In the past 15 months, I'm proud to say that our family has rescued 11 chickens. We've given them veterinary care, and fed them out of our own pockets, and ensured that they are kept safe and happy and that they are well-loved. Even mixed in with our other animals, their care is not inexpensive, but we've kept every one of them - for two reasons:
1) Until recently, I hadn't been able to compile a list of other small farmers that are willing to take roosters or hens that may be past their "laying prime." Taking a rescued chicken is never a guarantee of free eggs. You have to be passionate about poultry to take a troubled bird that may be unhealthy, or which may have been neglected or abused. Some of the birds require special housing or need to be separated from the general population, or require special foods or medication.
2) We quickly grow attached to every bird that has entered our lives. With the exception of an extremely aggressive rooster early on in our rescue careers, we've had nothing but wonderful experiences with the chickens we've taken in.
This past Labor Day Weekend, we had the opportunity for another rescue first.
Last week, the UHS Rescue Coordinator gave my number to a woman with a male duck that she couldn't keep. She purchased him as a duckling and was unprepared, living in a condo, for what adult duck poop really means in a small space. She had a tiny yard and dogs, too, and ducks + dogs = trouble. Ducks don't like dogs.
It's been hard, but we've learned not to judge the people whose animals end up on our little farm.
So, we are now the happy owners of the sweetest little Khaki Campbell drake in world. Little Q named him Herbie, and Q and Herbie have become fast friends.
I made a promise about 18 months ago, you may remember, that if God blessed us with the opportunity to live on our property and have the farm we've always wanted, that we would steward and love any of his creatures that were in need of a home. And even though God took care of us, and then some...so far, every animal we've had the opportunity to adopt has merely felt like MORE blessings heaped on top of what God gave us in the first place.
Welcome home, Herbie.
7 comments:
Thats one lucky duck! ;)
that was what I was going to say!
That is one lucky duck!
Oh, he's so pretty! And agreed, lucky too.
And you have more restraint than I if you can refrain from judging people who put animals in bad situations... Good on you!
I really honestly have to applaud what you do. To do that shows how much you care and that is a rare thing these days.
Keep up the great work and I really mean that.
Whitetail Woods Blog / Blackpowder Shooting
And this explains why you all are so blessed! You truly are special. Just ask any Duck or Chicken!
How sweet! I had a duck growing up -she was wonderfully affectionate (as a duck could be) and she liked to ride in the basket of my bike! All was well until a male mallard flew into her back pen... next thing we knew we had eggs and babies and more eggs and more babies and one day all few off!
That is so sweet. Good for you for adopting unwanted animals. There's a big blessing in that.
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