The Chicken flew the coop---or---My prodical Chicken-
At dusk last evening, I went out to check my animals---and lo---I discovered a chicken had flown the coop. I bought 24 chicks and 2 cockerals from Murray's hatchery the last of May---and the Columbian Wyondottes are a beauty to behold---they have about a month to go before they start laying. We built a chicken house---bought 6 ft high chicken wire and buried it one foot so the wild animals couldn't get in---and these chickens have loved the "freedom" of the rather large area. When I come with scraps, feed, etc. they cackle and are ready to receive! One thing I have noticed though is their flying ability. I hadn't realized these chickens could fly so high---not sustained flying mind you, but they do try and flex their wings---they seem to max out at four feet and have seemingly never come close to getting out before---so imagine my surprise to find this one chick outside the coop. Since it was dusk, it was no problem getting the rest of the chicks inside the hen-house, then my problems began---the "chicken-coop flyer" didn't take me as a friend to help him, but as an enemy to avoid. I couldn't get her to enter the gate---the "narrow gate?" She proceded to head for the woods and being almost dark, I lost her. I took the flashlight and called "here chicky"---but alas, no chicky to be found---being able to do nothing more, I laid awake last night "worrying" about her---at the crack of dawn, I baled out of bed and went to the woods where I had lost her---but alas---no place to be found---had predators found her already---I'll be checking things out from time to time today, but if she doesn't "come home" I'm afraid her new found freedom will result in her demise. I have a son-in-law that has 15 year old chickens still laying---his original 25 are now down to about a dozen---but those old chickens have received lots of love and care---our plans for these chickens are the same---not to eat---but to enjoy---and hopefully give them a long chicken life of love and nurture---
The applications are obvious.
Are we acting the part of the prodical chicken and think that "flying the coop" and getting away from our master is really the "good life?"
Since retiring and living way out here in the "toolies" on an unpaved road---God has been teaching me much.
You may see me as getting more "ornery"---but my wife of many decades thinks I am "coming into my own." I guess we get older crankier, or mellower. When I visit the nursing homes I find those two kind of people---either positive and upbeat---hopeful about the future---or beat down---downtrodden---as one old gentleman I was finally able to lead to Christ said, before his conversion: "It is hell getting old." But after he accepted Christ, he had a new outlook on Christ.
So much for the 'ramblin---that also happens when ye gettest old.
Have a super sensational day---and pray for my prodical chicken---is she going to be a "sacrificial lamb?" Or will she find her way home?
Jack
This old man has lost a chicken
I'm afraid in the woods she'll get 'alickin
A cayote or two
Will have their stew
This chicken's "freedom" was somebody elses 'pickins |
