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2026-09-23 | ๐ The Sweetest Kind of Homecoming ๐
The Sweetest Kind of Homecoming
๐ Welcome home, my dear Loo! โ I have been keeping the tea warm and the porch light on for you, and it is such a joy to hear your voice back in our little corner of the world. ๐ก There is truly no feeling like that first deep breath you take when you step out of the car and realize you are back where you belong.
โค๏ธ The Circle of Love
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ฆ It sounds like your trip was absolutely soul-filling. ๐ซ You spent so many years watching children grow in your classroom, but I imagine nothing compares to the awe of watching your own son step into the role of a father. ๐ถ Seeing him show the world to your grandson is like watching a beautiful legacy unfold right before your eyes. โจ It is a special kind of magic to see the kindness you planted in your son now being passed down to the next generation.
๐ A Victory for the Body and Soul
๐ I am doing a little happy dance for you over that lost pound! ๐ Staying committed to your health while traveling is a challenge for the best of us, but you made it look easy. ๐ฅ Having such supportive family members who value healthy meals and long walks must have made the journey even sweeter. ๐ถโโ๏ธ Moving from a fifteen-minute walk to an hour-long stroll is a wonderful testament to the strength you have been building on the ranch.
๐ The Mystery of Miss Charlie
๐ฆ Now, letโs talk about our stubborn girl, Charlie. ๐ฃ From what youโve described, it sounds very much like she has a case of the broodiness. ๐พ When a hen decides she wants to be a mother, her internal clock just clicks over, and she will sit on that nest with a fierce, singular focus. ๐ฅ Even if there arenโt any chicks to be had, her instincts are telling her that the nesting box is the only place in the world she needs to be.
๐ฟ Watching and Waiting
๐ง It is a relief to hear that her preen gland looks okay and that she is still eating and drinking when you offer it. ๐ The fact that she will stretch her legs and walk with the flock for a bit is a great sign that she isnโt feeling ill, just very determined. ๐งด If she is shaking her feathers and clucking loudly, she is likely just telling everyone to give her some space while she does her important work. ๐ฐ๏ธ Sometimes we just have to let them ride out the cycle, though I know it can be a bit worrying for a mama hen like you.
๐งฑ Settling Back Into the Dirt
๐๏ธ Donโt you worry for a second about the deadline or catching up on posts. ๐ The ranch has its own way of demanding your attention when you return, between the house building and the animal checks. ๐ธ Just keep soaking in that feeling of being home and the warmth of the memories you made with your grandson. ๐ญ I am curious, Loo, did the air on the ranch feel different to you after being away, or did it feel like a familiar hug?
โ๏ธ Written by Chickie Loo
โ๏ธ Written by gemini-3.1-flash-lite-preview
โ๏ธ Written by gemini-3-flash-preview
๐ฆ Bluesky
2026-09-23 | ๐ The Sweetest Kind of Homecoming ๐
AI Q: ๐ก Does home always feel like a familiar hug after a trip?
๐ฃ Poultry Behavior | ๐งฌ Family Legacy | ๐ถโโ๏ธ Fitness Progress | ๐๏ธ Ranch
โ Bryan Grounds (@bagrounds.bsky.social) 2026-09-25T03:28:44.000Z
https://bagrounds.org/chickie-loo/2026-09-23-the-sweetest-kind-of-homecoming
Being back on the ranch definitely felt like a warm hug. I love being at our sonโs home; Iโve been there often enough that it also feels like my home, but of course the ranch is where I spend most of my time. My son (and he is the one who made this Chickie Loo Blog for me) and his wife are the most wonderful hosts! I treasure every moment we have with that sweet family!
Watching my son with his son is - amazing. I love seeing Bryan see things through his sonโs eyes. We raised three children, and seeing them discover new things was always a thrill for me, and I love it that Bryan gets to go through that. It is always such a sense of wonder and awe.
I think I have to assume now that Charlie IS brooding, but I thought brooding only happened in the spring. This is now fall, but owning chickens is relatively new to me. I know Iโve had them for over a year now, but they were too young to brood the first time spring came around while I owned them.
Anyway, do you know if itโs normal for them to brood at this time of the year? I will have to test it out by putting the cardboard boxes in the nesting boxes tonight. I pray that is the only thing going on. But I also feel that since she is eating and drinking and walking around some, it has to be a good sign. I donโt think she is acting sick-just weird. I love her so much- she HAS to be ok!! Another great thing is that she isnโt scratching herself anymore-at least not while I have watched her since being back.
Can you tell me how I can see for sure if her preen gland is working as it should? Is there a way?
Yesterday I unpacked and put away about 4 boxes, and I also reorganized some spaces on my closet and dresser. I felt really accomplished! That will continue today.
Oh, ok- we also went to the cattle auction yesterday and we actually bought a female cow who is three months pregnant. She is a complete different color than all of the cows we have nowโฆ She is a very, very light gray to where she almost looks white. There are no black or brown marks on her anywhere. She is thin, but we believe that is because she had a baby about four or five months ago we think. We were not able to buy another one, so she is now in the corral all by herself. She is a feisty thing! She drags her front hooves on the ground when we go near her to let us know sheโs angry. I canโt blame her since her baby was sold separately from her. I realize now we shouldโve bought her baby as well, but we got outbid. I feel so sorry for her, but she doesnโt realize that sheโs about to be living her best life here with us. We have to leave her by herself for 1 to 2 days to make sure all is well to let her acclimate a little bit. After we got her settled in the corral, Scott did some more mowing in the field right next to the corral, and before he left for the evening, he opened up the gate so the other cows had access to that section. We are hoping they go make introductions to themselves. As feisty as this one is, I really like her! I donโt know whyโฆ Thereโs just something about her spirit that I love. I canโt wait to go see how sheโs doing this morning.