Dear Readers,

In happy news, Summer Break is here and we are off to a perfect beginning. We had a family lake day on Memorial Day with ice cream cones outside after dinner, followed by a very slow day at home yesterday that included starting a puzzle and finishing the book I was reading. Today has included a pool playdate with friends; a trip to Costco for ribs, watermelon, Stacy’s pita chips, and more; and now some time out of the heat to write about the sad news.

Prior to May 17th, we had a dozen chickens. As of this morning, we have half a dozen. The chickens have slowly been picked off by a murder of crows. That’s actually what a group of crows is called. And now I know why.

A few summers ago, we made a chicken binder with a page for each chicken we’ve owned during the past five years. We got our first batch of chicks in March 2017, our second batch in April 2018, and our third in February 2020. We’ve owned nineteen chickens altogether, but the most at any one time is thirteen.

Thirteen chickens at once gave us too many eggs (and I had to work to give them away), but now I’m afraid we’re going to get down to too few eggs. Death is unsettling no matter how it comes, but to think a crow could continue to find a way into the run that TJ has secured and secured and secured is starting to make me mad and mad and mad.

I will spare you the details but the crows make a mess of the killing. Initially it was shocking, but we’ve moved into frustrating, annoying, gross, and unfortunately, now, “to be expected.” I do not like waiting to see who is next. And this morning’s especially sad news is that our last blue egg layer (an Ameraucana named Jumper) was the one singled out. Behold the final two blue eggs. When I make an omelet with them, I will do it even more mindfully than usual.

Whenever a chicken has died in the past, the girls have put big black X’s on that chicken’s page and noted the date and cause of death (if they know or think they know).

The past two weeks have brought many more X’s.

RIP Speedy, White Leghorn, April 2018 flock, Gone too soon: May 17, 2022
RIP Gingerbread, Production Red, February 2020 flock, Gone too soon: May 17, 2022
RIP Candy, White Leghorn, February 2020 flock, Gone too soon: May 22, 2022
RIP Leah, Ameraucana, Acquired July 2018 as rooster replacement, Gone too soon: May 29, 2022
RIP Autumn, Gold Sexlink, April 2018 flock, Gone too soon: May 29, 2022
RIP Jumper, Ameraucana, April 2018 flock, Gone too soon: June 1, 2022

Story went from crying about how she could save Autumn, her injured chicken leader, to finding a way to honor the hen with strong, brave words. I feel proud of Story’s story about what happened.

I feel bad and mad feelings toward the crows, sad feelings toward the chickens, nostalgic feelings about the final two blue eggs, I’m-sorry-you-have-to-work-on-the-run-again feelings toward TJ, anticipatory feelings toward summer, happy feelings about making ribs this week, and hopeful feelings because no matter what, death will not win in the end.

Love, Ginger