This morning, Bailey and Wyatt helped me visit the school where I have been serving as a poultry mentor. Last Spring, I met this wonderful teacher Paula, who works with a preschool program where teh youth learn by doing. They have an amazing art studio, books, and so much more. Outside, the youth and their families help in a garden. They plant, bless the soil and the remember their interconnectedness to it, and make snacks like homegrown fresh salads with homemade dressings. When I met Miss Paula, she was hoping to raise chickens, and maybe someday goats as well. We talked, and agreed it was best to begin with chickens. They had eggs in an incubator, though only one hatched. They got the little Ameraucauna chick a friend- a blue Cochin- and they grew up together. The families and some wonderful volunteers at Home Depot built a coop together. Finally, yesterday they were ready.
A friend, Mai Tang, donated a Rhode Island Red to help get the children started. The Ameraucauna had turned out to be a roo, so they had quite an unmatched set. Wyatt had said he would donate a female who like to sit on eggs, perhaps a Phoenix, as she would come already bred to sit on her first eggs there. Then he walked out this morning and changed his mind.
He loaded up three crates, one with the donated bird, one with Carmina, a black hen whose favorite pastime is sitting on eggs, and one other. Olympia, the baby pygmy goat rode in Wyatt's lap so Bailey could study a bit for her afternoon interview at th regional science fair. You can see the chickens in their crates behind her.
Olympia was a huge hit! They had great questions about what she ate, and enjoyed petting and holding the lead of little Olympia. She also really liked the children and their teacher!
Wyatt took out the Rhode Island Red first. He explained she can be rather bossy, but that a friend of ours donated her so that they could have a good layer to get things going in the pen. They asked him about what kind of treats she would like, and her breed and other poultry facts.
He even let her roam a bit with the children, then he and Bailey caught her so she could get ready to move into her coop.
Wyatt showed eggs, and which color and type come from which breed. This will be very important for the children, because the other bird he brought them was an Ameraucauna hen. He thought it a small gesture to bring them a laying Ameraucauna, but there was such excitement in return for them now having a set- a roo and a hen- of the same breed. And they should know which eggs to let Carmina hatch out too, so they will have proper babies!
While some of the little ones played with Bailey and Olympia for a few more moments, Wyatt helped a few other remove the young choickens they had raised from their temporary pen.
That's Wyatt's rear end and feet you see. The chicldren really seemed to like learning from the children.
The chickens got a quick pet, then headed off to the new pen.
Wyatt helped the children settle chickens into special nesting boxes, and they let them get a good look at the new coop.
Then they carried the last in, and answered questions about where things might be best placed, and how to watch the chickens to make sure things were going well..
The children did a wonderful job!
And the Rhode Island Red settled right in to having a dirt bath!
The young chickens got a good look at their new friends, and the children of the class discussed making the roo and the Ameraucauna hen a chicken wedding cake!
On the way home, Wyatt was so happy to know that his selection of an Ameraucauna hen for giving to the class, a gift from his own heart, had meant so much to the group. He can't wait to go back and see the children.
Wyatt and I cut lettuce from our greenhouse, and enjoyed a beautiful salad for lunch while Bailey was off at science fair interviews. We even shared the first strawberries of the season! Delicious. Wyatt is still so touched that the gift he gave meant so much. You get what you give in this world. I hope we all learn that from our children.
Have a wonderful day, everyone, and enjoy the sweetness of life and the joy of sharing woth others. Hugs to all!
I am do happy-and proud of what both of the children are giving back to the community. After all the negative treatments they have experienced these past few weeks from people who should know better, I am so happy to see that their inner sense of what is not only right but also important in their worlds! Bailey, Wyatt, and "Momma"- you are all incredible!
ReplyDeleteThat's really so sweet and supportive. I am so thankful that they drive joy from these things, and I know the children they touch feel the joy and will do the same in their own lives. It is such a great program! I feel blessed each time I work with them to see the empowerment and the individual responsibility- each of them does their part. So glad to be involved!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Erin! We try to do things like this, but haven't done it with animals yet. We cook a big meal and feed the women and children at the Gospel Rescue Mission every year and collect toys for the kids. I love to see the look on my children's faces when they see the joy it brings those kids who, otherwise, wouldn't have a Christmas. We used to have a group in our homeschool group called Little Women's Club and we did service projects all year...it was the most amazing group I've ever been a part of and really shaped and molded my older girls to look outside of themselves and not be so self centered.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing a great job with your kiddos and I'm so glad we've become friends through these silly little chickens!
Thanks, Connie! You really do get what you give, I love watching the kids dream up new ways to give back and involve others. The Gospel Rescue Mission does great things, would love to be involved. The animals just became another outlet because of my involvement with the Farmers' markets. So thankful to have positive folks like you in our lives!
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