Inspiring Kindness and Compassion towards Animals, Our Planet, and Each Other
Inspiring Kindness and Compassion towards Animals, Our Planet, and Each Other

My Life as a Momma Hen, Week Three

I’m thinking that all moms can attest to this - babies don’t always go to sleep when we want them to, and Jasmine is no exception. Chickens are supposed to go to sleep at dusk and wake at dawn. In preparation for Jasmine to transition to the barnyard when she is old enough, I am trying to get her used to that same schedule. However, with artificial lighting in the house, along with my very noisy family and the television, Jasmine wants to stay up with us. So, usually later than intended, I will take her upstairs and put her to bed so she can go to sleep and get enough rest. I tell her how much I love her and how beautiful she is. I tell her that she needs to go to sleep now and I’ll see her in the morning. I give her a kiss goodnight, dim the lights, and put her in her crate with her teddy bear. Jasmine must sleep in a small crate in our bedroom because we also have dogs. To kick the dogs out of our room for the next few months is not fair and we have to make sure she is safe while we sleep. I sing to her and talk to her while she gets comfortable, but she keeps trying to play and stay up. It takes forever to get her to fall asleep. It’s way past her bedtime and I marvel at her energy and stamina. I can barely keep my eyes open! Eventually, after much negotiating and putting her back with her teddy bear a million times, she finally gets comfortable and goes to sleep. There is a very specific noise she makes just before she falls asleep and at no other time, almost like a purr. As frustrated as I get that she won’t go to sleep, when she makes that noise I fall in love with her all over again! Goodnight my sweet baby chicken, I love being your mommy!

Written by Ellie Laks
Founder, The Gentle Barn

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