Just a chicken ?

Just a chicken - well ..

Golden Polish

The other day I was happy that one of my roos found a home. He had been scheduled for culling but the Universe cancelled his date by sending bad weather. ..and he got adopted 2 days before the next cull date. Now he'll be roo for 10 hens and have a large coop and pretty much free range...and then he was put in a wire crate, open in a pick-up truck and off he went. I had a question I asked via e-mail but never heard back - and so I wish him the best rooster life, and also realize: for many, even as they may love chickens, chickens are still "just a chicken" - and he'll be fine...in the open truck and cage.

He had a sweet elegance

And so here is a picture of another young roo - he went off this morning with some of his brothers to where they are being "harvested". Granted, the place there is so peaceful ... I'd want it during my passnig - but their life ended. Sometimes you read: we "don't get attached to those" to the ones due for "freezer camp". Folks joke, find another way, some way to not actually have to face the killing of a beautiful being. I am not saying that for us who are giving them and their flock life, that we don't have to manage it ...just saying - I never see pictures of those that went to that infamous "freezer camp" as if they were not beautiful amazing young birds, deserving to be seen and loved. Is this really some morbid fascination, dwelling in some sentimental guilt pain, or is it simply this:

These guys are beautiful and full of rooster-life. I love them. They get their pictures taken as the others. They get exposed to the crates and being touched and taken off the roost so they are not so afraid when the time comes. They get a few extra treats on their last day. And I pray for all the roosters (using the Karma Wash and Clear Light Orb) - all of them ...and best I can tell, the ones given a life...got helped by that - and the ones that are culled, have had a peaceful passing. In any case, I like this way of "Play to Pray".

I understand about "just a chicken". I understand that actually a peaceful passing now might be better than a bad life for a few more months with a horrible death. We just never know when sending out a bird what fate actually awaits them, unless we really know the people and check on the birds, because, to many - no matter what, they are still "just a chicken".

Each and every one of my chickens, hens or roos, are loved. Things are not perfect, flocks need to be balanced.
May the love stay with them, the part of them that is essential and everlasting, and there is comfort in that they actually had a chance at a chicken-worthy life on earth.

Baby chicken got hurt

Tonight I am just tired and it is  mainly from an emotional toll. So this may or may not make sense.

She is in there - my attempt to keep her in the coop as well as somewhat warm

I had to go with someone to bring a dog to the vet this afternoon, and I got to the chickens late, not till 4 pm., which really isn't a big deal. Except today when i got into the run, I heard baby chirps from the rooster side of the baby run area wall. There really isn't a way from the pullet babies to get there and I thought one of the baby roos, (and they are all 9 weeks old now) had strayed ...I opened the door to the orchard run and a buff was trying to get through the barrier, then hid. I got it from there, the 4 orchard roos looking on. The baby buff seemed ok, UNTIL she bent her neck .OMG ...all open to the muscles ...the entire neck exposed. So I isolate it in a dog crate inside the coop. I feed it some mesh, eggs and chicken. And it eats with good appetite. She gets chirpy when all her siblings go to roost and she has to stay there. I heat up water, put it in a bottle and that into an old sock ...and put it next to her ...but she wasn't fooled. Later on I decide to dig out the heat lamp thinking it might help  to not be so cold ....despite the light, but it is the red kind. At that time, she eats crumble but I also see that there is some issue with breathing.
I have some antibiotics, but she refuses the overcooked veggie it it on ...
After reading up on things ...if i had the means, suturing and antibiotics might be of benefit, but then, chickens have amazing self healing abilities from physical injury. So here I am, hoping for the best.

But it is taking a toll - as I see myself unable to focus on work I have to do. It won't get done. I don't know which rooster is so rough on the babies, or how she even got out. I got  straight runs with a total of 54 chickens and have 34 be male - that posed a lot of management issues on the time and space.
But getting a sexed run would have meant the baby males had to be killed ...never a chance for a life worth calling it.

