Edith

January of 2021 brought not only severely low temperatures but also a tremendous amount of snow. This meant that for several weeks before the enclosure could be shoveled enough to allow them to move around safely, my (rescue) hens had to be “couped up” in their henhouse without going outside. This does lead to frustration for all the girls and, sadly, hen-pecking. One morning I noticed that the others had begun picking on Edith and injuring her. I was able to intercede and took her inside my house to clean her up and heal her. This meant keeping her inside until the snow melted so she could rejoin her flock.

Edith, a gentle Leghorn, had a very posh bird cage in the dogs’ mudroom where she happily clucked each day for the warm oatmeal I would serve her and for her daily “romps” across the mudroom floor! She would cluck softly to me as I held her and offered companionship.

Sweet Edith has since been integrated back to her flock. In doing so, I had to use my evaluation skills, & intuition and learn to “think like a chicken” in order to successfully reunite them.

Edith’s lessons to me… my understanding of chickens and how they manage their families, their ability to connect to a human in a trusting way, Edith’s desire for gentleness… and oatmeal!