Beatrice is Broody
Chickens remind us that life is simple and good
Beatrice is broody.
“Broody” is what you call a mama hen who wants to sit on eggs and hatch herself some babies. Don't pretend you can’t relate!
When I went into the coop to gather eggs one recent morning, Beatrice eyed me suspiciously from where she sat, feathers fluffed, in the nesting box. When I stepped toward her, she made a small growling sound and opened her beak in my direction. She knew what I wanted, and she wasn’t giving up her wannabe egg-babies without a fight. Never mind that there’s no rooster in the flock, so babies are unlikely no matter how long she sits.
I’m used to her threats. I covered my hand with my sleeve to protect it from her pecking and reached beneath her warm feathers to extract four eggs. I gave her a handful of scratch as a peace offering, and she nibbled at it without taking her eyes off me.
Chickens remind us that life is simple and good.
Years ago, when our oldest daughter, then 12-year-old Kateri, was in charge of the coop, we had a hen named Regina who went broody. We let her sit on the eggs she gathered, and three weeks later, she hatched a little family of fluffy babies on the feast of the Assumption.
Of course Regina did that.
After the babies hatched, Kateri threw a baby shower for the hens.
Of course Kateri did that.
Every morning, when I let the girls out of their coop for the day, they scramble into their pen with enthusiasm.
“Don’t forget,” I tell them as I gather the eggs, “to be kind and encourage one another.”
I toss them some crusts of stale bread. “Don’t forget,” I tell them as they squabble over the treats, “God made you for goodness.”
Life is simple and good. Be kind and encourage one another. God made you for goodness.
Don’t forget.
More reading:
Messy, Beautiful: Thoughts After 25 Years of Homeschooling
3 Benefits of Breaking Up With Instagram
What to Do if You Don’t Trust God
More listening:
Tired? How to Get the Break You Need