Project Chickens before the Eggs - Lesson 221 - The chicken family on the box

When you have chickens people tend to gift you with chicken things. I mean, why not, right? Our lives have sort of become All Things Chickens, people are excited to share in our adventures and in our lessons. Many of my friends want to know what happens next (and yes, the Addy-locked-in-the-henhouse conversation invariably comes up – apparently that is “your worst nightmare” for quite a few people. – hi Jill!)

It's all here

At a recent party I was given this beautiful little collection box by one of my friends who loves my chickens from afar (she’s the one who would have had a heart attack if locked in with chickens at night – hi Gina!). On it stands a proud papa rooster, a mama rooster and 3 little baby chicks. The rooster is looking up, watching for peril while the mama hen is looking down at her chicks – probably making sure that no one is sneaking some (more) candy into the nest. Painted further down on the front are 3 more little chicks.

6 chicks! Whew, that’s a lot of chicks for any family.

But here’s the kicker. When you open the box inside you’ll find another little chick, older than the rest, ready to leave the nest but not quite sure how to. This little chick has legs and is able to stand on his own. You’ll also find a perfectly formed little egg.

It’s all here in this little box. The perfect potential of the egg, the independence of the chick who is old enough to start striking out on his own (but still coming home for the college breaks and summer vacations), and the (young) adults who didn’t quite realize what having 6 chicks would mean but have decided that even with the feedings, the never-ending poop, and the constant (literal) hen-pecking of the chicks, they wouldn’t have done it any other way.

Photo credit: Marc Nozell

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