APT Animals and People Together Org. (c)(3)

Brennan on the Farm

"Can I help you with farm chores?"

Farm chores are so much more fun when you have a friend to do them with you. And what better friend than a 9-year-old boy who comes to ask "Can I please help you take care of your animals?" When a child is interested in having a real connection with animals, that interest needs to be honored and fostered.

A few years ago, quiet little Brennan would tag along with his parents when his older brother Gareth was dropped off for some time at the farm. Gareth would stay for an hour, and when his parents would return for him, Brennan would plead to stay a little while to play in the therapy building (the Melding House) and to hold a rabbit.

Gareth's life filled up with all the busyness of school activities and he no longer came to JenLo Farm, which meant that Brennan wasn't coming to the farm either. But his interest in animals just kept growing. He'd be happy with a rabbit, or a gerbil or a lizard or a dog - just about any animal would do, as long as it was one he could hold. His mother, Carol, reminded him that it would be hard to have a pet right now, because it would have to be home alone a lot of the time. And of course she also reminded him that there are responsibilities involved with having animals in your life. It's not just petting and cuddling and playing. There's feeding, brushing, cleaning up, making sure it has the right kind of shelter and enough exercise. If he did have a pet, could he promise to take care of it?

Carol called one day to ask if Brennan could come to visit. He came, complete with his own small chair to sit in while he held Harey, our big friendly white rabbit. A few days later, I saw Brennan and his mother at Steamboat Mountain, Lyon's local natural food store and the conversation (naturally!) turned toward animals, how much Brennan wanted a pet, and reminders again that it just wasn't possible right now. Then Brennan asked "Can I come to the farm?" "Can I help you with farm chores?" What a great solution! He could help with the animals, and he'd learn about all that's involved in caring for them. I asked Brennan why he wanted to help, and he said that he didn't have a place to have the animals he wanted and that "This gives me a chance to be with them".

The next, cold, Saturday morning, Brennan's adventure with helping on the farm began. He helped open the chicken/duck coop door, carried water (gallon jugs, half full), hay, and feed, for the chickens, ducks, pig, rabbits, and goats. After chores were over, he had quality time with Harey rabbit and the chickens, and said hopefully "I could help every Saturday". Not a problem!

The next step seemed to be going through the late afternoon chores with him, so two weeks later, this time on a warmer Saturday afternoon, Brennan came to help again. We discussed all the chores that have to be done before sundown, when the farm animals have to be put in their shelters, safe from hungry raccoons and coyotes. We talked about how the time we get animals up and when we put them to bed changes with the seasons, depending on when the sun comes up and when the sun goes down. We sat down together at the kitchen table to discuss the order we'd do our chores and we rummaged through the bags of scraps that had been saved for us at the grocery store, deciding which animal would like them.

Brennan said "I see apple, and a cookie" and we found a sandwich for Isabella Pig. "Ew. You don't have to throw away all your yucky things. You can give them to Isabella." I told him that she liked most vegetables but not beets, rutabagas or turnips. Brennan said "I like almost anything that's a vegetable". He helped mix Isabella's food with water and a little pig chow, poured it in her bowl, then braced his foot on the edge to keep it from spilling as she snuffled her way through her supper. I showed him the blankets we had been putting on her on frigidly cold nights and he decided that "It's warmer tonight. I think you should try one blanket", then a quiet aside; "One thing I feel sad about - is that they (pigs) get killed." I'm sure he meant the ones that end up in the supermarket, not our Isabella.

Nina and Nutmeg and Harey rabbits were next, all getting their equal share of apples, water and rabbit chow. Brennan was thrilled to see a tiny mouse scurrying for cover in the hutch and announced that he'd like to catch some mice. "I'll bring a little cage for them", but "You can keep them here". (A relief to his mother!) A stray chicken was roaming near the rabbit hutches. Since our next chore was feeding the chickens and ducks, I asked Brennan if he'd like to carry their food to them. "No, I'd rather carry the chicken". Fair enough, I thought, and the stray chicken got a free ride back home, carried in his arms.

Chickens and ducks clucked and quacked their excitement over treats of corn, bread crumbs and lettuce scraps. One of the ducks, Tulip Tiptoe, is crippled and has a hard time getting her share of scraps, so Brennan was careful to scatter a lot in her direction. Another of the chickens had wandered outside the fence and was frantically trying to get back in to join in the party, which resulted in a lesson of how to do some strategic and gentle chicken herding. "Just imagine moving her toward the gate with a big cushion of air, and never get between her and where you want her to go". Then, there were nesting boxes to check - he found "three eggs; two white, one brownish. They're beautiful". After calmly picking up his favorite chicken, a black leghorn named Gladys, we checked to see if any of the bantam chickens were roosting in the trees. Several had to be coaxed down so they'd be sure to go in the coop with the other fowl later on.

On to the goat pasture, but first, Brennan had to see what their food tasted like. Brennan has a curiosity about what other critters eat. "Can I try some of that stuff? Hey, it's pretty good". It smelled like cookies - molasses cookies-- but he decided that the oats were more tasty than the chow. "No wonder goats like this stuff". Amos and Oreo, the Fainting Goats (they're supposed to faint from fright, but we've never seen it happen), and Georgia, the Nubian, jostled and pushed to be first to get their goat chow and oats. Once they'd gobbled through their dinner, they pushed against us for head rubs and petting, and lived up to their goat reputation by nibbling on our coats and the piece of paper our chore list was on. We talked about how we'd kept the goats warm with extra straw when the temperature was 20 below zero not many days before, but Brennan decided that they would probably be OK now that the weather had turned warmer.

Once chores were done, Brennan had time to hold his favorite chicken again. He's hoping she'll remember him next time he comes.

Brennan's thoughts: About his favorite animal: "I really like baby chicks. They're cute and small and cuddly and can sit in your hand and they trust you and will jump right on your arm". Then; "I like all animals, really." About summer: "I wouldn't need a day camp. This would be my day camp." His advice to other kids about animals: "Be really kind. Don't do anything really suddenly to scare them."

It was great to have Brennan's help. There's much to learn, much to remember, about farm chores. Always close gates behind you. Check for any stray chickens. Dump the ducks' and goats' water at night if it's going to freeze. Listen to the weather forecast every day - it's the most important part of the news. Be sure that all the animals are comfortable and warm. Never be without duct tape, carabiners, or bungee cords. Be grateful for friends who share the chores with you.