Today, my son and I held hands as the hands of my husband held our dying chicken, Caleb’s Girl. Almost five years ago, with two little children in tow, we had proudly picked out our first batch of chicks — six, to be exact. And now, just moments ago, we said goodbye to this last remaining chicken from our original batch.
I have heard that chickens are the gateway animal to a more sustainable life. Once one purchases a flock of chickens, they are usually destined to embark on other adventures in sustainability — like raising other animals or getting into other homesteading activities such as gardening or composting. I assumed we were different, but now I know better.
How Caleb’s Girl Changed Us
We lived in the city, on a 6,000 square foot lot in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. Our little home on the mountain preserve was wonderful; we watched it being built and carefully planned the entire interior. However, shortly before the birth of our second child, we found that the home was plagued with scorpions. And not just an occasional scorpion, but scorpions lining the walls outside, coming from baseboards of the flooring, and flying through the air vents.
I was horrified having such little children in these conditions, and we took every precaution that was possible. My husband and I contacted the exterminating company. We were told by many that there is not much you can do about scorpions; their exoskeleton is nearly impossible to penetrate.
We finally had a breakthrough after a discussion with a native Arizonan who lived in our same area and had battled scorpions for years. We purchased the recommended white magic liquid. Once every two months, my husband would adorn himself in clothes to be thrown away, a hat, protective glasses, and a mask. He would arm himself with the diluted white substance and kill the scorpions.
Why I ever thought chemicals would become the lasting solution, I do not know. At the time, I guess we were desperate, and I was tired of living in fear of my babies being stung by scorpions. We sprayed this magic scorpion solution for about six months. While the overall occurrence of scorpions declined, we could not with a clear conscience continue putting my husband in contact with the substance, nor go on polluting our land and air.
I rummaged websites seeking natural alternatives to scorpion management. We tried every single one I found, without success. Until the idea that seemed to us the final straw. I had suggested it to my husband a month or so into our search for natural alternatives, but we tabled the idea in favor of others.
When these others did not work, we read, researched, and prepared our yard for the last alternative: chickens. Everyone thought we were a bit crazy, but we were still desperate for a solution to our problem. And eggs would be an added benefit!
One October morning, almost five years ago, we loaded up and headed to a nearby feed store. Our little two year old, Caleb, was as happy as could be watching the little chicks scurry around, and my 9 month old daughter cruised around their pen, trying to get a little touch of the chirping ball of fluff. Caleb quickly picked out six chickens — two Reds, two Ameraucanas, and two black Australorps. We were already smitten with these ladies by the time they were boxed up and put in our car.
They quickly were named, often became partners on bike riding expeditions, and were allowed — when I was not looking and sometimes when I was — to clean up the crumbs on the floor after a meal.
Our scorpion population slowly decreased as the chickens roamed the yard. My husband and son built an amazing desert oasis coop for the ladies. Our lives as proud chicken owners had commenced!
Soon we realized that two of the ladies were not really ladies after all, and our flock of six became four. Then while on vacation and under the care of our friend, another chicken died; we were out of town and heartbroken. Our remaining chickens were: Cabbage, Caleb’s girl, and Wombat. These three hens were wonderful, and the original of many more small chicken flocks to come.
I realize I am opening myself up to some good-natured teasing at being so fond of keeping chickens. So I will add fuel to the fire!
When moving from Arizona to Tennessee, we could not part with our chickens no matter how hard we tried. We moved them across country with us in our air conditioned SUV. And we did the same months later moving from Tennessee to Oregon to be with my husband’s father in ailing health. And yet again when we returned back to Tennessee!
They transitioned well with each move and have become part of the fabric of our family. Our children begin the day caring for them and end the day praying they will not be harmed by predators during the night. Instead of being amused by video games and television, our children instead enjoy their time seeing how far they can throw crumbs for the chickens to retrieve and training the chickens to squat when they are about to be picked up.
What We Lost
Just as we lost Caleb’s Girl today, we have gained and lost many chickens over the last five years that we’ve been learning about animal husbandry.
However, the death of Caleb’s Girl brought about loss on many different levels. For my husband and me, her loss closed an invisible door on the days when we were motivated to keep chickens simply for backyard pest control.
For my son, his favored chicken’s death brought about a loss of innocence. He witnessed death first hand — after together going through many changes in the past years, he saw his dear companion and namesake struggle, writhe, and gasp at breath before finally succumbing to the dirt from which she came.
What Now?
We will continue to name some chickens; in fact, we still have a few chickens with names and child-given characteristics. We will still peer out the window and watch our chickens for simple enjoyment. We will enjoy our morning meander to feed our hens. But, we’ll do all this with heavier hearts, because of missing Caleb’s Girls once attentive and devoted greetings.
