Chicken Coop Chronicles #2
Allow me to first say, I am just tickled pink that many of you I’ve shared this new journey with are wanting to share it with me. Welcome! Here’s the thing about writing and telling a good story; you can pause life for a moment and be somewhere else feeling all the feels, hopefully, catching all the thrills and just like that, your perception can shift. As we start this journey together, yes, I’m very aware that I’ll be doing all the work while you get to sit back and read, giggle, ROTFL, or even have a cry with me (Lord, may I endure). I am hopeful that you also experience your own personal challenge that takes you totally out of your comfort zone and traditional way of life to transform your mindset to, “Send ME!” only to be privy to say, “I would have never thought, God had this in store for me.” I deeply hope my story ignites something new within you, that only God Himself can lead you to.
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
Books, Blogs, Media are all meant to inform, entertain, and prepare the reader for what is to come. When media, news, stories are distorted, we are challenged with what to trust. What to B-LEAVE! What to follow. So, know upfront that I will not be using any AI assistance other than this computer device, personally taken photos and videos, and occasional meme’s that may have been AI Generated from the World Wide Web, but you can trust that TUT is authentic. 
Story-
The crowing has continued, on some days starting earlier than my preference. Because I have yet to feel empowered enough to go back into the coop to face Victor, Graham, the Coop Engineer, has graciously agreed to gather the eggs out of my comfort reach. Upon Graham’s first entrance, his confidence preceded him. Graham was emphatically wanting to prove I was being a scaredy cat and that Victor was about to learn his chicken place. Until the second time Graham entered the coop. Not sure where Victor got his licks in on Graham but I do know that he was studying to make his move. 
While on other fronts, the wild rooster has found his way to my yard. Now this is unacceptable. Ester originally said two hens and a rooster. Now I have four hens and two roosters to manage??? 
When Reggie, the name given to him by some of my neighbors who’s been anxiously trying to catch him, stands on my fence crowing like he owns the place, I become furious. He and Victor crow at each other alllllll day long. Eventually, Reggie finds himself in front of the coop eating my grass or whatever food I may have not picked up and given to the flock. Last night, I dreamt about trapping him in a cage. Reggie, LEAVE.
Is he trying to get up under my skin…
Operation Training-
Victor has no favorites other than Ester, his previous caretaker; 
who came across the street, picked him up and said, “You don’t fight with LaShonda. This is your new owner.” Call me crazy, but with my own eyes, this rooster pulled his head back away from me and shook his head “No.” Oh. Ok. We don’t have to be friends. Let’s see how you respond when your manna stop falling from the sky (blueberries, hard worm treats, garden grass, apples, and zucchini). For three days, I stayed in the house monitoring their behaviors from the window, their water, and food intake. Throughout the day, they all gathered at the door waiting. “Is she coming?” That’s what I assumed they were thinking. Victor crowed. But the strangest thing begin taking place. The crows slowed down throughout the night. His crows went from starting at 2:19am to starting at 4:30ish (am) and on the hour until after 7am. Thanks Vic for the two hours of sleep! Now my hope is that he’s the perfect alarm clock for my neighbors who hit the snooze button several times before getting up to prepare for work. Here’s me crossing my fingers.
When Graham arrived on the third day to gather eggs, 15 eggs were retrieved. Nice job Hens! Treats were reestablished. 
Operation Extend Coop-
Experimenting with expectations provides data I can use to determine what works. I’m in search of an amenable, clean system; which is why the Coop Engineer has suggested to add on an extension to give me more access. More access inside the coop without anxiety equates to a comfortable reach for me and a regularly clean coop. I don’t intend to become friends with Victor anytime soon but I’m working on it. Gary Chapman, the author of the 5 Love Languages, and my colleague Laurel Shaler wrote a book called Loving Adopted Children Well: A 5 Love Language Approach (2024), which highlighted the primary focus when adopting children: to make them feel safe, emotionally and physically secure through making time. The authors further discuss how it is essential to remind yourself what you know about love when you are learning children cues during times when you don’t feel the love. Yeah, I know children and animals are not quite the same, but aren’t they? Animalistic tendencies we all have, an instinctual survivor nature within. The thing about love is that it can be prickly but not forever. Chapman and Shaler (2024) reminds us that it is God who orchestrated the miracle of adoption and what we know must outweigh how we feel.
Adopted Chickens-
While Mary and Pomela seem to love their new home: jumping on top of the feeders hoping from one feeder to the next acting like BeBe’s kids, Maria and Betty appear to be more reserved: staying under the coop only coming out when manna is dropping from the sky or during gathering time. And Victor is bringing the heat. Chapman and Shaler (2024) also shared that adoption disrupts attachment. I noted this concept in my first chronicle understanding that Victor’s norm has shifted. Quality time and definitely more patience will position me adequately. But first, the extension please.
Book Referenced:
Chapman, G., & Shaler, L. (2024). Loving Adopted Children Well: A 5 Love Languages® Approach. Illinois: Northfield Publishing.
Written by: Dr. Fuller