I recall: 27 chicks the first run, 1 died at 3 days. (post pasting). Of the 26, 9 are hens, the rest roosters. Of the 8 living in the orchard, 4 got gotten by predators (they were out there early, having roosted in the trees, which they since stopped doing). Of the mixed group, I had to go through deciding who needed to go and then the process of culling them. This was November 20. They were just 6 months old.. HORRIBLE to take the life of such a beautiful creature, but the orchard roos were all chasing the Golden Polish and those 2 in turn were making live difficult for the hens and their brothers. ...all the while just being roosters. My only consolation at this point is: they had a good rooster life, having done what a rooster does, they were seen and loved, served as food for folks who could never afford such a chicken and taught me big lessons. Then One of the baby buff males died ....I think neck injury too, this was about 2 weeks ago - but I don't know who did it. And today this one ...a pullet. She might still make it ...but it is taking a toll.....

It is difficult have so many roosters for the space and for the females. I am by now convinced that given enough space ...and more equitable rooster to hen ratio, that they will all arrange themselves one way or the other.

I don't know how it happened. There were some grey feathers there too ...and non of the orchard roos is grey. If i knew who did it - he'd have to go, but i can't get myself to cull them all ....but maybe that would be better ....?

I just want them to get out in the morning to forage and all get long. Let them out in the morning - feed them. Let them in at roost time - collect some eggs in between. Let them  walk around with me -...I love observing them. I know they don't like to be alone - which is why I put the dog crate inside the coop ...and I will be feeding the young ones right around the dog crate. The plan is to keep them inside the coop for a day....

I don't know why but it affects me so much when they are sick or distressed or seeing them dead - not compatible with being a farmer for sure, but then, I'm a chicken gardener and vegetarian and....


...  it is so hard for me. I LOVE these chickens. I adore them, the way they move and talk and look and I am amazed at their social structure, curiosity, ability to learn. There is a lesson here about the preciousness and uniqueness, about the purpose for each life - 2 or 4 legged, winged or swimming companions. About care and respect for each and every life entrusted to your care.

Because: once you create (as in ordered eggs to be hatched) or take in any animal into your care - you carry the responsibility for its life and owe it a  life that is in accordance with its beingness. Not everyone will agree or understand, for others this is not far enough.

I don't want to force my views on anyone. There is such a wide span between the meat-eaters (and there is a range there too) and the  vegans (with their own range). What I hope all animals get is this:  respectful treatment in life and death - that they are being allowed to live  a good and artengerechtes animal life.

In the meantime - there is a 2 month old Buff Catalana girl in the coop with a bad injury.  Her name is Harriet. It hurts. ...and she does not understand why she can't be up on the roost .... Whether she stays or goes on - I don't want her to suffer. Sending love to you, baby chick.

read the next post for what happens next - I named it: should you isolate chickens with injuries

Roosters & the meaning of life - update August 2012

Oh dear - roosters - so much testosterone - but I love them - they are beautiful.  The May roosters are now 3 months old, and I have them separated from the hens for the past 3 days with a couple of mild behaving roosters staying with the hens without any issues. In the meantime, their foraging areas have grown pretty big, about 1/4 acre if they wanted to. I have the (not so secret) hope that I will be able to keep 4 or 5 roosters even through the mating season next year. Compared to the hen group, the roosters are starting to forage a bit more and further out in the orchard during the day. I would have thought they would be all over the place, but no - they are very careful and seem to be staying close to "home". Maybe I spoiled them too much? It looks soo good to see the birds foraging in the garden.

There is a crowing "concert" a few times a day, I don't mind it, just a little worried about the neighbors, though this IS zoned agricultural. I had to separate the Golden Polish chicks from the Blue Andalusian roosters as they were just being chased all over the place. It seems though that the lowest chick in the pecking order will end up getting chased, now it is a splash blue Andalusian that has that honor.

