Tragedy on a Sunday Morning

So, Friday we finally got our chicks.  I was all excited.  We kept them inside Friday night, Saturday the husband and the boys built a small chicken coop with a fence around it.  We checked on them throughout the night, but I woke up to a dog barking.  The neighbors dog, was out at the pen. I didn't have my glasses on, I didn't think the dog was actually in the coop. 

So early this morning my youngest son goes to check on them and finds an empty coop.  So despite the cheerfulness of these spring chickens.  We learned our lesson about neighbor dogs and early morning chicken raids.   

My Dad laughted at me. My sister is a veterinarian who hates avian medicine.  Clearly, raising birds is not in my blood.   

Tiny dinosaurs..  little birds.  Who lost their brief battle in life to a sweet dog who fences hold no boundaries.   Perhaps we need a better fencing plan for them.  Maybe next year.   

I shot and edited these photos last night. Before these little guys became someone's chicken nugget breakfast.   

Nature is not kind.  

I was raised in the country.  Animals live and die.  There is nothing I can do about this situation. I was hopeful about raising organic eggs. I was hopeful to have a flock of birds. 

Anyways this is a depressing post. I edited the shots last night.   I was not expecting this ending to thier short story so soon.  I was half expecting half of the birds to die before they reached egg laying stage.  But, I did not expect a early morning tragedy. 

So, please excuse the tragedy of this post. I did not realize how determined predatory animals are, even if they are the neighbor's dogs (my dogs were inside last night and they are every night).  

I just read an article about how most chicks bought don't make it to their first birthday.  Well, we've pretty much proven that statistic in a weekend.   I guess, I will never successfully move to Arkansas.   I had the photos edited, so I decided to share the tragedy with all of you.   

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Comments

[Kare]

I'm so sorry to hear that they didn't survive the morning. How are the boys doing with it?

[joy]

They are playing "To Catch a Thief" pacing the yard with a pellet gun. Because they are boys.