Farewell Mighty Grasshopper Hunter
Amidst our busy summer, our pet rooster Stuart went over the Rainbow Bridge. Stuart was one of our original Mottled Javas that I spent all day driving to get from the breeder (yes, Texas is really that big). Stuart was named for the cute little mouse Stuart Little of Hollywood fame.
Stuart was a runt from the start, but very cute and affectionate – even without us spending a lot of time with him. Stuart enjoyed people and wanted to be with us even more than he wanted to be with the other chickens. Whenever the flock that Stuart lived with was allowed to free-range, Stuart would come running to find us anytime he heard us outside. He could run out of the coop to meet us faster than we could get the people-door to the chicken run open. Stuart was always underfoot and I did manage to step on him more than once, but that didn’t keep him from rubbing up against my legs while I refilled food and water containers. Stuart LOVED chasing and eating grasshoppers more than any of the other chickens – earning him the title “Mighty Grasshopper Hunter” from his proud human father.
Our best guess is that Stuart was taken by a hawk, based on finding a feather trail (no blood or anything else) in a direction where a hawk could have swooped down from the oak tree by the pond, grabbed Stuart, and flown across the pasture (and because the dogs did not alert me that there was a coyote, which would have been the other predator we have here that could have carried a chicken away without leaving anything other than feathers). Even though we knew that predators were a possibility (which is why the breeding stock is not allowed to free-range without supervision), we had not had any actual predator attacks until now. And unfortunately our favorite chicken was the one sacrificed in our first predator attack. Knowing Stuart, he was so busy chasing grasshoppers and clucking happily between the garden and the pond, he probably never even knew there was danger nearby.
So we say goodbye to Stuart. Who would have thought that a runty, late-blooming chicken would have such a big personality and become one of the family? We sure miss you Stuart!
STUART ROBINSON March 26, 2012 – July 13, 2013
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- Baby Stuart sitting on Dad’s shoulder.
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- Stuart enjoying range time in the spring grass.
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- Stuart and one of the Mottled Java hens checking things out in the pasture.
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- Stuart getting a little love from his dad.
Oh, Dear Robinson’s…I know it’s nature’s way, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I’m so sorry for the loss of this fowl little thing. I’m not too chicken to tell you, I understand the emptiness loss of life leaves regardless of which kingdom it’s from. You’ve been left with great memories and fun photos, and for that I’m glad for you. It is extraordinary that the beginning of your adventure with these beings was with Stuart. What a blessing to see living personality even in the Java’s. He’ll be missed and remembered for long to come.
As always, thank you so much for sharing with us not only your enjoyment and adventure, but the low moments of your farming experience.
Thanks! You know how we love our animals. It’s been a real change to have these chickens. Chickens are tough but they are also fragile and can die for seemingly no reason, no matter what you do, or how well you think they are protected. Much different from all the dogs and cats that we can keep alive, even when some have been in critical condition when they were rescued. But life goes on and we keep on going with it. Still plenty of animals here that need our attention.