY and it could take a few DAYS for Lily to perk up....she knows I'm a fusser. That means I can't stop fussing with something that should be left alone. And as if to drive that point home, Lily let out a very loud squawk, and stinky poop and then went limp. She was gone. And then, all of the water I had crammed down her little throat drained out of her beak.
What Happened?
But now, after a few days have passed, I find myself questioning if I should have done what Robert told me to do, leaver her to die peace without all the fussing. Even though that approach would have saved me a lot of effort and emotional turmoil, I would have regretted not having tried to do something. And now I find that I'm compelled to question everything that I'm doing with my hens. Would it be more sanitary if I changed their run floor from dirt to concrete? Should I start feeding them extra vitamins? Should I try to free range them a few hours a day even though there is a resident hawk that comes to call now and then? I guess farming is a never ending opportunity to learn from ones mistakes. No matter what I learn from others, my situation won't be exactly the same as theirs. Truly, going through something is far a better teacher than reading about it in a book or seeing it on video. Life is messy, and death sucks. At least I know that much for sure!