Many moons ago, I had chickens, pigeons and ducks at my little music studio. A little unorthodox, but children loved it. Early on, before the gardens were planted at the Agape Haus, the fowl were the ones who told the stories. I had chickens raising ducks and a pigeon who believed I was his soul mate. It was so cool to drive up to the studio each morning, greeted by a pigeon who actually recognized my car, and flew to me. The children at the studio felt like the Agape Haus belonged in a Disney movie.
Then there was a little Momma pigeon, Penelope, who loved to take over chicken nests. I’m not sure why she didn’t just hatch her own eggs, but each day I had to pull chicken eggs out from under her. The chickens typically laid eggs in strange places, even though there were plenty of nesting boxes.
A few weeks went by and I hadn’t seen Penelope sitting on a chicken nest.
“Finally! She’s moved on!”
Then one day, I walked into the coop and heard chirping. I looked around and couldn’t see a hen in sight, or the baby chick for that matter. I looked up into the rafters and..what in the world?
Sweet Penelope Pigeon actually hatched a baby chick!
Penelope not only hatched a chicken egg, but somehow fed the little chick with pigeon milk. The beautiful baby chick was over a week old, completely fat and happy. I had seen a lot of things with pigeons and chickens, but never did I imagine something like this. I carefully lifted the baby chick out of the rafters, away from her foster pigeon momma. I knew that Penelope would soon start flying lessons, which would not end well for the chick. I found a chicken with a new clutch that graciously accepted the baby chick as her own. To this day, I’ve never seen a fatter baby chick.
Penelope did eventually go on and raise two beautiful baby pigeons, but only after more chicken nest experiences.
Raising up the next generation is certainly one of the most noble ambitions anyone can have.
Motherhood is beautiful, even for a Pigeon named Penelope.
Life is amazing.
Happy Gardening, my friends!
Heirloombulbgirl 