RIP Bacon.

This week, our little flock went from five girls to four.  I can only guess at what the cause was, but when I found Ms Bacon (Isa Brown) there was nothing I could have done to save her and there was only one option.  I think I managed to be quick and efficient and I hope she's up there in the chooky place scratching around to her heart's content with Stripey (ISA Brown) and Psycho (Australorp).  We are now down to Spots, Snow White, Comby/Combless (who are all Leghorns) and Nicoal (Australorp).

flowers from the children

For the children, the eldest was home and knows the full story.  The other three children were out, thankfully.  I wanted to be honest but didn't want them to have to think about it further.  They know that Bacon got very sick, I couldn't do anything for her and she died.  For me, that's sufficient for now.

Unfortunately (or not, depending on how you look at it I guess) for me, now I know that if I have to, I can.   Not to take away from the fact that I really never want to have to, in the first place.

There were, of course, tears when the children heard the news, and questions.  And flowers, lots of flowers.  Just another experience of life and death, important but no less sad because she was a chook.  Just different.

RIP Bacon.