The chicks come home

            

We brought home some baby chicks last weekend and they are precious.  I have always loved chickens since a kid.  When we used to visit my abuelo and abuela in Puerto Rico, my abuelo would always take me to the pueblo market and buy me an array of rainbow dyed chicks to take home and raise for the summer.  Some of my best and favorite memories was of those times spent with him.  I wanted to share the joy with my kids and raise some chicks.  Some fresh eggs, pest control, manure for the garden are the added benefits.  We used to have a bantam hen a few years ago who was the sweetest thing.  I ended up passing her to my mother’s neighbor who was moving to a farm and would never eat her in a soup;-).  I figured she would be most happy there.  We do miss her.  She would perch right up next to the parakeets since we never really “cage” our animals full time.  They need their free time to fly or run about.  Anyways we obtained 4 chicks.  We each named one.  Felina, after my abuela, Celia after my husband’s abuela, Oreo (my son’s pick) and Ari (my lil girl’s pick).  They are fun to have and keep us entertained.  Celia was the smallest and not as active and alert as the rest.  I remembered as a child we would lose one.  I expressed my concern to my husband that I hoped she wasn’t ill because she didn’t seem to be acting right.  She seemed to be too lethargic and would mostly stay in a corner.  The other 3 were thriving and you can tell they were growing steadily, pio-ing and flapping their wings, running about.   My husband said maybe she was just the runt and would pull through.  Unfortunately our Celia did not make it.  Yesterday she did not want to get up and run around with her sisters.  I held her for 2 hours and tried to give her drops of water and feed.  She drank a bit, started to peep.  I thought she would “come back” but she didn’t make it.   My husband dug her a grave and we buried her in our yard.   I was depressed most of the day but was not surprised.  I had a feeling from the day we brought her home she would go but was hoping I was wrong.  The other 3 chicks, Felina, Oreo and Ari are still doing well and eating, scratching, pooping it up.  I pray that they continue to be healthy.  I have them inside for now since it has been quite chilly.  My husband is almost done building their condo and it is coming out great.   He wants to go get Celia#2 this weekend.  He’s not an emotional guy but it kinda bothered him when I told him his Celia passed.  He immediately called the place where we got her to arrange another pickup.  We will be more careful picking this time around and hopefully won’t have to experience the loss again.

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