Saturday, April 19, 2008

Pecking order

To everything there is order. Sometimes the result of the order is not a pretty one. In regards to chickens they too have order, a pecking order. Now I don't know a lot about chickens. I know that they are fiesty, they are noisy, and I have heard that they peck the smallest one off, even to it's death! I have never encountered such an ordeal until yesterday when Katie and I took the boys to Wheeler Farm.

We got to the chicken coop and were watching the chickens and roosters when all of the sudden a smaller chicken stretched his little feather plucked neck out. Investigating further, the little fella had not just a few feathers missing, but a whole coat of them. His little wing was nothing but bare bone. He had gashes on his back, and was the lone chicken in the coop. It was obvious he was at the bottom (or should I say top) of the pecking order.

I found it to be a sad sight. It made me think about my children. Hoping that they weren't at the bottom of the pecking order. And if they weren't, would they be the ones doing the pecking. A lesson visually put into perspective for me and one that I hope I can teach my children.

On a happier note: We had a great time at Wheeler Farm. We were hoping to milk a cow, but they only do it at 5 p.m.

3 comments:

Jon and Melissa said...

Jon once found himself at the bottom of the pecking order...literally. He was cornered by a rooster when he was 7 and almost pecked to death - at least that is how he tells the story. Poor chicken, poor Jon.

The Haley Family said...

So I hope you don't mind that I read your blog! I think we have met...maybe once? Sarah was telling me all about your blog so I check it often.

I love this post...pecking order...how true it is! humans are no exception...especially children!

Rochelle said...

I find myself wondering all the time about pecking order when it comes to my kids. I don't want them to be the pecking on anyone nor do I want them to get pecked themselves! How do you teach your kids be assertive and stand up for themselves without it being too much and they get labled as the bossy or mean one. (Like me!) There is a fine line there...really fine.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...