True stories of a small flock of remarkable individuals -- and other critters.



Friday, February 11, 2011

KIDS AND CHICKENS


Every kid...so totally unique.
Abby, here, passionately embraces Nature.
From the tiniest, creepiest --


-- to the hugest enormousest.


In my back yard, Abby has her own personal mission:
to rearrange the chickens.
Pigeon goes here...


Not sure where Lil'White should go...


Because she's speedy and deliberate, Abby's the only one of us who's able to catch fleet-footed Daisy.
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

George, however, is so patient that Daisy steps right onto his hand.


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At my friend Trish's house, while she and I chatted on the lawn, 


her son Chris perched a rooster on his head and ran loops around the yard. 


Chris is a teenager now, and will be horrified to read this, but...  sorry, Chris -- that joyous image is forever etched in my memory.
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 


Lil'White has been Sarah's favorite from the beginning.
Sarah tenderly scoops her up,





and gazes lovingly into those vapid little eyes.
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .    


Amanda came to visit, expressly to meet the chickens.
Pigeon seemed very curious, and followed Amanda all around.
So Amanda stopped and offered Pigeon some grass.  The two of them had a long, long conversation....


I wonder if it was Amanda's polka-dotty swimsuit that intrigued Pigeon so... 




.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 

I've been doing some chicken-talks lately, and have come to look forward to chatting with the older folks at these events.   They're so happy to tell me of their favorite childhood chickens.  One woman told me she dressed hers up in a bonnet and wheeled it around in a baby carriage.   
Another lady innocently explained how she and her siblings made pull-toys out of their beloved hens:  
you just tie a string around a bit of bread, and then feed it....

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27 comments:

  1. Maura @ Kisiwa Creek PhotographyFebruary 11, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    Lauren this was SO MUCH FUN! I love your illustrations and your photo's and of course your writing...heck I love it all! I think my favorite is the one of Pigeon picturing herself with polka dots...how cute. You made me start the day off with a laugh...THANKS!
    I hope your day is a happy one too.
    Maura :)

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    Hello! My Mom Elizabeth is facebook friends with you and I'm Briana. I love your blog and drawings are amazing! I would love it if you would follow my blog http://littlechicksinwestport.blogspot.com

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  3. PhyllisFebruary 11, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    Hi Lauren,

    I just discovered you yesterday and was happy to see a new post. I was bored at work yesterday and read your blog from the very beginning. I am now a follower.

    And how horrible to let a chicken swallow bread and then pull it around :( But, it could have been worse for the chicken I guess.

    Looking forward to your cute stories :)

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  4. Nancy K.February 11, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    I am amazed at how friendly your chickens are! Are they familiar with these kids? OMG ~ Pigeon with her crush on the polka-dot swimsuit is just TOO cute!

    I think I'll go out and open the barn door and see if my chickens will set foot outside today. They do NOT like snow!

    ;-)

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  5. TexWisGirlFebruary 11, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    Adorable.

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  6. RebeccaFebruary 11, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Fun post! Abby reminds me of my youngest daughter-always organizing and rearranging.. As always, I love your blog ,drawings and flock!

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  7. Content in a CottageFebruary 11, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    Such a wonderful post today. You are the only person I know with a special-needs chicken. I love your illustrations and you are so wonderful to share them with us.

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  8. helenFebruary 11, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    Another wonderful story to wake up to - thanks Lauren!

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  9. vox8February 11, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    My son was obsessed with moving the chickens around also. We called it his Chicken Relocation Program.

    He is 4, I asked him why he had to move the chickens around and he said "To be with friends"

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  10. CarriFebruary 11, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    So cute! Chickens are such great pets, aren't they?
    I could have done without the spider picture, though.

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  11. From Beyond My Kitchen WindowFebruary 11, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    Another wonderful post to put a smile on my face. Great photos of the children enjoying the hens.

