Sunday, July 13, 2014

They know my voice

I've been letting Mama Hen roam loose for most of the daylight hours.  So far, she hasn't lost a chick.  When I first gave them some freedom I was apprehensive, and honestly assumed that a few of them would perish.  So far, so good.  The chicks are old enough at this point that I would really feel terrible if something happened to any of them.  They've come so far!  And yet I can't bring myself to keep them confined in their tiny pen.  

I've noticed that the hen always keeps the babies near some sort of cover:  tomato plants, evergreen trees... something they could run under if danger threatened.  This isn't because she has a high IQ; it's instinct.  One of the chief predators during daylight hours is the hawk.  Obviously, the hen was somehow born (hatched?) knowing this, and stays near cover.


All my chickens know me:  When I let the hens (and rooster) out each afternoon, I stand right by the gate, and they aren't afraid to pass by me.  If Cliff, or anybody else, stands beside me there, they refuse to exit the pen.  And now even the baby chicks know my voice.  When they hear me talking, they, along with their mother, come running.  They even know where I keep the chicken scratch, which chickens consider a treat.  If I say nothing, but walk over to the barrel where the scratch is kept, they come running, unless somebody else is nearby.  

My cows are the same way:  They know me, and I can pet them, but nobody else can get too close.  They know my voice.  I once raised a few baby lambs.  They also knew my voice, and would come running when I called.  It reminds me of a Bible verse.

My sheep know My voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  John 10:27

6 comments:

  1. I thought of the same Bible verse, Donna!

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  2. They not only know you and your voice, but they associate you with GOOD things. :)

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  3. How adorable those little chicks are. That mama surely does have her hands full watching over all of them.

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  4. That same verse came to mind as I was reading this.

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  5. They know you because you feed them too.

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  6. We have cows that come up to be rubbed. One ol' Herford in particular really likes her neck scratched.

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