Just a Chicken Post

I haven't wrote or even taken pictures of my chickens in a while. In fact, I am having to go back to my photos taken this summer for these of the little roosters and hens. I have a story today.

Earlier in the week, we had a bit of sunshine, and my chickens have not been out in the yard for a long time. I have to let them out when I clean the chicken pens so they were very happy to run and flap their wings. I love cleaning their coop because they enjoy a clean coop so much. They watch me and meander around and as soon as my back is turned the bravest ones will venture in to see how things are going.

One of my new little silkie hens has decided she is going to sit on eggs. She found what she thought was a good hiding place and began to lay eggs and in her little chicken brain thought I would not find her eggs. I plan on letting her hatch chicks a little later in the spring but for now, it is just too cold and I don't feel like fooling with her and bringing her inside. Not January.

The little hen had about 10 or 12 eggs in her nest when I ran her off and she ran out in the yard. I just grabbed the eggs and threw them away. I continued to clean and though she had been fine for awhile, I noticed she was starting to pace up and down the coop wanting to get back to her eggs.

 I was finally finished and the bigger hens were all waiting to get back in to see how it looked so I was picking up the last of my tools when the little white Silkie ran in to her place where her eggs had been and she started this screaming. I have never heard a chicken do this before, so I made me jump. She lifted her head up to the sky and it was the saddest lament I have ever heard in my life. The roosters came running like maybe I was killing that little hen or something. Then she ran to the other side to see if maybe the eggs had been moved there. Then the whole thing again just that scream and it sounded all the world like weeping.

As I watched her and listened to her I almost relented about letting her sit on eggs. I wanted to cry. Just watching her was heartbreaking and I felt like such a evil person. Then I had the thought, how often I am just like that little hen. I have something removed or God closes a door to something  that was really good, because maybe it just wasn't time or I couldn't see what was on the horizon. I scream and cry and beg. To often I think it is because God doesn't hear me but He does and His heart is filled with more compassion and love than I have for that hen. He knows what is best, and I just need to wait.

I will let her sit on eggs and hatch chicks when it gets a bit warmer. Just now isn't the time. I wish that I would remember this lesson so the next time I am throwing a fit about something to God, I hope I will remember this lesson.

I learn so much about life watching chickens. Standing there watching them I am always amazed at what I notice. The hens when their house is clean, they become quiet and preen and are at peace. When the nest boxes are filled with new bedding, they want to settle down and lay eggs. They like their house when it is clean and in order. I know I am the same way. I guess me and chickens are just a lot alike.

Have a great Saturday,
~Kim~