I lost two of my beloved hens this weekend.

An oversight by a human… and the raw instinct of two animals… collided into heartbreak.

For three years, I took care of my beautiful Rhode Island Reds. They weren’t just a food source—they became part of everyday life here on the farmette. They free-ranged like they owned the place, followed me into my office like little supervisors, starred in my social media, and gave us some of the best eggs on earth.

And they were sweet… well, one was sweet. The other? A freeloading rooster imposter But I loved her just the same.

I’ve said goodbye to animals before—dogs, cats, even my daughter’s pet mouse who lived far beyond her years. Maybe it’s the circumstances… but this loss feels different.

Life here can be beautiful—but it also comes with its share of challenges. The frogs and snakes that show up when you least expect them… the unexpected freezes that wipe out everything you worked so hard to grow… and the constant shifting of the “girly girls” as the pecking order resets. It’s all heartbreak at different levels. And sometimes, I wonder if I’m really cut out for it.

As the shock settled, my first thought was Molly—she had spent three years nesting with her flock and had never been alone. Chickens need companions and do much better in a flock.

That’s when I thought of Lovey.

She was once part of my second flock of three, but when Deuce turned out to be a rooster, I couldn’t separate them—so I let them go together. It felt like the right thing at the time.

After losing my two hens this weekend, I didn’t hesitate—I immediately brought the widowed Lovey back for Molly.

She’s now home, and the two of them are slowly working through the pecking order again… like sisters finding their rhythm again.

And quietly, in the background of all of this…

Two weeks ago, I brought home five chicks—Goldie, Honey, Scottie, Amber, and Butternut. They’ve been tucked safely in the brooder in my garage, growing, chirping, and completely unaware of the heartbreak outside.

I kept thinking… just wait until they meet their big Chick-sters.

So here we are—holding loss in one hand and new beginnings in the other.

Lovey is home. Molly has her companion again. And five little chicks are getting ready to step into a world that will be full of both beauty and unpredictability.

That’s farmette life.