A sick chicken.....

     Who would have thought I'd fall head over heels for a flock of chickens? Tonight I sit here, "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens," at my side, my computer whirring while I try to diagnose whatever ailment has afflicted my head chicken, Mabel. You might remember Mabel from a few posts back. She's our loud mouth, lead chicken and a right pain in the patut. However, since we don't have a rooster she does a good job of keeping the rest of the girls in line. She's our little warden and though she has pecked me more than once I'm kind of partial to her.

     While Mabel is in her coop, hopefully sorting out her issues, I'm nervously researching chicken diseases and fearing I might have to don the latex gloves and find the lube for a vent check. Yes, it's as gross as it sounds. It's funny that being an urban farmer has exposed me to so much in so little time. I've seen garden pests I never knew existed, done battle with my share of spiders in order to reclaim the yard as our own and now I'm thinking of sticking a finger where the the sun don't shine..... on a chicken. How times have changed.

Mabel, left, shares a snack and chat with her BFF Ethel

     While this post may seem light hearted it's never easy when faced with an animal sickness. No good person wants to see one of their pets in pain. Hopefully tomorrow will bring a fresh egg and a perky, and even pesky, Mabel back from her current state. One can hope. After watching a seed grow into a plant and then turn to food on our table I'm realizing that anything is possible. I'll have to hope that for Mabel as well.