Ah the character building years of childhood on a farm! I was the tender age of around 8 (I think) my brother and I went into the pretty large chicken coop to gather the eggs. I still believe it one of the scariest jobs out there. Have you ever looked a Hen in the eyes as she’s sitting on her eggs? Talk about lazer beam eyes staring right back at ya.
I remembered my dad teaching me to not to show fear and just go in. As I was building up the courage to do it, I heard a ruckus behind me! I turned around to see what seemed to be a huge white tidal wave about to devour me! The Rooster in the lead with all the hens behind him on the attack! I instantly started running to the door, to save myself. I noticed ahead of me my brother leaving and slamming the door behind him. As I make it to the door, of course it wouldn’t open!! As I was frantically trying to open it(picture yourself just shaking the door, pretty much trying to rip it off haha), I thought ; my own brother locked me in to be attacked by chickens! ( to this day i’m not sure if it was really locked or in my panic I couldn’t open it, barn doors can be tricky sometimes)
I had to do the only thing I could think of ….Run, yes Run in circles as they continued to chase me! I felt some pecks on my back but I just kept running , running for my life I’m pretty sure I lapped them. Then I felt someone grab my arm and with a jerk pulled me outside so fast I didn’t realize I’d been saved! I looked up and my mom was brushing me off as I was crying telling my horrific ordeal. She was like any momma bear, swearing to have rooster stew for dinner that night.
As I was pulling myself together, I heard my dads voice asking; What is going on? As we were telling him of my ordeal mixed with mention of rooster stew. I was waiting for him to go take care of things with that mean rooster that started the whole thing. What did he do? …. well he started laughing and laughing hard. I laugh at that now but in that moment I was a little mad that he would laugh at me, of the thought of being chased by chickens.
I still fight some fear of chickens (especially white ones and more especially white roosters) I have goals to having a chicken coop and overcoming my fears, but there won’t be white ones. haha
Lessons learned : growing up on a farm and being chased by chickens are great character building times. Also, as my dad explained later as to act confident and face your fears and show them we are bigger and won’t take it!