Last Easter the Dobbs slipped into that universal grand parenting “what-can-we-do-special-for-our-grandkids” mode. Why not baby chicks? It sounded like the perfect surprise for their little grands.

With six soft cheepers in a box in the utility room, the grandparents were excited to show the grands their Easter surprise. Toddlers and preschoolers surrounded the box, watched for a minute or two and then ran outside to play. The grand surprise didn’t hold the fireworks that the Dobbs had hoped for, but it was early. The bonding would come later.

The baby chicks grew into real chickens within the next months, but their number dwindled. A hawk and some night predators left only feathers from the four they removed over a period of months. The two remaining continued to mature and now lay eggs and keep the kids entertained with chase games. The Dobbs honed their skills on prevention of predators and gained a new appreciation for chicken farmers.

Meanwhile, the egg shortage due to mass extermination of chickens to halt bird flu outbreaks has affected all egg consumers. Those little jewels are pricey! The Dobbs’ two egg producers have gained new respect in the family, thanks to their continued productivity.

I have only a few vague memories of my grandparents’ chicken house and the warnings to watch for chicken snakes when I got to gather the eggs. With a closer acquaintance now with the Dobbs’ fowl friends, I’ve become much more interested in those feathered critters.

Their red “comb” atop their heads help regulate their temperature and eject heat from their bodies. They also can be warning signs about their health. Chickens don’t have teeth and swallow their food whole. Their gizzards grind and mix their food.

However, it’s the egg that most fascinates me. The oviduct is the chicken’s egg-making factory. It’s a twisted tube about 26 inches long that has five major sections. You’ll have to find a science book or ask Google the technical questions, but an egg is the result of moving through those five sections. It exits in the “vent,” the same place where it poops! 

When I think about a daily egg being manufactured inside a chicken’s body and that egg coming out its rear encased in a thin, calcium shell, I haven’t the slightest doubt that there HAS to be a Creator. The egg shortage may have given everyone a second thought about eggs and their food value, but the chicken and its gifts captured my attention months ago. The next time you crack one of those jewels, pause a moment and consider the omniscience of our Creator.

Camille Anding, The Daily Leader, P. O. Box 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602.