It is quite a challenge to get them into and out of the chicken coop into their separate day ranging areas. It takes me about an hour or 2 each time, and I am hoping things will get a lot easier when i have built a roo hatch box/coop and they have accepted it. I have modified the hen-coop section again so maybe the Golden Polish will be content to stay there at night - and not insist to roost in the old spot - with all the roosters .....

Ok, back from tonight's cooping up:

As much as the females run from the roosters in the day - at night, they all want to roost together given the option. I just tested that, after 3 nights of keeping them separate. So until I actually have a separate rooster hutch, I let them roost together again, starting tonight - and see how that goes. For daytime tomorrow, since there are there are so many different run areas now ...the females might have enough space to hide. I'll see tomorrow.

Long story short: if you are getting a straight run and plan to not kill your roosters (either yourself or by giving them away) - have 2 coops and forage areas far enough away before you get them. And remember, straight run NOT 50/50.

From a farming and economical perspective - keeping all the roosters makes little sense, especially as the 50/50 is not the case ...it is more 70/30, and talking to my chicken keeping neighbor - that seems to be the case for those he knows who have gotten straight runs. Also organic soy free feed is incredibly expensive.

Getting a sexed run means: you get the females and the males have been gotten rid of some other way.

You can argue: getting a straight run means all of them have had a chance of life on earth - and now their time is up. Would it have been better not having a chance at life at all?

I can hear the more militant vegans already - but what they maybe have not faced are the thousands of animals killed during commercial vegan food harvesting - AND - in case you are not aware - plants are conscious too. You might be able to feel it yourself, or, do a search on the latest about how trees communicate with each other and transfer nutrients.

In my own sensing, and feeling - we all - every being and thing - are expressions of the ONE -  the one Consciousness that IS. In that sense, EVERYTHING that you do matters. Everything you do affects the whole. Everything is an outpicturing of divine mind.  Life IS a circle - and life force expresses in constant birthing and dieing, and all you (and that is for those who are at all interested in that side of Being) can ever hope to do is not to have contributed to the suffering of WHAT IS - and maybe, to have relieved some suffering in some way on some level. It too makes sense, that if it is within your means, to prevent others from doing harm - for they own sake and for the sake of BEING. It makes sense to not allow dogs to do harm to people or other animals, to not allow people to do harm, if it is within your power to recognize it and prevent it.

I have cried over plants being mutilated by unconscious actions of others - like mowing over baby trees and bushes. I can't even clear blackberries before their "babies" have not matured .....  but I did tell them that after that, and accepting the berries gratefully, that they will have to go. And I do tell them that I love them and their beingness - same as the roosters - acting out their hormones. Some day, unless I get 100 acres and natural wildlife population control, the roosters will likely have to go. The few hens just can't deal with that many. But there is 1 thing: those birds have been loved. In my world and mind - that means something, that is worthwhile - and it is more than can be said about many peoeple, animals and things. Those chickens are loved, seen, appreciated, admired and cared for.  I spend time with them just in awe of how they move, sound and what they do and try to give them what they need within the means I have.
May they be blessed, and with them, the divine beingness itself.

Oh - do you think there are dogs who would give their lives for their owners -- not thinking - just doing? Let us not take away from the divine mind that has some animals and plants being in service of love, awakening and helping humans to grow - physically and otherwise. On the task of : what I learned from keeping chickens: it is way beyond the practical chicken keeping. This project, the endeavor, is deepening my feeling for life, the deepening realization for the sanctity of life and the mutuality we have with everything in it, absolutely everything and everyone. For the most part,  I do not actually have access/skill/experience to LOVE through people, - adult humans (children are a different story),  like some of you might have - I nonetheless am beginning to get that this, the working with animals & giving over the top of 100% to what I am capable of,  is a path with which to access love of humans (who hurt life and beings so much everywhere). With the realization of the ONENESS and its expression through all beings and things - it would include humans. I do know that I am not there yet. There may be compassion, or pity, but LOVE for all humans, even if they are expressions of the divine oneness - I am not there. 

Tonight, I am exhausted from the  work and trying to manage "them chicks" and do right by them. I wish there were someone really in on this project with me.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.
I still think the roosters could roam in a separate area and live longer ....that too we'll see.

