Life on the homestead is never boring when you share it with a bunch of feathered philosophers. My chickens may not speak English (though they definitely yell like they do), but this week, they delivered some serious wisdom wrapped in beaks and fluff. Here’s what I learned from the girls, especially Louise.
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1. “If You Don’t Feel Safe, Find Your Bucket.”
Meet Louise. She’s our pint-sized powder keg with trust issues and the attitude of a bouncer at a speakeasy. We’ve kept her inside due to a dog attack (not one of our boys!) This week, Louise found safety inside an old five-gallon bucket, jumping right into it and nesting like it was her personal fortress of solitude.
Anytime chaos broke out in the house (which, let’s be real, is daily), Louise would make a beeline for that bucket like it was the last lifeboat on the Titanic. Pecking order dispute (with the boys)? Bucket. Loud dog bark? Bucket. Suspicious AC noise? Bucket.
🧠 The Lesson:
We all need a “bucket.” A safe space to duck into when life gets loud. Boundaries aren’t weakness. They’re wisdom in a world that clucks too much.
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2. “The Dust Bath Is Sacred, Act Accordingly.”
Watching the flock flop around like possessed puppets in their dust patch is one of the greatest joys in life. And don’t you dare interrupt the ritual! One of the girls squawked at me like I’d insulted her entire lineage just for walking too close!
🧠 The Lesson:
Self-care looks weird to outsiders. Do it anyway. Don’t let anyone mess with your dust bath time.
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3. “Yell Loud Enough, and Someone Will Bring Snacks.”
There’s always that one hen who starts the chorus every time she sees me near the garden. It starts with a little “bok” and ends with full-blown barnyard opera until I cave and bring out the scraps (mostly dill and sweet Annie.) They’ve learned that volume equals value.
🧠 The Lesson:
Advocate for yourself. Be loud about what you need. Bonus points if you’re charming while you do it!
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4. “You Can’t Please Every Chicken.”
New fancy nesting straw? Rejected. Cleaned the coop? Side-eye from half the flock. Moved the water bowl? Chaos. Chickens have opinions, and most of them are rude.
🧠 The Lesson:
Do your best and move on. Not everyone’s going to appreciate your effort, and that’s fine. The egg still gets laid.
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5. “The Ones You Least Expect Are Watching Closely.” (turtle 🐢 time)
While Louise was in her bucket and the drama kings were mid-squabble, I caught my perfect little box turtle, Professor X, quietly watching my every move from his enclosure. It was subtle, sweet, and sobering.
🧠 The Lesson:
Someone’s learning from your calm. You might be someone else’s role model, be the kind of human your turtle thinks you are.
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🧺 Final Thought:
Life doesn’t always come with profound books or grand sermons. Sometimes, it comes with feathers, clucks, and a hen named Louise hiding in a bucket.
Yard 2 Yield! 