Eddie

Eddie
Spring 1996 - October 9, 2008

Some chickens are just chickens. Some chickens leave a legacy. Eddie was the latter. Eddie hatched in 1996, he was the first BBRed I was ever able to show after five generations of work. He knocked their socks off at PPBA in January of 1997. He was the granddaddy (with a lot of "greats" in front of that) of every Black Breasted Red I have EVER raised.

Eddie was never friendly. He tolerated me, he didn't have a mean bone in him, he just didn't care much for being handled. For the last many years he always lived with the youngsters in the summertime, and the pullets always seemed to dote on him. For the last few years he spent at least a week or so living in a cage in the kitchen. The change of season always seemed to drag him down a little, but some time indoors with special treats always brought him around. Last year he spent the whole winter in the house, and I dare say he rather enjoyed it. On nice days I'd put him outside to roam around, and come evening he'd be right there waiting on the back step for me to bring him back inside for the night.

He'd been looking much older lately, but still spry and living the good life with his "big girls" (the 6 large fowl egg layers). He was out and about the coop this morning, but when I went to gather eggs this evening he was dead. At the age of twelve and a half, he was the oldest bird I'd ever had, and I have to think he left life as happily as a chicken can.

He lived a good life, he made a lot of people stop and look, he made me laugh, he always looked so grumpy if I picked him and made a fuss over him, but he took it.

Those times I've won big at a show with a BBRed Rosecomb, the promising youngsters out there, that is Eddie's legacy. He was a good boy and I will my ole Ed.