Rooster tails

This day was the first opportunity I had to save black feathers from my deceased rooster, Black Pepper. He was found Tuesday morning flailing vigorously in the corner of the coop. I witnessed his last moments. At first I thought he had been shot because it was such a quick death, however, on the next day after work, I examined his body quite carefully and could see no sign of violence to his flesh. After consulting with the family chicken experts, I believe he had a heart attack.

I laid Pepper on my black plastic covered kitchen table and harvested several bags of feathers...shiny black with a blue/green sheen...long tail feathers and pointy feathers from the neck area to use in future expressive art projects. Grandson Logan asked me if Pepper was giving me the feathers and I explained that he was dead. Logan said he will miss him and that Pepper will be in heaven...the faith of a three-year-old.