The Gray Hen is fading, she won’t be here for long. She is no longer able to get up in the roost, we haven’t figured out where she sleeps, probably in the barn, she sometimes spends the night with Minnie on the porch, she seems quite attached to Minnie and no longer feeds or sleeps with the other hens.

One morning, she will be gone, taken by predators or died of natural causes. I might have to shoot her if she seems to be suffering, or has worms or maggots on her. The other hens will no longer let her near the roost, chickens are cold blooded and unforgiving.

She is on the porch in the morning, she is up early and moving about. I have grown fond of the chickens, but I do not love them as I love the other animals. Maria does, and she takes wonderful care of them, bringing them leftovers from restaurants and our meals.

The gray hen follows me around during the day sometimes, I think her mind and instincts are going.  She seems confused and disoriented.

She isn’t getting out of the way of the car any longer, or of us or the dogs. The dogs are avoiding her, giving her a wide berth, just like the other two hens. Animals always know when a member of their herd or flock is sick, they become dangerous and attract predators, so they are often driven out of the herd or the flock. The hens have done that to the gray hen.

Minnie loves the chickens and is always good to them, she always lets them stay close when they are sick. I remember her sitting with my dying rooster Winston at the other Bedlam Farm. She stayed with him for days, and fended off the other chickens when they tried to peck his eyes out. Chickens are not loyal or merciful to one another.

Minnie stayed next to Winston  until I put him down by shooting, he was covered with flies.

I don’t know what the point is where she needs to be put down, we’re not there yet. But sick and oddly-behaved hens do not last long, something picks them off or they simply die. And I do not think it’s merciful to keep chickens alive beyond their time.

I respect the chickens and their industry. I used to think they were dumb, but they are not dumb, they are very smart about what they need to be smart about – like many animals. I hope the gray hen doesn’t suffer too much, if we see that she is, I will give her a quick and merciful end.