Bloomfield Farm

Yesterday, November 6th, was the last nice day of the year.  I went out to the garden to move my meat chickens from one pen to a larger more sunny one.  It took me awhile to get their room ready.  This is the first time I have raised this many meat birds.  It isn't much for some just 40, but it is all I can handle at this time.

I got a crate out and my wagon and carefully took them out of one pen into the crate rolled through the garden and put them into their new home.  The first trip I didn't think much of the process.  In fact, I felt hurried to get them from one place to the other. 

Then as I was putting the second load in I notice a bird on his back kicking his feet while the others stood around.  I went over thinking for some reason that he had fallen and couldn't get his self back up, but as I got closer I could see this was serious.  He struggled and then let go.  When I examined his body I found a broken wing with the bone coming through, a slice on his rear and another by his neck.  The slices could of been pecks I'm not sure.  His broken wing is a mystery.  Maybe he was disoriented and was flapping around and fell.  I don't know.

It was weird, I felt sad as he laid there I felt like I should bury him.  I didn't.  He did teach me a lesson and for that I'm thankful.  The next three loads I made sure I wasn't hurried I was much more calm and I helped them to be calm.  It went much smoother. 

Even though he was being raised for the purpose of food his untimely death was sad.