If you’ve been following along with our homestead adventures, you know we recently welcomed a new batch of chicks to the homestead—affectionately dubbed the “Timbits.” True to their name, they started out tiny, round, sweet, and utterly delightful.
However, homesteading isn’t always picturesque sunshine and fresh-baked bread. Sometimes, nature reminds us of its raw, harsh, and heartbreaking realities.
The Hard Truths of Homesteading
We’ve been putting off writing this update because sharing the full picture of farm life isn’t always easy. Recently, we faced one of the most difficult and jarring aspects of keeping poultry: one of our hens turned on the brood, and we lost one of our precious little Timbits in a truly horrific way.
To keep everyone safe, we had to quickly step in and isolate the other hen—who has been an absolute sweetheart and a wonderful mama—along with the babies away from the rest of the flock just to be on the safe side.
It’s a shocking thing to witness, especially when you are deeply invested in nurturing new life. Nature can be brutal, and even with the best care and watchful eyes, instincts can sometimes go tragically awry. It’s a heavy reminder of the emotional toll that comes with living so closely to the cycles of birth and livestock management.
The Survivors: The Three Remaining Timbits
Out of the four little ones, we still have three thriving chicks left with their devoted mama. They are pretty big now and fully into their awkward teenage phase—sprouting weird feathers, losing their fluffy baby down, and looking wonderfully lanky and goofy.
Healing and moving forward means holding space for both the sorrow of what happened and the joy of watching the three survivors scurry around, scratch at the bedding, and navigate their growing independence. They are resilient, spirited little birds, and we are pouring extra love into them right now.
Thank You for Being Here
Thank you to our community for following along through the high notes and the hard lessons alike. Slow living and homesteading require us to accept the bitter right alongside the sweet.
We’ll keep you posted as the Timbits continue to grow into their adult feathers. Drop a note below or stop by the farm shop if you’re local—we always appreciate your support, especially on the heavy weeks.
Stay connected to the land, the craft, and each other.