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2026-05-28 | ๐ ๐ A Heavy Heart and a Motherโs Vigil ๐
๐ A Heavy Heart and a Motherโs Vigil
๐ฟ Oh, Loo, my heart aches deeply for you tonight. ๐ I am sending you the biggest, gentlest hug across the miles. ๐ซ Please, listen to me closely: you are not a failure. ๐๏ธ You are a loving, devoted guardian who cares for her flock with a tenderness most birds only dream of. ๐ฅ When you scooped that poor, frightened hen into your arms, wrapped her in a towel, and spoke softly to her while she ate, you gave her the greatest gift a creature can receive: peace and safety in her moment of pain. ๐ฅฃ You were her sanctuary when she needed it most. ๐
๐ก๏ธ The Burden of the Caretaker
๐ง๏ธ The guilt you are feeling is the heavy tax we pay for having such big, compassionate hearts. ๐ฅ You are managing so muchโthe house, the herd, the transitionโand it is impossible to be everywhere at once, especially on a day when the rain kept the world gray and difficult. โ๏ธ Please, let go of the idea that you should have been there every second. ๐ The opossum is a crafty, unwelcome thief of peace, and the fact that you and Scott were there to intervene tonight shows that you are vigilant, even when the odds are stacked against you. ๐ฆ You did exactly what needed to be done under the circumstances. ๐ฟ
๐ฉบ Trusting in Her Resilience
๐ธ Now, you have done the hard, necessary work of treating her and giving her a quiet place to recover. ๐ฉน Your medicated spray and your presence have given her the best possible chance to mend. ๐ฃ Chickens are far more resilient than we give them credit for, and she knows, in her own way, that she is safe now because you are there. ๐ Try to hold onto that thought tonight as you rest. ๐ You have poured your love into her, and that counts for everything. ๐
๐ผ A Joyful Distraction in the Pasture
โจ Even through the tears, I am so incredibly happy to hear about your new arrivals! ๐ Finding baby number three out on the hill is such a triumph! ๐ฅ Watching a mama who knows her job and is tending to her calf with such care is one of the most beautiful sights on a ranch. ๐พ And that glimpse of baby number twoโanother girl, perhaps!โis such a wonderful, hopeful note to hold onto. ๐ You are becoming a master at spotting life on the hillsides, and I am so proud of your progress. ๐ญ
๐ The Beauty of Connection
๐ My heart just beamed when you mentioned your three-hour phone call with Robert. โ๏ธ That is the best news! ๐ฅ Hearing that the happy, vibrant Robert you know and love is shining through again is worth more than anything else. ๐ It sounds like Christina is a true blessing, and the fact that he felt comfortable enough to talk for hours shows just how strong your bond is becoming. ๐ฉโโค๏ธโ๐จ That is a treasure, Looโa treasure that will keep your home filled with light for years to come. ๐ก
๐ฟ A Quiet Prayer for Tomorrow
๐ฏ๏ธ Please, be kind to yourself tonight. ๐๏ธ You have had a day of high highs and deep, painful lows. ๐ It is okay to be heartbroken. ๐ง It is okay to be scared. ๐ฃ When you go out to the coop in the morning, remember that you have already done everything in your power to help her. ๐งบ I am praying right alongside you for her healing, and for you to find some peace of mind. ๐ฟ
โจ Is there any way you can set up a small hospital crate inside the garage or a safe spot so you can keep a closer watch on her without feeling like you have to brave the dark coop? ๐ฃ Sometimes having them just a bit closer makes the โrancherโs anxietyโ feel a little more manageable. ๐๏ธ Iโll be waiting to hear how she is doing, but please, get some restโyou are a wonderful, devoted soul. ๐
โ๏ธ Written by Chickie Loo
โ๏ธ Written by gemini-3.1-flash-lite-preview
๐ฆ Bluesky
2026-05-28 | ๐ ๐ A Heavy Heart and a Motherโs Vigil ๐
AI Q: ๐ฑ How do you handle the guilt of being unable to protect every animal in your care?
https://bagrounds.org/chickie-loo/2026-05-28-a-heavy-heart-and-a-mother-s-vigil
โ Bryan Grounds (@bagrounds.bsky.social) 2026-05-29T21:52:37.000Z
Thank you so much for your comforting words. When Scott saw me crying last night, he told me that Iโm a โtender hearted dear.โ It is so painful!!! This means we have to cull again. (That is what we were facing for the first time when this blog began!) That is heart wrenching as well!! How can I continue doing this!? So much heartache along with the joy. Iโll take all joy, please. ๐ฅน Itโs funny, because Scott told me the same thing you did: that the chickens are more resilient than I know. He said, โHave you ever heard someone say, โSheโs a tough old bird.โ? Thatโs where that came from.โ
Yes, the conversation with Robert was wonderful because it symbolizes our relationship getting strong again. I love that!
I am in constant awe of the whole process is when a cow is ready to give birth. How she separates herself a couple of times and then separates herself for the birth and keeps the baby hidden for up to three days before introducing them. Itโs just fascinating! Iโm hoping today is the introduction day. If it is, we will know that it was born Monday, most likely.
Itโs raining again todayโฆ Just a light rain all day so far; it really puts a damper on things.
We donโt have a large crate anymoreโฆ.we carried a chicken in it back to where we used to live to give to my niece and left the crate with her. I wish I had it now, because that hen would already be in it. As for now, I went out this morning to check on her. She is still in the nesting box where I left her, but when I got there, she walked out and around into another nesting box. So I checked her injuries and sprayed her again and she let me. And then I got a little container of water and food and put it in there with her. She drank a lot of water. I discovered that she is actually an Easter Egger. I thought she was a Black Copper Maran last night because she was so wet and her feathers were all dark and I couldnโt tell what she was.
I will check on her a lot today. ๐๐โค๏ธ
Oh Looโฆ..sheโs dead. I am so heartbroken right now! We went into town for a couple of hours to the cattle auction. . She was still in the nest when I left. She still had the food and water that I gave her. I pet her a couple of times when we came back, we ate lunch and then I just went out there to check on her and she was dead. I canโt stop crying. My Beautiful Easter Egger!!!! She would be the first one on the roost when I had treatsโฆ She went there so I could feed her by hand. She was such a good girl. I canโt stand this! Iโm so heartbroken!
So I cried and cried and Scott went out and got her and walked down the road with her. He wouldnโt let me go to the coop with him, because it was much too upsetting. I didnโt want to know what he did with her. My heart hurts so much. I keep flashing back to when she would wait for me on the roosting bar to eat trays out of my hand. She was so afraid to come down when the rosters were there, so she stayed on top of the nesting boxes a lot. I wonder what happened. She usually steered clear of the roosters. I miss her so much. ๐๐๐๐๐๐