pic by Audrey Pavia
My three “ missing ” chickens are good and sound .
There ’s a line in an old Joni Mitchell song : “ You do n’t know what you ’ve contract ‘ til it ’s gone . ” This morning , I came to truly understand the meaning of those words .
As per my usual routine , I stumbled out of bed and stagger outside to feed the horses and get to the chicken chicken coop . After cast aside the horses theirhay , I went to lift the roof of the chicken coop only to find out that it was already undefended . plain , I had forgotten to close it up the night before .
Two of my hens were inwardly , snuggled in nest boxes , but my two roosters and my other hen were not in the coop . I glanced around the yard , surprised they had n’t greeted me at the threshold the minute I add up outdoors . They are unblushing beggars and always make a beeline for me whenever I step out of the theater .
I walk around the yard , madly searching for them . They were not on the lawn , not on the patio , not on the driveway . They were n’t in the horse stalling , nor were they on the side of the house .
I start out to panic . What had happened to them ? I ran back to the hencoop and searched madly for signs of stock and feathers . How could something have gotten them without leaving any signs of a struggle ? What had made such a clean disappearing with them ? A brush wolf ? A bobcat ?
As I stand stare at the open henhouse , I felt tears swell up . A wave of pain in the neck and red overcame me as I recollect about my orange rooster , his disgraceful - and - ashen brother and my little grey-headed hen .
“ They ca n’t be cash in one’s chips ! ” My mind was racing with denial . “ This ca n’t be happen ! ”
But just then , as if on cue , my orange rooster came ambling into view from behind a bush , with the other two wimp following close behind .
“ There you are ! ” I yelled out as I ran to them . I was so happy to see them , I squat down on the ground to get as tight as I could . They gathered around me , and I stifled the urge to reach out and bosom them , knowing they would have none of it . So instead I talked to them , told them how they had scared me , how happy I was to see them , and how much I loved them . The three of them stood motionless , staring at me with heads strut , as if trying to understand what I was saying .
A sense of relief subdue me as I go bad into the garage to get them their breakfast . The strait of their little feet pitter - pattering behind me was wonderful .
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