Nicole Ford Thomas

The new chicks have hatched and traveled home! We did take a wee detour, though, so my Granny could hold them. Ruth, the Black Copper Marans, immediately went into snooze mode, but Daisy, our White Sultan, just hopped all over Granny, wanting to explore her new world. Alice, the Olive Egger, was hanging out with my mom. We got them home and put them snuggly into their new home for the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, the brooder heater decided it will shut off at random, so the three chicks are currently tucked into my Rammstein tote on a heating pad on my bed while I troubleshoot. The contradictions in aesthetics amuse me, but the little peeps felt that warmth and hid in the darkness like little goth babies. I think we’re going to get along just fine.

I purposefully led with a story of new life to serve as a buffer for my other noteworthy story from the weekend. Thursday night I got a call from a friend saying her dog had found a nest of rabbit kits and attacked them. She knew I’ve done wild animal rehab in the past, so she called to ask if I would come get the kits. Baby Buns need to be with their mothers, as humans simply can’t do what a Mama Bun does. So after being certain we couldn’t put the buns back in the nest, I agreed to take the two buns with the understanding that I cannot work miracles; the survival rate is something like 10% in situations like this. The first bun sadly didn’t survive the car ride, due to injuries. The second bun, however, made it all the way to Sunday morning. It sucked to lose them both, but the reality is that this is just how nature works. I don’t like it, but that’s the way it is.

So, to better my chances at hand-rearing buns in the future, I have started the process of becoming an official Wildlife Rehabilitation. To have access to better resources, including the experience of other rehabbers, would be an immense help for any future animals that cross my path. I have a heart for this sort of service and, seeing how it’s all volunteer work, I think it’s a good way to spend my time, energy, and resources.

At the end of the day, we have to do what makes us all individually feel like we’ve earned our oxygen. The highs and lows, the life and death, all make caring for animals emotionally taxing. But I come from a long line of animal caretakers, so it’s in my blood. Ooooh, the next phase of my life is gonna be a fun one!