At most points in my life, I would have shot this chicken right away, to spare her suffering and mine. If you have a farm, and animals and lots of work to do, then chickens do not appear  high on the list of financial, emotional or practical priorities. They are food for many living things and even Meg, a feisty chicken, does not seem to me to possess a particularly high consciousness. Other people feel differently, and I know that I am working to save Fran for me as much as her. This is the Aquinas idea – we show mercy to animals to become better humans. I believe that.

Fran is standing up, drinking water, not walking much or eating much. The fact that she has survived a few days is a good sign, and any animal under the tender care of my wife has great odds of surviving.The two have begun a dialogue of sort, Maria watching her, talking to her, and the two of us go over her wounds each day and apply the appropriate ointments.  Fran’s wounds are beginning to scab, a good sign. All animals pay attention to Maria. It’s a good instinct.

Fran watches us, seems at ease with us, is content to be handled, exampled, rubbed and moved around. She is in her crate all day and night, but gets medicine and a stretch twice a day. There is a part of me that thinks this is a waste of time and energy, and another part, a larger part that sees that it is very good for me to do this. It is very much within reason, financially, emotionally, practically, and I like the idea of one day photographing the three hens again. For Maria, this is a natural gear and a lovely thing to see and watch.