Some say creation is like a giant video game. It is a game in which beings feel. - A 3d manifestation of G-D.

Being food - for the soul

This title is likely not gonna read for any google searches, but that is what I mean.

The other I noticed how little I am actually eating and working with the chickens and in the garden has made my body thinner and stronger.

While I have not really had much of any food at regular meals on an ongoing basis for years (I would be fairly inexpensive to have as a house guest that way :),  I do frequently now find myself asking for meal leftovers from others and meal prep kitchen compost - for the birds. Friends of mine make special town trips to get greens from stores or restaurants for their chickens.  This I cannot do, but I now do understand why they do it. It is actually recommended as part of healthy nutrition if you can't truly free range, for the making of compost and vermi-bins and such. And there seems to be something else that is worth noting:

The chicks are 8 weeks old today, and they still get their chicks starter crumbles, but for some reason, they leave that in a heartbeat if really veggie stuff is available. The seem to LOOOOVE the real foods. And I notice I love giving it to them and that there is real food for me when I see them eating yummy kitchen vegetable stuff - and I am so happy to share what I do have with them. Their happy sounds are food for my body and soul.

And  I realized the other day that I am being fed, though not through organic food,  when I feed them good stuff and they are happy and well fed. It is Being-food, and it does feel like a substance to me. I am happy when they are and it is food for my soul -  "being-food". I am sure a lot of you have experienced something similar, maybe with your child. This "being-food" is worth more to me than an organic meal.

I know they are "just" chickens - and - caring for them provides being-food  -  could be you only get that when you stop seeing them as "just" chickens. -

They are a living part of who you are, on all levels - and so are the veggies - but that is another story.

Chickens can change your World - HCCML 3

... and so can anything you love enough - or that has touched you deeply enough.

Having fun, doing what you love is compatible with respecting the earth and it's beings!

So, they (them chickens) got me writing again. Why am I doing this? - This writing about this particular topic  - again ? Because I had some inspiration earlier this morning, as in an entire post in my head, and now I can't quite remember but started to write anyway in case it all comes back to me.

I think part of wanting to write again about why I am going this is because I have not yet internally solved (ie accepted) this dilemma of the general unconsciousness of humans and what they do to this planet and each other. I still believe that humans can wake up and start caring and stop abusing ....  if only enough would --- or that at least those in power could and steer it all with true knowing and compassion and without GMO foods and mega pollution. I still envision a world in which humans live in harmony with nature. At least get your life and the animals close to you on track of health and happiness.

So here I am doing this chicken gardening project and there are some very practical reasons why -  which most people can understand or value and which can change their world & perception.

• get chicken help providing fertilizer and tilling help in a vegetable garden.
• making sustainable use of land, which I do not own, that is otherwise just laying there unused.
• getting the best eggs - and proven more nutritious than any supermarket egg can ever be - healthy food for you and your family.
• learning about what it really takes to provide for your own food - at least some of it.

I am learning more and more how big money has used and misused large sections of land and people,
to walk my talk the best I can - but at least being consistent.
Keeping chickens for you  might be a means to get your children in touch with animals - to get to know them so they may have a change to love them - to make them aware that eggs do not grow in the store and maybe even that hot dogs were made from tortured animals in most cases.

Inspire others to become not only more aware, but take action where they live.

and THERE is is beginning to touch on the first point again - inspire others, help folks to wake up just a bit more and feel empowered to change their own life and world towards health and happiness to include the living earth - wake just a bit more from where they are.

I have seen what others do both online and in person. A lot of people do a lot of good - but when you look at what is happening to the planet - many more need to come on board, many more need to start taking action to the best of their ability - locally. Think, feel and connect globally - act locally.

