My Life as a Chicken — the Trials and Troubles of My Life (Part 3)

(This is part 3 of the story. If you haven't read the first parts, here they are: Part 1 and Part 2) In this story so far, there are 2,325 words.

----------7th April----------

A thunderstorm came through this afternoon. Somehow, the lightening hit something and the light was turned off. So here we were, all crammed together in a ball trying to stay warm. Some chicks in the middle got smashed by pressure from outside. I was about halfway out to the edge, and so was moderately warm and still a little squashed. When the family figured out that the light was out, they raced around and got the lights going again. We were sure relieved! Who knows what would have happened if we were left in the chill much longer...most likely, a lot more of us would have died.

Whew! Enough excitement for the day. I'm off to bed. The sun is on it's way out the window, and it's high time that all good chicks are in bed.

----------8th April----------

A week old already! How did time ever go so fast?

We all had a terrible fright today. The children came in to check on us this morning, and we all managed (somehow) to keep out from under their feet. Then, about mid-afternoon, we heard something scratching at the door. The thing also made noise, a sort-of mewing noise. Then something pushed the door open a little, and a hurtle of fur catapulted over the boards. The startled chicks fled in all directions, but the thing grabbed several and ate them on the spot. Soon it was purring, and it headed in my direction! I raced (in the middle of a flock) to another corner, and reached the spot safely—not so for a few more chicks. They were eaten by the hungry predator. When the animal was full, it left—we hoped for good.

Later, when the children came to check on us, they were distressed and hurried back to the house. The mother came out, and looked all around. I heard her mutter, “Weasel. That's what it is.” Later, a man came and filled in all the holes in the room that he could find. Then he left. When the man that usually takes care of us came, he found a door—wide open. That's how the mewing predator got in, I guess! Scary, anyway![1] 

[1]This incident actually happened over approximately a 3-day period when Dad was away helping a family move. We children were taking care of the chicks, and left the door open. The cat got in, and Mum thought that it was a weasel that killed the chicks. She got my uncle in, and he patched up all the holes he could find. Chicks continued to die until Dad got home the evening of the last day, and saw the cat darting out of the open door. The problem was soon fixed!

Back with part four soon!