My chicken Dale
Aloha everyone,
This is a picture of my chicken Dale. She is almost 11 years old. I rescued her as a day old chick. She hadn’t kept up with her mother so she and two other chicks got left behind. They peeped and peeped until we finally found them under a piece of wood. So I put them in a box with a heating pad and raised them in my bathroom. One died a few days later and the other one was a rooster. Unfortunately rooster fighting is a popular ’sport’ in Hawaii. These wild chickens are the discards. Chip, the rooster was relocated further out into the country when he wouldn’t stop fighting with other roosters, harassing the hens or crowing all day and all night.
I grew up in NYC so the only chickens I knew were wrapped in plastic in the grocery store. Dale moved to the Big Island from Oahu with me. Now I have several wild hens and a flock of chickens that lay blue eggs. 
I’ve learned so much from having chickens as pets. They are a lot smarter than most people think.
Dale knows her name and runs out to greet my car when I come home. She has the cutest way of walking, half hop and half run. The hens get to hang around the property, come to the door for treats and go into the hen house to lay their eggs. They have taught me about kindness, loyalty and patience. When I teach classes or have phone sessions they sit under the window where I am working and coo or if I haven’t fed them lately they screech for food. One of our three day old chicks Anna died while the vet was working on her, she did CPR on her with one finger and she lived. After she recovered she liked perching on my shoulder and coming into the house to lay her eggs in a special basket in the back room.
Animals can teach us about kindness. I know they certainly bring out the best in me. They touch my life and open my heart in ways nothing else does. When one of my animals die I bury them and put a plant on their grave. One of our chickens is now a hibiscus, another a ginger plant and when Anna died at three she became a palm tree.
On Tuesday Dale has to have one of her toes amputated. She has had an infection in her foot for several weeks. She comes in every day to get her bandage changed and then wanders around the yard all day. We bring her in at night, soak her foot and she sleeps in Anna’s egg basket.
Next week I will also be launching a new blog, Angels on Your Shoulder. My new blog will have stories about angels, magic and miracles.
I have already asked lots of angels and St. Francis to help Dale survive the surgery but any and all prayers for her speedy recovery are welcomed.
With love and aloha,
Susan
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Comments(12)
Oh- you like chickens- that means you’ll like
Marmie
Look for her posts about her pet chickens Janet and Mabel. I promise she’ll have you laughing till you cry.
Cindy’s last blog post..D Is For Ly?D?ia
Thanks Cindy for telling me about Marmie. I wonder if my chickens would like their toast with Guava Jelly?
What a beautiful post. I love your chicken stories and am going to read more. This is exactly why I do not eat animals. They are a loving inspiration to us. Glad I found your blog.
Heidi’s last blog post..Bikini Boot Camp-Swimsuit Sensational-Let’s Get Healthy and Fit Together!
Thanks Heidi. Animals are certainly a huge part of my life. They have taught me so much! I am glad you found my blog too!
Hi Susan, what a great story, your chicken is so cute. I love animals and have 2 dogs and a cat. When I am down, which is alot lately, my dog Shadow jumps up and puts his two paws on my shoulders and hugs me with his head. He senses when I am not doing well. I just love him and our other dog Talon to bits.
I will say a prayer that that Dale’s surgery goes well, and Im sure it will Will be looking forward to your new post…Thanks again.
Mary’s last blog post..PINK PIG
Good luck to Dale tomorrow. I hope all goes well and that she will soon be on the road to recovery.
Dale, you be a brave chicken, okay?
Daisy the Curly Cat’s last blog post..Monday Mystery: A puzzle for you
Thanks for your prayers Mary. Sometimes I think animals are just angels in furry coats. And dog after all is just god spelled backwards!
And please tell Daisy – Dale will be very brave!!
That is so very cool.
I want to move to a rural area in a few years and have chickens too!
Cynthia Blue’s last blog post..Sunday Agility with Levi
What a sweet piece. It’s wonderful how we become so attached to our pets.
feefifoto’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: I Swear I Am Not Making This Up
How lovely, Susan. I wish i had a chicken, maybe two. I love that you provided details on how smart chickens are.
I do hope Dale is fine through and after surgery. Sending good vibes your way.
Missy.
Cynthia, I had no idea how neat chickens could be.
And Missy thanks for the good vibes. Any and all prayers are gratefully accepted.
This is a delightful post! Dale is in my prayers.
Susan Sonnen’s last blog post..Moving Forward