For almost a year now, I’ve been raising chickens so really, this is a pretty new venture for me. While I’ve spent time reading and looking up information so I can do the best for them, observation has been the best thing. Too, they react to my behaviors I’ve noticed, so I really concentrate on doing things not to worry or upset them.
Just simply by watching them do what they do, I’ve found out so many interesting things. For example, I’ve learned they do not like to lay their eggs where they nest. Where they nest is where they do a lot and I mean a lot of their business but where they lay eggs, they keep the straw and hay very clean.
If there is a small opening, they will take it! This is true of my chicks. If I leave the gate slightly open, they will quickly gravitate toward that crack and push their way through and then the chase is on, for they can get away so quickly. (I hate to show them my frantic action of trying to catch them because If I saw 300 lbs.(exaggerating) coming at me, I wouldn’t lay an egg ever again! (Stress causes them to lay less or no eggs!)
They are afraid of me when I get them, but as days progress, and I spend time in and around the pen, they begin to trust me and walk right up to me.(All except Buster, the rooster- He tries to flog and spur me! So much for loving the “hand that feeds you!”)
And, what I’ve observed about Buster is that he really is about protecting his hens. Recently, I got several black English orpington hens. They were put in a pen of their own next to the rooster. He was not their leader. He was not in their pen. He did not even know them. They had not even been introduced, but when I leaned over, in the next pen mind you, to pick up a little black one, he rushed the fence. It was obvious, that when he heard her squawking, he was about protecting.
Observation is a wonderful thing. If we spent a little more time observing those things around us, we could really make some different and maybe better choices when dealing with life’s issues.
I’m committing myself to being a better observer. Not only am I going to watch and do for my hens and roo but, I’m also going to better observe other situations in my life. Maybe I can be a more caring and productive individual.
Josie