Chicken Little

Step One in our new lives as Hobby Farmers... get baby chicks.

We ordered 26 hens in a blend of Red Sexlink's, Buff Orpington's and Barred Plymouth Rock's and one sassy little Red Sexlink rooster. They arrived on Wednesday and we placed them in the brooder boxes we had prepared the previous weekend. Yes we were pumped. We have had everything ready to go for quite some time.... just waiting for this fateful day! We bought this farm with actual farming intentions, and although we have to take it step by step, we knew chickens would be a great starter project!

Today after my horrendous road trip fiasco, I popped outside for one of our hourly "chicky check-ins". As I get closer to the barn, I see Blue our family dog as well as Punky and Bones the barn cats lounging in the sun directly outside the barn doors. Obsess much? I shoo away all of the furry naughtiness and throw a couple of glares their way as well. I can hear the chirping all of the way outside and I can't help but feel pride at our little accomplishment.

I go inside and sit down on the box holding my new, yet un-assembled gazebo. I observe the chicks for a bit and make sure to put my hand in there quite a bit so they begin to get use to me being in close proximity. Over the next 15 minutes or so I begin to notice something strange. There is a little chick who does not seem like the rest. Her head lolls off to the side and she seems to move slower than the rest. The other chicks avoid her for the most part and peck at her a little off and on. When I put my hand in the box, all of the chick scramble to escape my nasty humanness... but not her. She just sits there. When I pick her up, she cuddles and goes to sleep. She has one eye that she struggles to keep open. She is struggling to get feed out of the feeder. I know exactly what is going on...

I have a new baby chick with brain damage. Really? I am starting to think that every single higher being in the entire Universe, as well as Mother Nature, has decided to test me. Throughout the day I have been going to check on the chick and every time my suspicions are confirmed. We are raising chickens not only for eggs but for meat as well. I informed Keith today that we would not be eating her. To be honest, I don't think she will be able to survive the pecking order in a batch of 27 chicks. I cannot let her free-graze because the cats and dog will get her. I need to find her a home. A home where she can be a pet and not a plate of hot fried heaven.

Keith thinks I am being slightly ridiculous and for that we may just have Ramen all damn weekend.

Whoever is reading this... if you are interested in possibly giving a sweet brain damaged chicken a good home and do not have other pets to torture her, please feel free to contact me. She may end up being able to lay eggs, so consider building a tiny coop and keep in mind you will have to have your fence enclosed if you have a lot of hawks in your area. :)