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| Happy to sit in my lap. |
The chickens make me laugh, especially Oyster Cracker these days.
Early in the mornings, I see her peeking out the coop window, looking for me. As the others are busy laying eggs, eating and waking up, there she sits perched in the coop calling out to me with her eyes. “Hey, open the door already!”
When I do go and open them up, she is usually one of the first ones out. It just has to be that way. Usually, she comes out simultaneously through the little coop door with one of the Sikies. Yet yesterday, she came out at the same time as Sunshine. There they were my two Buff Orpingtons. The were carrying on, stuck in the door for a moment squawking to one another as they held up the entire morning parade of chickens through the coop door. Finally, with a bit of chicken team work and wiggling, they all made their way into the run.
Each morning, Oyster Cracker is the first one to hop up on one of the logs in the run and quickly survey the scene. Today, as I collected eggs she spied our puppy, Sara. She let out the biggest alarm. Then ran over to Sara, investigated and suddenly remembered, Oh, I know you! Then as Sara sniffed at her through the hardware cloth, Oyster Cracker carried on the sweetest cooing conversation with her. I wonder what they chatted about?
Later this morning, I weeded out the garden. I tossed into the run some kale, swiss chard and lettuce that was a bit past its prime. As the rest of the flock dove into the goodies like heat sinking missiles. Oyster Cracker was content to hop up into my lap and sit for a spell. Hot, heavy and feathered beyond anyone’s most extravagant boa, sat my girl. Usually my most greedy girl, she decided that she would rather be showered with affection today.
As my body felt like melting in this unbelievable heat wave and under her luscious plumage, I could feel my heart melting more. I didn’t think it was possible to love them anymore than I already do. Yet, each time my heart melts, I think it grows bigger and changes. I guess that is just the way things work. It is the way nature reworks the mold. It sculpts us, forges us, changes us and teaches us. Some of the greatest lessons are learned with our hearts. What has melted yours lately?
Photo Credit: Tilly’s Nest
16 thoughts on “How Does Your Heart Grow?”
My heart melted a little just reading this post. I have gotten more joy from my little flock than I could possibly express to a non-chicken person. I recently lost two special ladies: Goldie (a Buff like your Oyster Cracker) followed me like a shadow and loved to jump into my lap! And Lacy (like your Dottie Speckles) was the "top chickie" in the pecking order. She bullied Goldie so I had to keep them separated. But Lacey mourned Goldie's loss. It amazes me how they have such wonderful personalities! Thank you for sharing!
This is so sweet! I love those moments when your chickens surprise you and show again just how sweet they can be. My animals often melt my heart, especially my new kitten Gizmo. He has been so crazy lately doing what kittens do, but the few minutes that he is calm and lets me pet him are so worth it and definitely melts my heart 🙂
Love the update; so sweet. I'd love to hear about your other Girls, too!
My Buff is the only one that would let me hold her…and she is gone now. I miss her. Since adding new chickens to flock…I don't get to hold them like that.
and George our Rooster is a little bit persnickety about that kind of stuff.
But I do love those chickens.
I love hearing your stories too.
Pat
Love this! Just yesterday I picked up my girl Sunny and even in this heat she nuzzled her head against my neck and let out a little chortle. Then she popped down and ran across the yard to the other girls and looked back. It was that look back that made my heart melt.
isn't it amazing what a joy it is to just sit and watch them. I'm relatively a new chicken keeper but I love to go out and greet them in the morning and through out the day. Then wish them sweet dreams at night. Can't wait till they get older and start laying eggs.
My cats are my favorites plus my little special needs chick. Sometimes the coop birds frustrate me, more the roosters. We just had to kill the old one because the younger one beat it so very badly that it wouldn't recover. No more having 2 roosters for us. Glad your flock is sweet.
Your blog melted my heart today as you described your love for your feathered friends. Your choice of words was perfect. I chuckled at your stories of chickens stuck in the doorway and also checking out the pup! Keep up the great work!
I don't have chickens because I live in a subdivision with a HOA, but I really wish I did. Visiting my son at his Army base (he's 21) and spending time with him as a family, made me a puddle of goo this past weekend. :o)
Thank you for the lovely story. My Buff Orpington Gracie was the first chick to sit on my lap closely followed by two Dominiques and my fluffy Speckled Sussex. They will be a year in September, would rather grab the treats and run, never on my lap like the days in winter before they free ranged and we would sit together for hours. I think if the rooster was out of the picture things would be sweeter, I spend my time defending myself and that upsets everyone. His protection is worth what I've lost…
My hubby and and father-in-law working so hard to finish our chicken coop and raised beds for the garden…they melt my heart with all of their hard work!
We have a Auracana with a hurt leg named Peep. We carry her out of the coop in the morning and carry her back in the evening. She is so sweet and talks to us as we carry her around!
My heart melts in Providence every morning. The same routine happens here. Cinnamon is my "Oyster Cracker" . They are the same way in the morning.
What a lovely blog you have here:) and Im now following.
Check out my blog…If you want some cute Swedish decor insppiration:)
Have a wonderful weekend dear
LOVE Maria at inredningsvis.se
(sweden)
Thank you! I will most definitely check out your blog.
I so related to this story…I fall a little more in love with my sweet girls every time we have one of these encounters…It's hard to explain to someone who has never loved a chicken what it's like…Thanks for putting it into words..