Rainbow Bridge Poem

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills or all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown

Our angel Faline has passed

Lord, as if the week weren't like a bad country song in some ways already, Erin and I watched Faline closely today.....she has truly worsened in the past couple of weeks so that now she is having trouble cleaning herself and BOTH legs are causing her so much trouble, she can't even walk and has to use her beak to hold herself up.  So it looks like we are going to have to make a humane decision and find a humane way to go about it.  And though Natalie at age 4 has been very matter-of-fact with the other losses, how in the world are we
going to help her prepare and handle the loss of Faline who has been her favorite and special pet for the past 9 months??

Grampy wisely advised us: 


Natalie understands the relationship of pain and suffering to being able to live. Just as with your two pets who had to be put down, I'll wager, she will get on with this as well. The closeness to life, mating and death are inevitable outcomes of having animals. I think her experiences are not unlike those of children raised on farms, where these events are a part of "the circle of life" and are simply to be expected. You might tell her how her love for Faline actually gave her a longer life than she would usually have had - that she would have died as a chick without Natalie's care for her. So, she actually had a pretty good life because of Natalie and that when she gets to Pet Heaven, she will tell all the other pets about how Natalie loved her.


We made an appointment at the nearby vet who treats chickens as pets instead of livestock.   They were so sweet and patient and gave Natalie all the respect of an adult with a beloved pet.  The vet visit went well and Natalie bravely watched Faline fall asleep, then wept a little once we buried Faline at home. She astounded the vet and ourselves with handling everything way beyond her years.  

Emails on the hawk and loss of Pixie

 What a week!  We had some funny and sweet exchanges about it that I thought would be good to share on the blog....

Dec 9, 2011 Bambi wrote: 

This came in this morning from my friend, whose sense of humor is dark and twisted like mine.  Don’t get her wrong, she is actually very supportive, and loves animals. She is donating a flock of hens along with us from Heifer International for Christmas too!  This email made me laugh out loud when I saw it.  Her one liners are hilarious!

From Bambi's co-worker:  How is everyone the day after Chickengeddon?

From Erin:  That is exactly what it felt like!  Diana and I woke up in the night twice because we couldn't sleep from the trauma.  Blessed humor keeps us going!!

Bambi wrote:

I’m sure it was awful.  Poor Diana was so stressed when I talked to her yesterday.  I just wanted to leave work and go hug her!!  I was so grateful when she noticed Peach Chicklet.  The relief in her voice rang out loud and clear.  This had to be so traumatic for her, Sam, Natalie, and you.  

I knew this was bound to happen sooner or later (losing one in attack), no matter how well they are loved and cared for.  It’s just nature playing out.  Mary said she had a phone call last night and Natalie gave her all the gritty details.  We are both so relieved that Faline made it through unscathed.  We do not want anything to ever happen to that little hen!  

From Erin:  Natalie wore her hen necklace to school again this morning in honor of our lost Pixie Jolene....have had her song running through my head all morning....Jolene, Jolene!

From Bambi:  Me too…but I’ve changed the words a bit!

From Mary:  I am afraid to ask about it!

From Bambi:  the revised song......

Big Hawk, Big Hawk, Big Damn Mean Hawk,

Why’d you take Jolene away?

You could have your pick of hens, but I will never love again,

Why’d you take Jolene away?

*SIGH*

I know it was in the hawk’s nature, but I’m still pissed at it

Found Peach Chicklet!!

Dear Chicken Gang--Had a bad day, but the one good thing is that as I was talking on the phone with Bambi about the hawk and losing two hens, our little speckled sussex Peach Chicklet came out of hiding in the garage!   She must have been hiding under one of the cabinets in the garage where we couldn't see her, because believe me we've been looking!!  She is still with us, thank goodness.... 

Hawk attack

I have bad news and I hope you'll forgive me writing this out by email....I'm not sure I can say it aloud well now anyway.  Natalie and I were inside the house, the hens were ranging in the yard and Ash was inside because he gets cold after chunks of outdoor time.  We didn't hear anything amiss.....but when I walked out back, I found Ernie (our neighbors dog) in the garage!!  

But that was the least of it because I *think* Ernie may have actually crawled through the fence after hearing all the noise and chased a hawk away.  When I looked, the hawk was standing near Pixie Jolene's body and then flew to the trees....Our neighbor Sam, Natalie, and I looked all around and couldn't find any trace of Peach Chicklet.  

Luckily Faline, Fannie Mae, Georgie, and Buffy were hiding in the garage behind pots and shelves....and Little Red Hen was outside by the trash cans with 1/2 the feathers torn from her chest and body.  There are feathers all over the yard.  

We buried Pixie in a place of honor with a marker.  We are still looking for Peach Chiclet but fear that she was taken by the hawk.  

I am so terribly sorry.  I just can't believe it.  I just....am so sorry.