Today was finally the day…we finally got around to getting the chicken coop ready for the winter. That pretty much involves cleaning out the nesting boxes, removing the roost, cleaning up the floor and putting down plenty of new wonderful smelling pine shavings.
Needless to say, the girls did not seem to appreciate the effort. My best guess is they just got so used to the coop gradually getting dirtier that they did not notice that a clean up was overdue.
For some reason the cleaning seemed to confuse the girls. When it was time to go in for the night; one of them ended up on the wrong side of the fence. Instead of retracing her steps to get back to the right side, she just kept running back and forth in front of the chicken run. I am not sure if she thought a door would magically appear or what.
It took a bit of urging and herding to get her where she needed to be. It was rather funny to see her run as fast as she could to get in the coop when she finally figured out where she was. It is really too bad that chickens don’t have faces that show much expression…..perhaps that is why they can be so vocal?
I am kind of thinking that I am a bit (okay…maybe a lot) like those chickens. I resist change…even if it is for my own good. When I am not where I am supposed to be it sometimes takes a lot of urging to convince me I need to turn around and head the other way.
The only difference…. my face probably shows my dismay and alarm as I am being urged the right direction. I know I tend to question out loud if I am not comfortable with the situation.
I am fortunate that I have friends and family who make sure I know where I am supposed to be, at pretty much any given time. It is a blessing to have those people in my life. They keep me from running back and forth looking for that magical door.
May this weekend find you with people close by that keep you on the right side of the fence. May you and I be blessed and be a blessing to others as we live life. And may we all be willing to follow the gentle urging needed to keep us going in the right direction.
May we all, end up exactly where we are supposed to be.
“Are you where you are supposed to be?”
Jenn J.
The Chicken Grandma 
I feel like that girl sometimes waiting for that magical door to appear 😊 Thank goodness for those family and friends who herd us in the right direction. I bet you are happy that is done. Winter certainly came in fast. Nice way to get active time too. ❤
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It was….scooping is a good workout.
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Another good post Faye. It is nice to have friends keep us on the right track. Makes me think of the old saying – “They are running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off.” Kind of a silly saying – chickens run around with their heads on. Ha
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Thank you Peggy. I do know if you butcher chickens they do tend to run around and jump for a bit. It is really bizarre. Yes….they really do run around a lot with their heads on also!
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Yes, I have seen chickens after we butchered them. Ah – yes chickens are enjoyable to watch and I have watched them a lot in my lifetime and herded them into the hen house often.
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Change is hard for most of us and we often resist it because we become used to our daily routines. Sometimes a good shakeup can be uncomfortable at first, but we soon recognize it was for our good. I’m sure your chickens will love your care and attention someday 😃
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I love when the coop is all cleaned out. it smells like the pine shavings. It is funny to see how leery the girls are of fluffy new bedding.
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You’re a great caretaker ❤️
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Good question…Are you where you are suppose to be? My mother is back home on the farm after being gone for several months. Not only did she spend sever months recooping from a fall but my dad passed away during this time. We are having a Thanksgiving time of gratiiude ,memorial and blessings of life since we did not have a service for my dad at the time. Any way…When she got back, after a while I noticed her looking around and then she said..”.I just don’t know where I belong any more”.I can certainly understand this feeling because I have it myself since my husband passed and that was three years ago.
I don’t know about her feelings but I am very home sick and we who love the Lord know this place is not our home.
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I think you are right. It is okay not to feel at home in this world because we know our true home is elsewhere and we will get there someday. You have had a hard year Beverly.
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I think I can honestly say I’m looking forward to a new year.
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BC,
What a beautiful, thoughtful message that was- it got me thinking. You are right- we are just passing through- we think we are in control but our strings are being pulled from above. My children often tell me- ma, where do we belong- we speak one language at home, we speak English as the official language of the world and we pretend as though we belong to wherever we are put into but somehow our heart knows we don’t belong here or there or anywhere”. Sometimes I think this is a good thing- because we wouldn’t get too attached to things and would find it easier to let go when the time to move on comes.
Thanks for sharing and happy Thanksgiving BC. Also praying for Cobs( any news from there)
Susie
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Oh I’m afraid we may never know what happened to our friend Cobs. I really miss her.
Enjoy your time on holliday and be ready to dive back into your studies. We never know what tomorrow may bring.
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I even asked a gal over at another blog and she has not heard anything either. Maybe we need to send mail to Cobs so she at least knows we are thinking of her.
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I did send a couple of emails to her and to the friend who you advised me to contact her, No response
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Great post and always a good analogy that you tie into your experiences. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it once they become accustomed to it. It’s like you said change is hard, but we eventually adapt and find our new rhythm.
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I like that….a new rhythm. Same song book….new song…different rhythm.
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Is this kind of like ‘you can lead a chicken to water, but you can’t make it drink’?
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It is totally like that! You cannot talk a chicken into anything at all.
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A lot of wisdom here, Faye. This has been my own lesson for the last few years. I am where i am supposed to be, like it or not, til God says different. Being hard headed, it took me a while to catch on. I just love your chickens . . .and of course-you too! Happy Thanksgiving! love Michele
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Thank you so much Michele. The Jenn gal who made that quote is a friend of mine and loves to ask people that question. It is always a good reminder for me also as I tend to like to make plans and then tell God about them and hope He agrees.
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Faye,
Happy Thanksgiving. I am so grateful you are in my life.
Susie
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And I am so grateful you are in mine!! It is too bad we are so many miles apart. You could have come for Thanksgiving.
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I am late commenting. This post made me think of the adult cartoon “Chicken Run”. One of the funniest movies I’ve seen. But I’m sure you are nothing like that ogre owner from the movie!
Wishing a wonderful day for you and yours!
Your pal, Al
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Can you believe I have never seen the movie Chicken Run? I may have to go to the local library and check that one out.
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You will laugh like crazy!
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You never fail to make me smile, a reassuring smile. So grateful that I’m not alone in the convincing and urging of Life. Be well, Faye!
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