bird
A bird's eye view of a life in flight.
Hatch Day
21 Days 'Til Hatch Day As I thought about the chickens in my care while pet-sitting, I wondered how many of their eggs might be fertilized. This would be a cold Fall, so the eggs wouldn't hatch naturally. I decided to give the eggs an opportunity at life.
By Rayna Ibarra5 years ago in Petlife
The Night Owls
The dimmed red numbers on the bedroom alarm showed 4:29am. A large, leathered hand came across and hit the shut off before the alarm. Farmer Jim looked over to his wife who was right beside him in the barn all night helping a cow with her newborn calf. As he descended the stairs of the 120-year-old family farmhouse, the morning wisp of fresh coffee brewing and the thumping of Chase’s tail in the mudroom makes him smile every morning. He went to the mudroom and took the barn clothes of the twisted metal hooks on the wall and sat on the bench while his trusty old lab ambled over for the morning pat on the head. The Team left the house towards the barn inhaling the crisp morning air as the sunrise was clambering to rise above the sight line of the farm fields. He looked over to where the deer herd comes out for the morning feed. He did not mind deer sharing his fields. Generations of his family have been stewards of the land many years before it was a cliché. Poachers knew not to come close to the Benson farm fields.
By Rusty Rustenburg5 years ago in Petlife
The Night Owls
The dimmed red numbers on the bedroom alarm showed 4:29am. A large, leathered hand came across and hit the shut off before the alarm. Farmer Jim looked over to his wife who was right beside him in the barn all night helping a cow with her newborn calf. As he descended down the stairs of the 120-year-old family farmhouse, the morning wisp of fresh coffee brewing and the thumping of Chase’s tail in the mudroom makes him smile every morning. He went to the mudroom and took the barn clothes of the twisted metal hooks on the wall and sat on the bench while his trusty old lab ambled over for the morning pat on the head. The Team left the house towards the barn inhaling the crisp morning air as the sunrise was clambering to rise above the sight line of the farm fields. He looked over to where the deer herd comes out for the morning feed. He did not mind deer sharing his fields. Generations of his family have been stewards of the land many years before it was a cliché. Poachers knew not to come close to the Benson farm fields.
By Rusty Rustenburg5 years ago in Petlife
The transitions of Mister.
4:44 AM in the republic of Georgia As I am gazing at the stars through my binoculars, hoping to find a shooting star. I decided this would be the perfect time to take off my vintage converse covered in dirt from the log cabin in which I stayed a few miles away from the open field covered with trees. It's almost a pleasant reminder grounding is good for the spirit. As I relax a little more suddenly, I heard what sounds like a " screaming woman." I instantly remember the voice of my life coach, saying, " when you're afraid, sit in a quiet place and allow yourself to discover peace. I did just that, considering I'm out in the woods to heal and gather my sense of security. Can I tune out the sounds of this screaming woman? I know the right thing to do would be to help her. However, I knew that I wasn't fully equipped to support this screaming woman from whatever was making her scream. I'm afraid. Shortly after tuning out this cry for help, I noticed these screeching sounds didn't stop. I suddenly asked myself, " wait, maybe that isn't the cry of a woman, could this be an animal? " Oh no, a scared animal just as myself out in the woods crying for help. I must help. Besides, it can't hurt me. It's hurting, as I said to myself, making a conscious decision to allow. I pulled out my compass, and I navigate to the sounds. Three miles away in the woodland nearby the lake, I see a lanky, shy owl with big black eyes and long legs. I was terrified. I mean, my gosh, this owl looked freaked out but so did I by the look on my face, wondering when his mom and dad would come back to feed it. I decided how I would feel knowing that I'm crying out from hunger, and others pass me out of fear? Instead, I used my compass dug up worms in from the muddy pasty Mud, where my lanky feet pressed down. I tried to be as calming as possible, providing a warming embrace so that he wouldn't be so shy. Mister is what I called him, feeding mister from the palms of my shaky hands. He warmed up to me shortly after that, he and I fell asleep from the peaceful sounds from the lake nearby. The sounds of birds flying over my eyes woke me up. I think it's his parents, but it wasn't just a couple of birds looking to get a sip of water from the fresh stream. After getting a good look at mister, I thought, my gosh, aren't you a dirty little fellow? Mister appeared to be abandoned and scared. I took a deep breath and placed out my right palm inviting mister to embrace me. We went into a real deep stare. I'm thinking to myself, mister; I am freaking out right now. Can we please stop staring at one another? Mister began to flap his wings as if he were going to fly away; suddenly, I noticed a little twig in his wing, which instantly melted my heart. Oh no! Mister, your hurt; I would like to help you; I would like to slowly pull this