Sadly, Blackie our big mother hen died Wednesday evening. As with many older chickens that no longer lay eggs, she passed an egg that got stuck in her reproductive track and became septic. She also developed a tumor around the egg. There was no hope.

Blackie wanted to be near her flock and used all her strength to crawl from her comfortable nest to the top of the coop ramp a foot away. When Blackie closed her eyes for the last time, Brownie stood guard at the bottom of the ramp and Goldie at the top. Sunshine covered the rear and Peanut the far side of the coop. They only moved when Ana Garcia arrived and began to care for Blackie.

Thursday morning, Barbara, Ana and her daughter Natalie took Blackie to the creek and buried her. Barbara returned to Ms. Siskin’s classroom to tell the kids of her passing and answer their questions. All were comforted that the hens protected Blackie. Many shared their personal experiences with the loss of beloved animals and family members.

Next, each expressed their feelings in a letter, haiku, poem or drawing. All of their messages will be placed in a box and buried next to Blackie. Early next week after the rain ceases, all of Blackie’s little human friends will walk to the creek for a goodbye ceremony. In additions to the messages of love, they will plant wild strawberries (her absolute favorite food) and colorful wildflowers to celebrate Blackie’s life.

Farmer 1: I played peck me if I can with Sunshine on My Shoulder! It was fun!

Farmer 2:  Me and  Sunshine played, “catch me and kept me.” I had fun!

Farmer Sunshine:  jsssv  tf vcg ssssss ndzfiii80z

Farmer 1: Goldie wants to be a ballerina! She moves so gracefully. Brownie is going to be a drummer. She discovered a big purple bowl turned upside down and started pecking it in a rhythm.

Farmer Sunshine: mb. (That was all she wrote because she is out of practice!)

Farmer 3: I read Diary of a Wimpy Kid all during garden time. Barbara teased me and pulled my hat down around my eyes. She also said she has a bunch of Wimpy Kid books she can bring for me.

Farmer 2: Sunshine was chasing me like a Portuguese dog!

Barbara:The chickens are so happy that the kids are back. They were so bored with them on  vacation.

By Blackie

I now think that I am the leader of the coop. Yes sirree! I have been talking a lot about how I am the leader of the coop but never knew how much it would be but nobody listens to me. I mean–humans can not understand chicken. Don’t tell anybody about this but I am jealous about Sunshine learning to type and Peanut learning to write. I am going to learn to read just like Sunshine and Peanut. I will work very hard and be the best at what I do!

Farmer 1: I noticed that there are 32 daffodils!!!
Farmer 2: I saw Sunshine going crazy over shoelaces and zippers.

Farmer 1:. It’s cold and damp in the garden today, Sunshine is in her pecky mood. Goldie is being a scardy chicken.

Farmer 2: Sunshine loves clothing.

Farmer 3:        q3ari  
Wow, that’s awesome Sunshine! That was a HUGE improvement!

Farmer 4: Sunshine is a very good typer!

Farmer 5: I learned that chickens can type!

Farmer 1: It is raining out!’ I did not melt!

Sunshine was pecking everyone’s shoes this morning. Why is Sunshine pecking everyone’s shoes?  My friend is looking at me. Why is she looking at me?

Farmers 2 and 3 did not write an entry.

Farmer 1: Sunshine typed a lot today and after that we sang, Sunshine on my Shoulder to her.

Farmer 2: Today Peanut is still limping. We sang to Sunshine.

Farmer 3: Sunshine didn’t want to type this morning so we tricked her. We put a few bird seeds on the keyboard and she ate them up. After that, Sunshine typed a lot. 

Farmer Sunshine:      ffch sithp 0usytx

Farmer 1: We all tried to catch Sunshine but she wouldn’t let us. Then we played, “Peck my shoe if you can”. She’s fast and got me a couple of times. Sunshine even flaps her wings and flies up trying to get my foot.

Farmer 2: I tried to catch Sunshine and she chased me so I ran but later I got to hold her. 

Barbara: There was lots of laughter and happy clucking in the chicken coop today when  the rain stopped for a while and everyone came out to play. 

Farmer 1: I fed Goldie some lettuce.

Farmer 2: I watched Rashell and Fernando feed the chickens.

Farmer 3: I took a picture of Blackie.