I Am A Rooster Advocate

December 19, 2010

I have become quite the advocate for roosters’ rights in the Town of Barnstable.  As you know, I went to the Barnstable Agricultural Commission meeting a few weeks ago, and boy, have I been busy entertaining all sorts of questions.  I have been contacted by both the Barnstable Patriot and the Barnstable Enterprise for interviews.  I have also had the pleasure of meeting many people along the way that also have a love for roosters.

I’m not quite sure how I got in the middle of this in the first place.  I have been giving that question a lot of thought lately.  I think that I have my answer now.  Interestingly enough, before my life as a Cape Codder, a mother of two and a lover of all things chicken, I lived in a large city on the West Coast.  I was in the fast paced world of academic medicine.  I wore many hats as an educator, lecturer, professor, mentor, advocate and researcher in my field of nursing.

As a little girl, I was always a nurturer.  I was concerned when I saw people being bullied.  I was awkward as a child and a move across town and then the country did not help.  I was shy, quiet and an observer in life.  In eighth grade, I got hit with a double whammy; large eighties style glasses and braces!  I toed the line.  I was never one for my parents to worry about.  I was a good student and I stayed out of trouble.  I was a child who always looked out for others and wanted so much to please my parents.

Interestingly, I was drawn to nursing.  I attended one of the top schools in the country and there I emerged from my shell.  I owe my education much credit for the person that I metamorphosed into today.  I became a strong voice, confident, articulate and able to advocate for the patients against the toughest meanest old-school physicians while caring for my patients.  I was no longer shy or quiet.  In fact, I was quite the opposite when it came to advocating for those patients who could not do it for themselves.  I advocated for gang members, homeless, drug addicts, abused elderly and children.  I was a voice for all and I was not afraid what anyone else would think.  They were all that mattered in their times of need.

Our move to be closer to family and seek a quieter slower paced life for our children, lead us to life on Cape Cod.  I traded in nursing for motherhood and sat back, relaxed and began to enjoy watching my children grow. 

Chocolate, our rooster, is a huge part of our chicken family and we all adore him.  I think that my nursing background kicked in when we were told that there was a possibility that we could not keep him.  He did not have a voice.  He could not go to the town and tell them that he was just doing what came natural.  He needed a voice and I sprang to action.  Here we are today, with another article slated to come out that I was just interviewed for last week.  I answered so many basic questions that the reporter asked as he tried to grasp a basic understanding of chickens.  I felt proud to speak on behalf of these amazing creatures.  I am their voice.  I am their advocate.  I understand them and I hope to help others understand them too.

Melissa

Author/Blogger/Freelancer-Sharing adventures with backyard chickens, beekeeping, gardening, crafting, cooking and more.

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Sharing an inspired life from the New England seaside. Chickens, Bees, Gardens, Art and Yummy Goodness.