"When you start listening to them, they will start listening to you."

I am quickly learning that these chickens are not in our family for me. I am not a chicken person. I have never loved chickens in general -- I love my chickens -- but chickens are not my thing. Growing up on a farm, I liked to collect eggs when we had chickens, but . . . suffice it to say I really preferred the cows.

A few years ago, I just started wishing I could have chickens. It came out of the blue one day and just kind of settled in and started to grow. I didn't know where it came from; it was just there. I just really wanted chickens. Now, I know that a wise Father in Heaven knew the time was coming when we would need the chickens and He was preparing the way for us to have them.

In the past two years, my little warrior's attitudes and behaviors have gotten harder to handle. We have even sought out professional help, which I am sure has been beneficial --even if it has only helped me. Still things were not getting better, I just had someone who was willing to listen and not judge. (It's been so nice to have someone not think my child is evil -- I hear that from enough people -- just that he'd been through more than he should have ever had to go through before he was old enough to know he was going through anything. He is not evil! He is a just a boy. He just needs love and acceptance like everyone else. And just like everyone else, he doesn't need judgement, rejection, or unkindness.) In the last month, we have seen much improvement in him. The only thing that has changed is the chickens. Somehow those little -- not so little any more -- bundles of feathers have made the difference in my Ammon. I'm not sure how or why. I don't care. I am loving having this wonderful boy back in my life. He is still my hole digger, my fearless dare-devil, my tree climber, my wall walker, my adventurer, my boy, but he is the good version instead of the trouble-making version. I love having him back!

The chicken coop is still a work in progress.

The chickens really want to be outside though. So we take them out for an hour or so every day -- except on these blasted rainy days! It's been so fun to watch them and see that they know they are supposed to eat bugs and grass and all that stuff. It's fun to just watch them.
They are getting so big -- the chickens, that is (although the kids are all getting quite big, too). Ron is working on a portable run for them so that they can go out in the yard without babysitters. When the coop is finished, the run will attach to it. My chicken sitters will be a little disappointed, I think, when the chickens no longer need to be sat upon.