Bok?

So here at the Circle of Life Ranch and Rodent Hospice, we have a bit of bad news.  Mildred met her end at the hands (paws?  jaws?) of a fox.  Kind of a storybook ending, if you're a chicken.  A bit of a cliche, really, but she wasn't especially imaginative, if truth be told.  I am, of course, very sad to no longer hear her soft bokking.  I'm conflicted about bringing in replacement chickens.  I liked having her, but less responsibility is always welcome...esp. since we're going away for a week in January.  Finding someone to slog through the snow to check on chickens could be a challenge.  Plus, I'm just not sure I'm up to more grisly critter death.  Fredo died about a year ago and between him and Mildred have been a score of rodents and hermit crabs.  Frankly, I'm done.  I declare a moratorium on death.  Make it so.