I remember a veterinarian once said to me "if you're going to have livestock, you're going to have dead stock". This past week we saw the end to our poultry venture when our last goose, Aflack, was taken by a coyote. Our last chicken, Marcie Darcey, went on to greener fields in November when a chicken hawk struck. Both Marcie and Aflack were old as free-range poultry go, being almost 5 years old. They were the survivors and smarter than the average chicken/goose. I feel so sorry for Aflack's loony Canadian goose significant other, as I think geese mate for life. They were truly the odd couple and I'll miss feeding them and seeing them in the yard and on the pond. I hope Loony finds solace somewhere. I'm heartened by the fact that they had good lives as compared to the poor chickens I see being hauled from east TX to Dallas on I-30 west on their way to the processing plant. Seeing those trucks each morning has made a confirmed free-range, certified-organic supporter out of me.
So we now have our four appaloosas, toy poodle, house cat, and three barn cats. It seems sort of empty around here right now. But I'm glad to see the wild ducks and geese have made a home, even if it is temporary, in the pond I can see from my studio window.
Cheryl
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