twig from your strong wing. I gathered freshwater from down by the steam after praying to the water that this may heal mister and remove my fear from those big black eyes. We drank the water he and I became relaxed. I prayed that mister would be okay and have a speedy recovery. I also prayed that I wouldn't hurt him. Slowly and carefully approaching mister's hurting wing, I can see the pain in his eyes as I politely pull this twig out. Mister screeched for 8 seconds, but between you and me, that screech was so loud I could've sworn it lasted longer than 8 seconds by the ringing in my ears. The energy around us shifted almost instantly. I felt mister being so relieved that he was no longer attached to the twig that kept him bound. I packed mister in my oversized Madewell cotton T-shirt, and I walked us back to my cozy log cabin, where I had a variety of items needed to assist with giving mister the required proper transition. We make it back to my comfortable little cottage that smells like fresh vanilla and lavender essential oils eight minutes later. Opening my shirt, I notice mister is sleeping sound. I place mister on my soft knit scarves made by my first cousin setting the intentions that he feels the same love intended for me to have within. I proceed to place out whatever I could find in the fridge for when he wakes up. I then take care of myself, grabbing a sweet orange candle. Turning on the shower outdoors, rinsing off the Mud between my toes, preparing for a nice soak to reflect on many adversities mister, and I accomplished and how mister reminded me of myself and how mister allowed me to be a genuine human and help us both heal. Mentally I'm just in awe mister has to be the most relaxed owl I've ever met. considering mister is the only owl I've ever allowed to meet me. While running my water adding sea salt, I decided to pull out my apple iPhone doing more research on mister and how I could be of assistance during this time. I discovered that mister is a barn owl who is a silent predator of the night, who consumes songbirds and ground-dwelling. I immediately sit down as I am engaged in where my findings lead me. I found that barn owls abandon their eggs, and I shed a tear, thinking to myself, oh no, that mister was all alone, and I wanted to shut him out due to fear I was horrible. After that, I put my phone down and spoke out loud. I release any feeling of fear, and this emotion leaves me as soon as I step foot in this water. after my soak, I drifted off to sleep on the couch near mister, letting him feel that I wouldn't leave him.
By Lane’s Legacy5 years ago in Petlife
Living with Luna
Have you ever been sitting at your desk, trying to study or get work done, and decide you want a nice crunchy snack to eat? I'm sure most of us know this desire, and have acted upon it. After getting that snack, have you ever had a tiny little gray gremlin try to sneak across the desk, right in front of you, to steal said snack? And then run away, scattering cracker or peanut crumbs all over your laptop?
By Jolie Boyer5 years ago in Petlife
Want to Eliminate Holiday Food Waste? Get Chickens
One of the best things about having backyard chickens is the fact that almost no food in your home goes to waste. Chickens eat nearly anything, and lots of chicken people love feeding their flock table scraps — or even meals prepared specially for them.
By Thomas Smith5 years ago in Petlife
Incubating?
Original Posting: November 14, 2020 So let me say I’m just a tiny bit obsessed with having a farm and raising my own food and fruit and veggies for me and my kids. I am also a penny pincher so I ordered the lowest costing incubator on Walmart’s app. It received three stars so I said “Hey, let’s try it and see how it goes.”
By Our Happy Ark5 years ago in Petlife
The Toucans of Costa Rica
Perhaps the most well-known tropical bird, the toucan, is a symbol of playfulness and intelligence known by children the world over. They are highlighted on many a cereal box and candy wrapper! From a marketing standpoint, the vibrant colors on the box immediately direct the child's eye and when the child starts pointing and yelling at the top of their lungs, usually a sale is made! It's as simple as that!
By William "Skip" Licht5 years ago in Petlife
The Bird
I walk into the pet store, looking for the perfect creature. I have an excess of time and money and love. These things combine to make me the ideal pet owner, or so I am told by multiple Internet surveys. I haven’t yet decided on the creature. A dog would be too dependent and besides, I prefer not to leave the house when it can be avoided. I stroll around the store, the odour emitting from countless cages of small rodents immediately deters me from further investigation of that section. I turn and see the magnificent being. Its small, intent eyes stare straight back into me from its cage. But who could dare cage such an animal? It yearns to be free. Its beautiful blue and yellow wings beg to stretch open and soar to the sky. It climbs up the cage to reach eye-height with me. I know that this is the only creature I would ever want. It gazes at me, opening and shutting its beak, in a sad, silent plea for release. In my home, it would be free to fly around, reach the ceiling, and return to the safety of my shoulder. I understand it.
By Dorrie Mack5 years ago in Petlife
