Winter

Winter

Saturday, January 26, 2013

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~

23 comments:

Miss Debbie said...

Bless her heart! Good analogy though. Never know what God will use to teach us a lesson!

Julia said...

How sad for the little silkie hen. Our cows are the same when we have to remove a new born calf after a few days and sometimes when the cow has mastitis, we remove the calf so it won't drink milk from the infected quarter. They really have motherly instinct just like us but sometimes one cow don't want to bother with their new born.

It's nice when we can learn a lesson from God's creatures. Nature is sure a good teacher.
Have a great weekend
Hugs,
JB

TexWisGirl said...

oh, i'm feeling very sorry for that sad little hen...

Primitive Stars said...

Afternoon, oh my, how sad for the Silkie chicken...my heart is heavy for her......How wonderful it is though to enjoy having hickens in the yard...Blessings Francine.

Kim said...

Aww, I feel so sad for that hen. I would have broken my heart to hear her wail. I'm always in awe of the lessons you learn from your chickens.

Alica said...

The dear little hen! That makes me so sad! I never thought chickens cared so much!!

myletterstoemily said...

poor little mommy! haven't we all been her at one time
or another. such a great lesson from a sweet hen.

Christine said...

You know my Dad just had to do the same thing with his chickens only she didn't scream, she just doesn't want to lay now, maybe in a huff and we do that to God too! I think I have a little chicken brain too but how comforting to know God still cares for us!
Blessings
Christine

Nellie said...

Oh, my! Poor little Silkie! Sometimes we just don't understand the way things are supposed to be.:-)

Have a good week-end! xo Nellie

Meg said...

Oh that story still makes me sad. Poor little thing. I hope she gets a whole flock to hatch out this spring and it will make her so happy.

Gumbo Lily said...

What good lessons those chickens are teaching you. I learn the very best lessons from our livestock and from nature too. It is so good that you "see" the big picture like that and understand what God is trying to show you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. (what pretty hens!)

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

I never thought a chicken would have such strong feelings toward her eggs. I have learned something important this evening that will help me tend to my own flock this spring. (fingers crossed) It does make me feel a little sad for her. Hopefully her short attention will kick in and she'll forget about them soon.

Pom Pom said...

I like your chicken stories, Kim.

Gail said...

May we all recognize "the right time".

Bonnie said...

I loved this post. It is so timely for our family right now. We have had a hard thing this month. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. P.S. I came to your blog from Jody's blog (Gumbo Lily). Love your beautiful white chickens.

camp and cottage living said...

Kim
This served as a good devotion for me!
It's not always easy to trust when we have our own plans.

Kessie said...

Oh wow! The poor thing! I never heard one cry before, either.

Sue said...

What a great analogy, Kim, just as you are waiting for the right time to give your hen the desire of her heart, so does our heavenly Father wait for His perfect timing to give us ours, how awesome is this!!
Great post, thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Sue

Empty Nester said...

Such a great analogy. But poor chicken. I'm like that with Tucker- I do whatever I think he's asking for or needing and I try not to stray because people can reason and understand but we can't explain to animals. Of course, just because we are capable of reasoning and understanding, does NOT mean that we do it. Which must frustrate God to no end. Especially when He's trying to deal with me. :)

Debbie said...

poor little hen.....

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

Thank you for updating us about your chickens ... and for sharing that story about your poor little hen - what an excellent lesson for us.

Nancy said...

What a wonderful analogy and I am so glad you shared it. I am going to try my best to remember your post the next time I am screaming to God because I am not getting my way.....A season for all things....

GretchenJoanna said...

It's lovely that you have a breed that likes to set. I am sorry for that hen - She was only doing what she was created for and is reacting naturally. Those white fluffy -- silky! -- chickens must be the Silkies? They are beautiful.