Farina

On our walk this evening my husband and I came to speak of Farina. He was one of the three that hatched last year. He was so cute and I just loved him but he was a rooster and crowed quite often. I thought of keeping him in the studio and bought him chicken diapers but the first time I put them on him and gave him free run of the studio the poor thing just stood there for an hour and didn't move. I kept coming by to check on him and there he was, like a little rooster mannequin.

As much as I hated to give him away it had to be done. Roosters are not allowed in the city. What I didn't know was how fond my husband was of Farina. He said of all the roosters we had to give up, Farina was the one he found the hardest to part with. I had no idea. He said nothing of it at the time and I tend to assume that I am the only one invested in them. William loves to watch them and names them for me but I didn't know he had any affection for them. He told me last night that he did.

Farina went to a family with three girls and we hoped that he was loved and safe. I try not to think of the babies that had to be given away. So many chickens have their lives cut short due to predators. So far I have been lucky and having a good predator proof coop has been a great help. I have left food outside on the patio table accidentally only to find it just as I had left it in the morning leaving me to wonder what doesn't go on while we all sleep. However, I have found bits and pieces of glass, mirrors and even parts from some mechanical thing left on the table or patio chairs before. I have seen two raccoons slip into their home by way of the gutter after a swinging night out. I don't know if they are the ones coming into our yard but because of this I always "tuck the chickens in" before I go to bed. I basically make sure they are all in their nests, fill up feeders so I don't have to rush in the morning and then walk the yard to see what's up. I do wonder if this has helped. I am up before the sun is tending to them again.

We ended our conversation hoping Farina was doing okay. Farina we love you.