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  12. JoanFebruary 11, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    I love your way with words. Your stories and pics about your chickens make me chuckle. I have a lame part-time house chicken named Lulu that I love dearly. Chickens really get in your blood. Check out my pics of Lulu on my blog: http://mountaingardengleanings.blogspot.com/

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  13. panthercreekcottageFebruary 12, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    Chickens were always a part of children's lives. And I remember how comical they really can be. Marmalade was the favorite. But Foghorn, he scared the begebees out of us all. Your blog is so dear, fun and inspiring, and I am curious to see what happens next. Thanks.

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  14. I'm gonna tell Mom!February 12, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    I love kids and chickens. I've made some good friends with the children in the neighborhood who have stopped by to visit the girls and check for eggs. I have a cute picture on my Facebook page of the little guy next door having a visit with the ladies. Would you be my Facebook friend if I sent you an "invite"?
    Bonnie Jo

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  15. UnknownFebruary 13, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    Bonnie Jo, Please send me a FB invite!
    You can also click my FB button on this site, and that'll get you to my FB page.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Kim CampbellFebruary 13, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    I just adore your blog!

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  17. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    Greetings from Southern California.

    I added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit mine and become a follower if you want to.

    God Bless You, ~Ron

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  18. JoanFebruary 14, 2011 at 1:57 PM

    Lauren, thanks for your comments on my sweetie and for visiting my blog. I think it is more a hip problem than a foot problem for Lulu. She favours that leg and will often hold it in the air and hops/flutters to move faster. I think these "special " girls really add to our life and are worth their weight in gold.

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  19. Ann Marie DiVecchiaFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    I just love your blog!!!! These little stories are hysterical. Here's a chicken story. My mom grew up in Italy during and after WWII. She and her sister didn't have any dolls to play with, so they draped a towel on the head of one of their chickens and pretended she was a bride.

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  20. UnknownFebruary 19, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    Oh, so funny and adorable! A friend's daughter put a "leash" around her chickens neck and the chicken happily followed her around! But my favorite thing is an image I've saved in my mind (couldn't get the camera fast enough)...

    My then 5 year old daughter, got up early in the AM as the sun was rising - dressed in a yellow and red satin night gown, donned her multi striped sweater and red rubber boots - and walked around the yard with a chicken tucked under her arm talking to it! What a true farm girl! Too bad I caught sight at the end of it!

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  21. fee @ chipper nellyFebruary 19, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    Hi Lauren,
    Lovely blog, my OH Cleggy found you (he's chicken obsessed!). We incubated 4 eggs with our kids last spring (3 cockerels, 1 hen..gutted!) and now have 4 Orpington Ladies and recently 2 rescue hens. They've been so entertaining and the best 'pets' ever.
    We put all the girls together for the first time today - think you'd like my blog which frequently features a chicken update!
    www.chippernelly.blogspot.com)
    Was meant to be all about my business but the chickens are very popular!!
    thanks for sharing, fee x

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  22. littlekarstarFebruary 20, 2011 at 10:27 PM

    LOL what a great post! So glad to have found your blog and fellow crazy flock keepers :)

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  23. Mom LFebruary 23, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    Just hopped here from another blog - love this!!! Your photos and drawings are wonderful - and I can't stop thinking about a chicken pull-toy!!! Your kids look like they're wonderful youngsters, the way they gently treat their animals.

    Nancy in Iowa

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  24. JeneanFebruary 26, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    Hi Lauren,

    I have a friend here in sunny SoCal that is a friend of yours and suggested your blog...Martha...glad she did!

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  25. Carrie and JustinMarch 22, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    What a great blog post. I love the memories and drawings, along with the photos. Ahh, to see the world through your eyes...

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  26. AnonymousMay 26, 2011 at 11:38 PM

    This is a beautiful story... I would love to own hens and I stumbled upon your site. I started from the beginning and didn't stop until I reached the end. Your story is moving and inspiring. I loved all of it, from the moments that made me laugh to the moments that made me want to burst into tears. I feel that you captured the perfect essence of your experiences to share. Thank you.

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  27. SomerzbyFebruary 1, 2017 at 8:52 PM

    Funny and lovely, it's so good for our kids to get outside and play with animals and learn all about nature, very lovely post.

    ReplyDelete

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