Posts Tagged With: chicken

Memorial for Clover

IMG_7605 - Copy.small  Clover died early this morning.  The heat wave was very hard on her poor body and she was found in her coop dead.  We are having her body cremated and her ashes put in an urn.  There will be a memorial service for her TBA.

Clover was a meat bird and as such she lived a charmed life.  She lived 15 months, which is long for someone with her genetic disposition.  She grew to 13 pounds, which was too much weight for her organs to take.  She was extremely well taken care of and very loved.   Clover was happy and curious.  She played and explored her world and communicated with body language and a infinite array of facial expressions.  She ate organic feed and always had clean, fresh water.  She slept safely every night on her straw bed, protected from predators in her coop.  She laid many eggs and we still have one of the biggest.  She was a friend to Sunflower, the laying hen at Dekum Street Doorway.  I know Sunflower must be missing her buddy right about now.

I will miss Clover’s grounded and relaxed confidence, as well as her feisty and beautiful way of holding her own ground.  Here was a chicken allowed to be herself in the world.  And she shone brightly.  You are forever in my heart, dearest Clover.

Categories: Clover, vegan | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Clover lays an egg

IMG_9660 - Copy.small   Clover, the meat bird, laid her first egg!  This is unusual in that meat birds are not allowed to live long enough to lay eggs.  Because tender meat is desired, a meat chicken is usually killed at 6-10 weeks of age.  We had extremely cold weather a few weeks ago and brought out the heat lamp.  Did you know that light activates a gland near the chicken’s eye and causes an egg cell to be released?   Clover lays an egg a day now, you go girl. Unfortunately, because of the exaggerated girth of her breast, she is at grave risk of heart failure, the dear one.  We love her so and will help her through any hospice that is needed, including euthanasia if IMG_9591.smallappropriate.

Categories: Clover, vegan | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Libby and Louie

The inspiration behind Clarence and Luca, Part 2.  Pure joy from Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary.

Categories: vegan | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

born to be alive

Categories: Clover | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Clover the chicken

Clover resting

Clover was hatched as a classroom experiment. She is a meat bird.  Think Foster Farms.  That means she was bred too large for her legs and must rest often. She was also bred with a four-year life span. I met Clover at Dekum Street Doorway and instantly fell in love with her.  She was initially depressed but really came into herself. She is now curious, joyful and exploratory.  She is a lucky bird to be able to live out the rest of her days in safety and contentment.

Categories: Clover | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Blog at WordPress.com.