If you want to start a homestead or just start living more self-sustainably, a great place to start is by keeping some chickens. They are the easiest livestock to care for and are relatively inexpensive. Just feed and water them and you will be entertained for hours! Our chickens are free-range, meaning they are allowed to roam freely on the property. Chickens won't stray. They stay close by and go right back into their coop on their own when it gets dark. I believe that free-range chickens are the healthiest. They were made to scratch in the dirt and peck at leaves and bugs. We had one rooster that ate a frog and another that ate a mouse!
We have butchered three roosters so far. It was the best tasting meat we ever had! I felt some guilt over having them killed, but I try to remember that we are maintaining a working mini-farm, not a zoo. It can be hard though, but I try not to get too attached. Some of the egg layers we know will be around as long as they are laying eggs. They lay eggs regularly for about two years. Once they stop, some may end up in the freezer. After two years they are probably only good for soup. A few of the hens will live their entire life here even after their egg-laying years are over. I have a few favourites.
This Spring we acquired a funny little chicken. She appeared to be a cross between a cochin and a Polish crested. She was low on the pecking order and was often picked on by the older hens. For this reason, I kind of took her under my wing, so to speak. I gave her the name Fifi. She had a fluff ball on top of her head which reminded me of a poodle, so I thought she should have a poodle name. Because I carried her around a lot, she got quite used to me and would let me pick her up whenever I wanted.
One day last week I went out in the yard and discovered Fifi's little body laying limply next to the new dog. This was the eighth chicken the dog killed. I felt bad about the first seven, but cried and mourned for this one. "Why Fifi?!", I yelled to God. There were 23 other chickens the dog could have got. Why my beautiful Fifi? The Lord knew that little chicken was special to me, and I couldn't help but think that He could have intervened and kept her out of the dog's reach.
Throughout my spiritual journey, this thought has always haunted me. Why do sad things that can be prevented have to happen? Why doesn't He stop it from happening? It has always seemed mean to me when He has the power to do anything.
I know I must be growing because I didn't stay angry and question God for days like I would have in the past. He simply says to trust Him. I believe when He takes something or withholds something, he will give us something back. Maybe something better. Something that will help our hearts to heal. I don't know just what He's goint to do, or when, but I do know He's going to give me a special gift to help replace the loss I feel regarding Fifi. Isn't God good?
2 comments:
I love the saying "God gives and He takes away" because we know that unfortunately we lose people and animals we love but He is SO good even through all of it. I'm so proud of you, Hope. And I love your little farm!! You guys have come a long way with it and it's awesome! I'll be there if the rapture doesn't happen, haha!!
Amen...I always tell my daughters that yes, bad things happen to good people, sad things, things our human minds just can't explain...but we can have the Peace that surpasses our human understanding like it says in Philippians, and sometimes it is just due to sin. Plain ole sin which results in bad consequences. Fifi was so cute (according to the ballerina! lol...)....that bad ole sinner dog...lol....killing a cute chicken! But...like you said, God might turn this into something we can't even imagine. And, do you still have the dog?
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