I want to sit down and write up a fancy five on a Friday post with pretty pictures and helpful links but I just don’t have it in me today. All is fine overall, but we’re still adjusting to our fall schedule and while there are many aspects to it I really like, I haven’t yet found my rhythm for blogging (or grocery shopping or working out or being social). But it will come! …or I’ll just go through this fall season like a bull rider, barely holding on but screaming wahoooo, as I am determined to keep calm and savor.
Feathers, Feelings, and Surprise Roos
In other news, I cried yesterday. Over chickens. Roosters to be specific. Yes, that’s plural. The chicks are 12 weeks old and David and I thought we heard an infantile attempt at a crow over the past week, which led me down a rabbit hole and long story short, I’m fairly certain two of our pullets are actually cockerels.
This is pretty darn sad for me because it means we can’t keep both Duck and Nugget. And David was right; we should have held off of naming them. We are waiting a few weeks to be certain, but then will go about finding good homes. Anyone in need of a sweet, beautiful rooster?
Hold up, hold up… I cried? Yes, yes I did. And as I was explaining it to David I tapped into some deeper psychological stuff like how the need to care for things is deep rooted in me. Call me a broody hen if we want to stick with chicken terms, but even though it tires me out at times, I’m hardwired to care for others. That’s why I love being a wife, a mom, a dog mom, etc. It’s why I probably would have kept having more babies for ever. I like to be needed.
I know I can’t fully take this on as my whole identity, and I’m working on that. By extending my need to care for others to dogs, chickens, and plants. Ha 😉 But I know successful mothering will mean my babies will grow, leave the nest, and thrive in their own lives. There’s proof of that development now as we get into the teen years and it’s both incredible to watch them become more confident and independent and bittersweet.
But back to the chickens. I’m attached. And knowing that two of the sweet chicks we’ve been cuddling and caring for and loving on will most likely be having to leave us makes me sad. So, tears. Please tell me you need a rooster.
Not the rooster. This is BFG, an Easter Egger that best stay a hen.
.
Ok, chicken trauma successfully shared. What else is happening?
Weekend plans? Sure!
So today we have a neighborhood homeschool class on geology and a nature walk. Did we luck out with a great neighborhood or what? It also serves as social time for us moms, which is really nice. Tomorrow the girls have their first soccer games of the season which is great! But we have to split because they’re at the same time which is a bummer. Then we are whisking the kids away for the night to go to the Virginia Tech game, which should be a blast! And Sunday, well, I’m really hoping to do some food prep to better set me up for the next week.
How is your entry into September going? Smooth sailing or like the rodeo bull rider? Somewhere in between? Any deep phycological revelations of your own lately?
Laura says
Sorry for the news. I don’t actually understand what it means (“two of our pullets are actually cockerels”- that’s not my language, ha!) but sorry you have to send off your roosters. But why do you have to send them off? Asking because I have no clue about chickens and roosters.
All I can say is thank goodness my boys wanted a break from soccer and that we are sports free right now. My new position is amazing but just about every minute from when I leave at 6:45 until when I get home at 4 is filled from it. I get into work about 20 minutes early, dressed in workout clothes, and knock out a 15ish minute strength training session in my office (which is huge and clean, and all my own, for the first time ever). I keep all my chef wear at school, and I’m loving the sensation of wearing a “uniform” every day, as it has so simplified things. The boys are walking home this year which is wonderful as that simplifies things; they are already home by the time I get home. Dinner, lunches, and a shower and then most weekdays I hit my studies around 6 until 8 pm. My classes- Weight Management and Food Cultures Around the World are fascinating, and I wish I had the time I had back when I got my bachelor’s to dedicate to it. That gives me maybe an hour of free time most weekdays. But then it’s worth it if I can be free of all school stuff for the weekends. Fall and Halloween thrifting Saturday mornings is my new therapy, HA. Happy Friday!!!
Laura says
Actually, the rooster thing makes sense now that I think about it as they are all together, ha! Do people normally only have roosters to breed more chicks? Maybe that is your calling… 🙂
Monica says
Your analogy of the rodeo bill rider is me right now!! But I’m trying to enjoy this season as I know it will pass and then I’ll miss it (maybe??☺️) I’m craving a good vacation/adventure, but having a hard time with where to go since we got a puppy and feel guilty asking other people to watch her at this time.
Brittany Dixon says
I remember that puppy phase! I feel like it was a year before I got comfortable passing her off without worrying she’d destroy someone’s home. But then you get through it and it’s all worth it 🙂
Joanna says
Haha, I laughed at that too because it’s me as well, holding on but trying to enjoy these ages/stages because it will go by fast. I’m also interested if you can explain why you are looking for new homes. Have no idea about having chickens. Would love if you can share a post on the how to’s/where to start on having chickens. I’m thinking about it since we’ll have the space for it when we move but also think it might be way over my capabilities lol!
Dionne M King says
Can you explain why you can’t have roosters with hens? This is new territory for me – a city gal. I am sorry you are sad! Fall mom vibes, watching our babies grow. Take care!
Brittany Dixon says
I did not do a good job of explaining it! So technically we aren’t allowed to have roosters in our neighborhood, so that’s one issue. The second, is that you need to have 8-10 hens per rooster so if we have 2 roosters and were allowed to keep them, we wouldn’t be able to because of the low ratio. I’d have to talk David into building another coop and getting 10 more hens. Hmm… not a bad idea 😉
Ashley says
I know someone who keeps a rooster in town and uses a crow collar to stop him from crowing, so you could probably keep one that way. I get the need to care for things, but growing up in Iowa, I feel like Nugget could become nuggets, if you can’t keep him.
Brittany Dixon says
I don’t think I have the heart to use a crow collar on them. I’m still staying optimistic I can find him a good home- fingers crossed!