Chicken Love

CHICKEN LOVE

Learning about Chicken Love

So, who am I learning about love from now? My three chickens and here is a photo of one of them, she is called Starlight, my chicken love teacher.

I grew up with chickens as a child and so was a little familiar with them, before these three came into my life, in February this year.

They came from a battery farm, where they were kept crammed together in cages, standing on wire. They were bedraggled looking and unhealthy, as they had been unable even to spread their wings. Thankfully, their beaks had not been cut off, which is the practice in some battery establishments.

When they came to live with me, the first one I named was Wilhelmina, she was ill for a few days, the others pecked at her and she huddled up under cover. Gradually she recovered, thank goodness - I think she is the prettiest of the three chickens that I love.

Starlight became ill a couple of weeks ago and it was she, who really taught me how to love chickens and get to know them, as I had to nurse her back to health. Thank goodness for Internet Forums and the advice I received from other chicken lovers. I had to massage her crop at regular intervals over several days, as it had become swollen, plus feed her water with Manukau Honey and Cider Vinegar.

She loved having the massage and would hold her wings out, as I gave it to her. It was wonderful to feel the swelling subsiding under my fingers. She also ate a little yoghurt and oil at this time. The other two chickens would peck at my legs and slippers, as I held her on my lap to give the massage and hand feed her. Thankfully, with all the TLC and healing and advice from others, she gradually recovered.

I love to sit and watch the chickens especially at breakfast time.

Over the last few months, I have let them roam free when I am around the place – it is a delight to see them pecking and scrabbling around in the earth and making dust baths. They boss the cats and me around and make the most wonderful sounds, which I am recording in order to make music. They detest the rain, which is unfortunate for them, as I live in Ireland.

They really do add something very special to my life - I love my chickens – Starlight, Wilhelmina and Leonora are much more like pets than egg producers now – the eggs are great too, mind you. If you have any spare bit of ground, I really would advise you to consider keeping chickens yourself.

Please people, if you are still eating eggs or meat from chickens reared in battery farms, consider not doing so - see Food Labeling for more details.

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