If the tag line got you and you’re expecting me to deliver a life changing message that was cosmically imparted to me the last time I opened a box of Bojangles chicken tenders, I hate to disappoint you. I did wake this morning with an unusual perspective on a somewhat heated and controversial topic in the world today. Fortunately, or unfortunately, my perspective is coming from my experience of tending chickens. So, I am your Chicken Tender Oracle. (Go ahead, laugh.)
When my publisher suggested I begin a blog on my webpage where I wrote nothing about my upcoming work, but focused on my everyday musings, I was a bit apprehensive. For the past few weeks, I have thought about the perfect first blog. However, a late-night IM session with my friend about chickens stayed with me as I slept and worked itself into what you are about to read. Okay, enough me-splaining…on with the blog.
As a boy, one of my favorite pastimes was taking care of the chickens with my dad. Back then, they were more pets than anything and I never understood how lucky I was that our pets provided yummy eggs for us to eat as well. As an adult, I still love chickens. I love to interact with them…their happy clucks just put a smile on my face…and they are so smart (in a street sense kind of way.) But, back to my point. As a primary care giver for chickens, my role has changed a bit because I’m responsible for the care and protection of the birds. Which brings me back full circle to my conversation with my friend.
To free range or to coop? That was the question. There really is no right answer. Sometimes location dictates cooping and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it is just personal preference. Living in the country, as I do, there are numerous predators from owls, to hawks, to coyote and sometimes even domestic animals. If you free range, there is a great risk of death to your chickens but they get to live free for as long as it lasts. However, if you build a nice pen with an enclosed coop, your chickens are likely to live a much longer life.
Now, for the controversy and my chicken tender epiphany. The biggest debate in the US right now (other than who should be president) is mask/no mask and vaccine/no vaccine. Now, you must be wondering, what the heck this has to do with tending chickens. I’m getting there. We are the chickens <insert mind blown emoji>.
I am a big proponent of personal choice inasmuch as personal choice does not negatively impact others and their lives. So, this story is essentially about protection. Mask wearing may be mildly uncomfortable but provides a certain amount of protection against a pandemic that has ripped through the world and killed more people than I care to think about. It may be your choice not to wear one and possibly put yourself at risk but it is not being a good human to recklessly put others at risk. Sorry…it’s not always about us as individuals. So, lets correlate that with the chicken. Your desire to be a free-range chicken and risk being killed by a predator should not give you the right to open the door to my coop and expose me to predators as well.
Now, let’s talk about the parable of the chicken as it relates to vaccination. Although I have chosen to take the Covid-19 vaccine, I really am pro-choice when it comes to the matter. I do not believe anyone has the right to force you to take it if you do not wish to. I believe media and conspiracy theorists have put out enough false information that it has created unnecessary fear…but that is my opinion. The choice to vaccinate or not to vaccinate may be yours. However, that choice carries with it responsibility. Clearly, coronavirus is not through with us as it continues to mutate and become more aggressive. So, what am I getting at? If you choose to get the vaccine, great. If you choose not to, I respect your decision. But, either way, be responsible. Protect yourself and others around you. If you have not been vaccinated, by all means, be a good human and wear the damned mask. If you have been vaccinated, make the choice that is right for you. Like mamma always said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
I guess every story or parable has a morale at the end to make sure you get the point. So, here it goes, the moral of the Parable of the Chicken Tender is this:
While being a free-range chicken may seem like the best way, having the protection of the coop will help you to lay another day.
Health, happiness and good vibes to all!