I got raised roman catholic and I (sort of) remember this parable: the master had to go out of town and he gave his servants money to work. One got 1 dinar, one got 5 and the other one got 10. When he came back, the one with 10 dinar came to him and gave him back 20, the one with 5 dinars gave him back 10 - and the one with 1 dinar gave him back 1. So the master asked what happened: and the servant said he buried it to keep it safe but didn't use it to prosper.
So ...ehm - I don't know what the master did ...but the message was: you MUST use what you have and what god gave you. By this are meant your talents and means. Those who are given much, return much, and those who are given little, return little - BUT ALL ARE CALLED to use what they are given and double it and prosper. So for me this means: DO WHAT YOU CAN WHERE YOU ARE with the means available to you to the degree you can take it today. Burying things is like this: Albert Einstein. “The world is a dangerouss place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”

Or, to speak with gxaaxx: "Just say no to apathy". 

Have you ever considered that you are depressed or angry because your are NOT doing what you are supposed to do? Because your scope does not include your love, your purpose for being here?


Find the passion which opens your heart. Ask the universe/God with all you have to show you what that is - if you don't know it already - and give it a few weeks, never forgetting what you asked for - and be prepared to give it all you got when it is shown to you.


Some say if you do what you love that is wnough - I say: do what you love for the benefit of all beings everywhere.
It adds a twist to do what you love that is needed by the world.

It is not enough anymore to just do for yourself. If you read this, you got the means - even if you only got 1 dinar. The whole world is available to you via the internet. You can do something - find out what - and it does not cost you any money either.

I happen to love nature, dogs and birds especially, and trees and plants and  ....don't get me started :). I love other things too, but it is different.

So there are lots of folks loving other things, but let us just stay with those who have a bit of conscience and consideration or who consider themselves on a spiritual path and those who are wanting to awaken.

Awakening happens in stages for most folks, it includes the mind heart and body and willingness, drive  - your soul has to actually want to. You can push the river there - but - you never know who you can reach with what you do - and a tiny shift in this Universe may have huge consequences elsewhere, even if you never know it.

So if you open your heart - and you can do this by watching a number of videos about what happens in commercial animal food production and allowing to feel that pain -  you know your heart is open when you FEEL - so open you heart and then get your mind involved to check out the truth and numbers and environmental impact your supermarket egg production have on the earth and your health and your wallet (hint: taxpayer subvention) for example. ...


I guess the question is: at what point will you change what you do? At what point are you awake enough to not be happy and fooled or satisfied with pretty pictures alone? At what point do you feel enough to not want to just go along but find passion which also contributes to well being the earth - What will it take to want to leave a world for your grandchildren that can still be inhabited?

At what point is it not just about YOUR better life and health, or YOUR family's property and vacation - but at which point do you care enough to include the larger you in who you are?

Because, between spiritual realization and scientific discoveries - we ARE all connected - it is all one.

Now is that what had popped into my head earlier? No, but I'll work with it.

Chicks and Weeds - Integrated Gardening blog

 OK - Chicken order mailed out - waiting to get their reply (all orders in writing, fully paid - snail mail only) - AND - if all goes well, chickens will be send April 24, that leaves a month to get ready.

On March 12 - I was given the ok to use a parcel of land and an old, delapidated greenhouse to start a project I lovingly call: Chicks and Weeds. It is an integrated gardening project. The folks living on this property have an acre of gardenspace, but are no longer able to work there. It is pretty back-breaking work, even if you love it, and then  you have a full schedule on top of it.
I am using "The small scale Poultry Flock as a guide, some online information and in 2 days I will be going to check out how someone here in the community has handled various issues about keeping chickens.

Why keep chickens:
to get eggs from truly free ranging chickens,
to get the soil worked by them as well as fertilized,
to keep the bugs out of the orchard.

to potentially have a well functioning healthy animal/plant unit that can feed a family independent of being on the net.

Here is what now needs to be accomplished

Use the existing structure to construct a chicken house.
Have a space where the birde and be outside safely.
Build a chicken brooder

Get help
Check out my friend's chicken house
Find suppliers - equipment, feed etc

This is the old greenhouse - to be made into an area where the chickens will live