lost two babies.

last night i spent a long, quiet time sitting on my sunroom floor holding a baby bird as she took her last breaths.  i don't know when, but somewhere along the way my thoughts changed from "come on baby, you are strong, you can do it"  to "it's okay.  let go."  and finally she did.   she curled inwards, took in a deep breath and then stretched out her small body as long and wide as it could go - the way you might stretch when you climb in bed for the night.  though her eyes had been closed all day, she opened them and looked right at me.  they slowly closed again as the breath and life seeped out of her.  life is magic.  and there was a moment when i felt that magic as it left her little body resting in my hand.

all life is noble. and every death is sad. 

we had two deaths this weekend.  the little wyandotte i knew was struggling.  the other was the marans - a shock.  she was fine and then the next time i looked in on them, she was dead.  gone before i had the chance to try to save her.  that is the way things are sometimes.

raising chickens is not for the feint of heart, i've found.