Cooping it all together
- Adam Rudy
- Jul 3, 2022
- 4 min read
While we aren't a fully functioning farm, we fancy being called a farm. We have a few acres of land and chickens and turkeys. Not sure if it qualifies for the "farm" title, but we don't mind. Regardless, we do have two lovely flocks of birdies, and they do need care.
Before meeting Josh, my goal was a lovely apartment in a fun, downtown city scene. But honestly, I didn't know what other things life could bring. So the first time Josh showed me a chicken, I was at least 5 feet away. And that was my safe distance.
That's not the case today. Today I rock my Dickies overalls, a pair of work boots, a solid pair of work gloves, and my pair of prescription safety glasses. I ride gallantly on my noble steed, our trusty riding lawn mower. And when I see those birdies, I scream in the most flamboyant way I can, "HEY, GIIIIIRLS, come see me!" All while being swarmed by happy, flappy hens.
I'll admit it: this way of life was never in the realm of possibility for me.
But it works for me. The world here is a bit quieter. Of course, the chaos of life still exists, but things sure are quiet by 8 pm in the town!
I've learned to embrace it. I've learned to take in nature, see beauty in so many creatures, and feel the energy of the world around us.
As Josh's health began to decline, the farm life responsibilities that Josh had always loved fell to me. The duties were added to the continually growing list of things I needed to take over from Josh.
In May, our wedding anniversary came up, and Josh said there was one thing he wanted: a front yard flock of birds.
To Josh, though, the birds represented positive joy, playful nature, and his love for building a farm. With Josh requiring so much more sleep and having limited amounts of energy, his world was so much more restricted. I saw what was behind the ask: a need to make our small world just a little bigger. But to me, it was also a reasonably big commitment since the physical labor and care would be my job.
This wasn't the first time we had gotten chicks, but it was the first time we were starting a new flock together (Josh started our existing flock before I was in the picture).
So as we picked the chicks, Josh looked at me and said, "maybe some turkeys?" I shrugged and said, "what the heck."
Get some chicks if you ever need a motivator to do some work outside. You have a very fixed amount of time that a flock can live comfortably in a bathtub.
After a bit of time working in the front yard, focused on making a home for the birds, I had an epiphany: working on projects outdoors can be very cathartic. I found myself both exhausted from the grueling heat and labor and relaxed and at ease. Of course, this epiphany was not a new discovery to the world, but for me, it sure was.
Subconsciously, there was some form of escapism I was trying to live out. It was a great excuse to run from my problems, but it didn't matter. The job needed doing.
So as the birdies grew, I continued to expand their space. The coop grew in size, a door was added, and the yard was fenced. Gleefully, the birdies explored their new surroundings. SO many things to peck and dig!
Suddenly I realized something: I was genuinely smiling. I was feeling uplifted by these ground-dwelling fowl. I had carried so much weight on my shoulders that I was surprised by the glimmer of joy I felt.
The next day, as I walked down the stairs to the yard, the turkeys started dancing and chirping, excited to see me. I brought yummy birdie snacks, sat down, and they jumped right on my lap. I had spent so much time with them that they had bonded with me. These quirky little turkeys and I were finding joy in
each other's presence.
What once had been an excuse to escape my troubles had become a source of passion and joy. And soon, a routine was born—a morning ritual of sitting on a blanket with the birdies, feeding them from my hand. I didn't look at my phone or watch, didn't check an online status, or read a news article. Finally, I was home, knowing Josh was safe and not requiring my active caregiving, and I could let my guard down, if only for a few minutes.
Today, the birdies continue to grow bigger and bigger. Blue (the believed male turkey) and Goblet (the believed female turkey) have started learning and thinking. I've begun treat-training them, and they've figured out I am the bringer of yummy nom noms. Both of them have unique and simple personalities, talkativeness, and playfulness.
My days are never that predictable, though, working full time, caregiving for Josh, and trying to maintain my own mental and physical health. Some days are tough, in all honesty. If I let it, the weight of it all can become far more than I can bear. But finding that glimmer of joy that brought a smile, at least once in a while, can make the weight seem just a bit less.
I hold on to that glimmer.
Looking ahead…
While the birdies have been a source of joy for us, we want them to be a source of joy for you too!
I'm hoping to have our live stream online soon! We'll have multiple cameras and round-the-clock streaming, with occasional breaks here and there. Stay tuned for updates!
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