My Son the Chicken Farmer

Nicholas has always been afraid of animals. He tolerates our dogs and the pets of people he knows, but he won't go on a pony ride, or into a petting zoo, and he certainly won't go near an animal he doesn't know. Since we got the chickens he has been spending quite a bit of time with them; feeding, watering, and building the chicken pen. Every morning he goes down and lets the chickens out of the coop (we lock them up at night to protect them) and feeds and waters them. Every evening he goes back down and herds all of the chickens up the ramp and back into the coop for the night. He doesn't like to touch them, but he does spend time down in the pen talking to them. I am very proud of the responsibility he is showing by taking care of them, and also by teaching Alex and Anthony how to care for the chickens.