True Heartbreak...and the Regrets that follow

This is an Eastern view of our New Hampshire skyline (with some geese Photo shopped in).

One minute they are alive and all the possibilities stretch out enjoyably.
Now they are gone, just like that.
We didn't even have time to name them as I couldn't tell them apart yet. We called them 1, 2 & 3.
This is perhaps number 1, having been moved out of the house incubator, leaving my nest to make one of her own.
and, let's call her chick 2, just two days ago,

and here are 1, 2, and 3 settled into the chicken house, still chirping away,

waiting until they are big enough to join Lee,

who had a rough life as her sisters were senselessly killed by some stray hunting dogs. These chickens will soon be the understory of a new perennial flower garden (once we finish up the veggie garden and have time for it).

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I think what happened is that a loose floor board in the nesting box was removed by some animal who then got into the coop and ate all but one head, some feathers, a foot, and some inner parts. Too graphic? I will not be taking pictures of these chicks now.

We had moved the chicks out to the chicken house and locked Lee out of it since she had used this loose floorboard as an escape route. We knew it had to be nailed down, but like so many things on our 2,000+ project list of things to do never got done.
Oh, the priorities. Who can know that that list and its priorities would have such consequences?

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You can tell these are my pet chickens. Although we use the eggs, mostly we enjoy having them following us around the yard and the many stories they contribute to our retirement story, filling our empty nest.
So now we pray daily for the repose of so many, including Chicks 1, 2 & 3 and Lee's sisters, Brightly and Victoria.
It has been a year of death as our longtime companion, Cali, is hopefully playfully joined with our chicks.

UPDATE
I just heard a lot of noise outside and ran out and saw a very small fox wandering around the edge of the property. She circled back and forth but had nothing in her mouth. Hopefully Lee is sitting safely in her nesting spot in a bunch of thyme but we will see later. If I disturb her she will be agitated and get up.

More chicks next year?
I think we will go with guinea fowl next time.

PPS:
My husband just surreptitiously went close enough to see that Lee is safely laying her daily egg. Whew! Guess who I will spend my day watching over...But she is in God's hands so I can leave it to Him. He may be gathering a flock of His own choice animals.