This is a Frizzle! A curley feathered chicken. It's poor companion may also be a frizzle but it's hard to tell when half it's feathers are missing, poor thing!
Above: the onions were planted last November and harvested recently although we've been harvesting them right along since February. Also--have you ever seen a grey chicken? Most of my friends have not so thought I'd post it as an anomoly.
I think I'm beginning to understand my monsters. Although they have many names like anger, rage, jealously, righteous indignation, etc., I realize they can all come under one catagory: Control. When I don't feel I have control over a person or situation, my monsters break the lock on their cage and come out in full force!
Of course, one never has complete control over anything in life and I should know this. Accepting it is something else. There are some parts of my life in which I can accept this; but obviously I haven't yet been able to transfer that feeling to all parts of my life.
However, I think just this much understanding helps. I may only have scratched the surface. Did it begin when I was molested by my father as a young girl? Losing trust in a parent you felt would protect you is certainly a control issue.
Recently we were in charge of taking care of a neighbor's animals. One of the baby goats is not quite right and they even said if we couldn't get it to feed from the bottle, not to worry about it. My instinctive reaction was that this baby WOULD eat and it would NOT die while I was in charge! I'd force feed the little thing if it killed him!
Looking back, what a ridiculous thought! How very little control was actually ever in my hands! Almost none at all! I certainly could feed but life and death was out of my hands/control. I could only do my part--control what I could or--as in the serenity prayer--accept the things I couldn't change, change the things I could--but some times I don't always have the wisdom to know the difference.
A tragedy has just befallen us. Our dog, Jake, just got into the chicken room with the baby chicks and destroyed the better part of our little flock. I must accept that I can't change Jake and his determination to get to these critters, and now I need to see what we can do ro save and protect the rest.
Peace!
Carol
1 comment:
Hi Carol,
Sorry to hear Jake is an unrepentant chicken killer.
Have you considered a control collar for Jake?
http://www.radiofence.com/dog-fences/index.htm
Sometimes control can be achieved by taking a different approach.
You have a control collar. Put it on him, and place him along with a leash, in a large pen with a chicken. If he goes toward it say no and press the button. While still on the leash, move him closer toward the chicken. If he makes a move toward it command no and press the shock button. He'll find a way around barriers, but he still wants to please his master. Teach him that it is not acceptable behavior. He's smart, he'll get the message.
Cheers,
Lloyd
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