A Reminder From My Chickens

For those of you that are recently following my blog, you may not know I raise chickens. I have 25 laying hens and 14 pullets. I then sell the eggs weekly to local customers.

My family would say I have gotten attached to these chickens, and I would agree. I never thought chickens would fall under the category of "pets", but they truly can be. I still prefer a dog or even a cat. However, since I started raising chickens 2 years ago, I have learned so much. This past week, wasn't any different, but as God seems to be doing in my life, He gave me a reminder through one of His creations.

One of my older birds was sitting off to the side last week and walked very slowly. She didn't want water nor any type of food - grain or treats. So, I tried to see if she was injured or what might be the problem. I immediately noticed her throat and the part that hold the food they eat before getting digested and it felt like a water balloon. I put her back in the pen with the others and decided to "google" what my options were to help her get better. I will spare you the details of what was going on, but the bottom line was she had all the symptoms but one. The last one was, they will eventually isolate themselves from the flock and not be social in any way. It also is very fatal once they get to that stage. If the food that is stuck in their throat doesn't pass, she would die. There wasn't anything I could do to help her. It was just a matter of waiting to see if she would be okay. I kept checking on her throughout the day to make sure she wasn't suffering.

By late afternoon, she did venture out of the hen house and would sit at the bottom of the ramp and watch what was going on, but would just sit and from time to time, hold her eyes shut. The following day she seemed a bit better and wanted water, that was it. Over the next 24 hours I realized something had been happening that I never noticed before.

If she sat by the door and looked out, another chicken was sitting right beside her. If she went down the ramp and sat in the grass, another chicken sat with her. When night came while on the roost, a chicken sat on either side of her. If she sat in the grass and the bugs were flying around her face another chicken would sit with her and catch the bugs so she wasn't being bothered. They noticed one of the flock, didn't feel well. I know that sounds crazy, they are simply chickens. But here is what I was reminded of in life with people. When a dear friend or family member gets cancer, has surgery, is not able to care for themselves in some way, or is going through a tough time, we want to "fix" it. But really all they may need from us is to just sit. I also noticed it wasn't the same chicken following her, it was a different one. They took shifts. They were all outside eating the fresh grass and bugs, but would rotate who stayed back with her. Sometimes we need to take shifts in caring for a loved one. But instead of trying to always have the answer, explaining why this is happening, fix the disease or illness, we need to just sit and be with them. Do I do that, or do I try to fix it? They couldn't help her, I couldn't help her, it happens in nature. A chicken who is used to other chickens gets stressed when it is by itself, but they made sure one of them was with her. I love that!

Yes, they are birds, no I have not lost my mind, but I was reminded, the next time I hear someone has a need, I don't have to worry what to say or what to do. Maybe they just need to know I am there and willing to sit with them while they are waiting for the test results or the medicine to start working. Some situations require that I help them physically with taking a meal, cleaning their home, or running errands. But sometimes, all they really need is someone who will just sit with them. They don't need our opinions or advice, they just need support until the situation passes.  God is teaching me lessons everywhere I look, I pray this week, He will show you something too!

I am glad to report, she is back in the flock eating and acting like nothing ever happened.