Do you have a story to tell about the animals you have raised and cared for? How are your children involved in the process? Do you name your animals even if they might eventually become nourishing food?
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I remember crying over the loss of my favorite chicken at around that age. I went to a friend’s house to cry on her shoulder and while she tried to be there for me, she couldn’t help quietly laughing that I was taking the death of “just a chicken” so hard. I loved our chickens. Glad you guys have such good memories of all they have contributed to your lives. I miss having chickens. Maybe one day I can talk the hubby into a few. But he would definitely be afraid of that gateway! ?
Thanks for sharing, Kelly. : ) Sounds like you were surely blessed by your little egg laying friends at a young age. Though loss is hard, it is a teacher and source of growth, by the grace of God, on many different levels. If it is the Lord’s will in your home, I pray that your family might one day enjoy keeping chickens again.
We’re brand new to raising chickens having purchased them as straight-run chicks at just a few days old. I’ve really enjoyed raising them so far & they are amazing at reducing the bug population!
I’ve had to witness the death of young calves and it’s never easy to watch one of your animals die. Our animals are production animals and we treat them as such, but in trying to give them the best possible life while they’re here you can’t help but to have an emotional bond with them. All you can do is the best you can do – some things are simply out of your control. I’m comforted by that sometimes.
~Taylor-Made Ranch~
Wolfe City, Texas
Thank you for sharing!!!! I very much resonate with your sentiments on having production animals, yet giving them the best life you can according to how they were created, meanwhile trying to balance your emotional bonds in the midst of being with them day in and day out (Whew, that was a mouthful). I hope your new chicken adventure is one that you all enjoy!
My Children an i have had chickens and on occassions, ducks since my children were born (9 years). We have had many chickens come into our care, be nurtured by us and us nurtured by them. We hatch chicks every year and now days we remove them from their mother on day 3 to hand rear them in the house until they are feathered enough to be living outdoors. My two children feed, handle and play with the chicks, take them to school for “news” and love them to bits. The most important thing i can do for my children when we have a death in our chicken family is show great compasion, but also thankfullness to the chicken for providing us with nourishing eggs and being such a good chicken. My son(10) is full of compassion, he saw three dead red robins 2 days ago and was sad all day with a hurt heart for these three small birds and angry at the car that had hit them. We also slaughter our excess roosters for food. These are hand reared roosters that do generally have names. I encourage the kids to not name roosters, as they know, we do eat them. Once again, we care for the roosters with love and then thank the roosters for being good roosters and nourishing us.
Wow, sounds like your children are definitely learning the blessed lessons of life and loss. Just out of curiosity, are you ordering chickens to be hatched, or do you have a good rooster and hen combination giving you fertile eggs? We have yet to perpetuate our flock from within and would love any tips on how to do so. : )))))
tracey, there is lots to read on keeping and breeding chickens. My hens hatch our own fertile eggs. I have two separate small flocks. The following practices pretty much guarantee me successfully hatched chicks.
– provide nesting boxes at 2 per 6 birds as a minimum (lawn mower catchers are the best for the method I use as they are movable!!)
– collect all eggs and set aside 12 eggs in a carton at room temperature,these are you setting eggs. Rotate all fresh eggs through this carton before storing for consumption. This ensures the freshest eggs for your setting, success rate lessens the older the eggs.
– when a hen is definitely broody (she will remain on the nest at night rather than returning to the roost) remove all eggs under the hen at night time and replace with the setting eggs, move the complete nesting box (here is where the lawn mower catchers are perfect!) to a quiet area that she is separated from the flock, and feels safe, so as to not be disturbed by other hens laying eggs in her nesting box. let her sit for 21 days and you should have your own chicks!!
Make sure you check the setting occasionally for mite infestations – to avoid this I use dried wormwood under straw in the nesting boxes, “candle” you eggs to check for viability – remove any that are not viable, this will avoid rotten eggs spoiling the setting.
Wow!!! Thank you for such wonderful practical advice- we just gained a rooster, so hopefully your methods will come in handy soon. I appreciate the time you took to share with me!!! God bless.
Dear Tracy, I’m still imagining the scorpion infestation! What a thing to live through. Our pioneers were hardy stock. As you can imagine having delved into a similar life style. Our best to your family! Regards-Jamie from Oregon
Hello OR friend! Yes, the scorpions were terrible! Having one fly through the air vent while nursing my sweet girl left me frantic. The chickens were thankfully a great help at reducing their numbers!!!!! I hope you and your family are well, especially as you prepare for the new school year. Prayers from a small family in the South will be with you.