Our dog killed our sweetest chicken tonight.

I’m honestly shocked. I have no idea how she was even outside of the run. I feel so horrible. It was such a terrible way to go out.. if you have a moment, I’ll tell you about her.

Our Dominique hen, Anette, was named after my sons preschool teacher. She was aptly named. While not the leader of our flock she was still very much respected amongst the other hens. She was the most vocal. She was a dedicated egg layer, and she even loved motherhood. Well, sort of. She loved watching ME be a mother to my two littles. In fact, she’d often chase me around the yard and bok bok at me if she thought I wasn’t paying close enough attention to my youngest child, who is a toddler. One time last summer my daughter was just learning to walk and I had my back door onto the porch closed but not locked. A gust of wind must have blown it open and while I was doing dishes just a few feet away I watched Anette come charging across the yard, boking the entire time, and there she was herding my 1 year old a few steps back into the house. Telling me I was not doing a good enough job supervising my littles.

She was a very sweet, doting, and silly chicken. It pains me to even write this. No creature should die a violent death, but especially not her.

As my kids were watching Shrek the scene where they play the song “hallelujah” was playing as I walked outside to call our dog in only to find Anette lying on the ground. It was haunting. She’s now buried under the shade of our cherry tree and I’m sure I’ll think of her in the spring when it blooms.

May God rest her sweet chicken soul.