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The Chicken Chronicles: Butch Teaches Us All About The Value of Hard Work
Her Name Is Butch
Please, no cheap jokes at her expense. She did not choose her name and she does not deserve your derision. I don’t know who picked “Butch” for her; one of us adults are to blame, a whimsical moment that will forever label this chicken. Sort of like the Boy Named Sue of Johnny Cash fame, this chicken has learned to adjust to the ridiculous name and thrive despite it.
Seriously, what is in a name. It is simply a handhold for us to grasp in passing, a point of reference so that we all don’t have to say “hey you” on a regular basis. It in no way defines the person, or in this case fowl. It in no way gives us insight into the character of that fowl now does it? It is no more and no less than five letters forming a sound. Butch!
Had we known the true gumption of Butch at birth perhaps we would have named her “Determined” or “Tenacious.” Perhaps our thoughts would have turned to “Reliable” or “Consistent.” Anything but Butch!
But Butch it is, and forever will be (or at least for six or seven years until she breathes her last cluck). Allow me, then, to introduce you to our resident worker-bee, our over-achiever, our quietly dependable wallflower Butch.
To the Factory We Go
Let your imaginations run free for a moment and consider a chicken coop as an egg factory. Like any factory in the world, the hierarchy is established and roles are doled out. In our egg factory, we have Butter Cup as the foreman. We have Zorro as the pretty model used in our advertisements, and Regalia is in charge of marketing. All well and good but we still need someone to produce the product, and that someone, on a most regular basis, is Butch.
As I write this it is mid-December. Chickens have a tendency to take the winter months off. Hey, laying an egg the size of a future omelet is not an easy task, and doing it daily for months requires super human strength and endurance. Imagine, ladies, being pregnant and giving birth daily. That’s right, I see you nodding your heads and weeping at the thought of it all….so you all understand why these little cluckers need to take some time off.
Not Butch! December 16th finds her in the nesting box doing her motherly thing, straining and gritting her beak to provide that “over easy” egg I will eat on the 17th. She is the Queen of Consistency, rarely missing a day in her laying duties. She deserves, quite frankly, a mention in the Guiness Book of World Records, but fame is not her thing and never will be.
What Does She Ask for Then?
Very little as a matter of fact. Like so many workers around the world, Butch just shows up on time and delivers the product. She will never be read about when our egg factory is tallying its profits. She will never receive a gold watch when she retires; quite frankly she will probably die before retirement. Still, she is perfectly satisfied doing a hard day’s work for a good day’s pay, or in our case for some mealworms and an occasional crust of bread.
Now considering the fact that she will never know fame or riches, you would think that she would be demanding of the pay she is owed, but that just is not her style. When suppertime is announced she quietly moves to the back porch and grabs her place in line. When the mealworms are tossed she does not frantically move about trying to take more than her share; she simply stands rooted in one spot and makes sure she is not forgotten. She expects her portion to be placed at her feet; she has, after all, earned it, so why not demand that which is rightfully hers? She does not expect more; she does not expect less. Just give her what she earned and all is right in her world.
This woman's voice grates on my nerves LOL
Meet another of our flock
- The Chicken Chronicles: Regalia Defies The Odds
Learning about life by observing chickens. Who would have thought it possible?
What Kind of Fellow Employee Is She?
The best possible of friend and you can take that to the bank. Think of your own experience working for a company. There will always be the obnoxious ones that you work with. There will always be those who are louder than the rest, a bigger pain in the tush than the rest, the ones who believe that the only way to gain respect is to be more demanding than everyone else.
Not Butch! Butch is not showy. Butch is not beautiful, Butch is not overbearing and Butch is not a bragging fool. Butch is just a good worker and she is content in knowing that at the end of the day she has done her best.
She is supportive of her fellow workers and respectful to her bosses. She is the cog that keeps our wheel turning, and yet she never spouts superiority over the spokes.
Where Would We Be Without the Butches of the World?
Frightening thought now isn’t it? Let the corporate bigwigs stand up and take a bow, but without workers like Butch, those three-piece Armanis would be getting dirty in the assembly line. Let the accountants gloat for their tax-dodge schemes; let the marketing department toast their brilliance; let them all bask in their own glory, but if the truth be known….if we get right down to the nitty gritty…it is the Butches of the world that do the hard, dirty work and keep the economies of the world in the black.
So for those of you flipping burgers at McDonalds; for those of you who wait on customers in cafes; for those of you who frame houses and drive trucks and stock shelves until your backs threaten to break and your fingers bleed….for all of you, I give you Butch, your patron saint, the living, breathing, clucking symbol of the common laborer.
2013 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Comments
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Deb, I hope they do so soon...the world needs more activists. Thank you!
This was a great story with so much truth in it that applies to the common wrier. Yes, many ARE chickens like Butch in the real world, but damn it, they need to stand up and be counted.
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PS, you and I had similar parents and they taught us well my friend. How do we pass this one to the millions who need this lesson?
Thank you as always. Blessings and hugs winging their way to you.
bill
Butch, unassuming and willing to tackle whatever comes her way. What the world needs now is more just like her. And more who come before her to teach her the work ethic, that laboring is after all the way things are accomplished.
My parents both worked from sun up to sun down to see to it that we kids had what we needed. And we were asked to work along side them when we were needed. And that was often. It became a part of who we are as adults.
These Chicks certainly have a LOT LOT LOT to teach us.
Know that if you find feathers aplenty around you not one belongs to Butch on this night....
they are from the many Angels headed your way hugs and blessings ps
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Ahhh, drbj, I like that....and I like you for being here so much today. Thank you my friend.
Butch is not a symbol of the common laborer, Bill. With her determined work ethic she is a symbol of the noble laborer.
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Thank you vkwok; you are always appreciated.
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Mary, I think Rosy and Posy are great chicken names. As for the children't book, I'm considering it. :) Thanks as always my friend and have a super weekend.
Your Chicken Chronicles are super! What better way to face the world than through the eyes of the not so simple chicken! The characters you have seen in your chickens and related to us are spot on. I think a children's book about these great little birds would be a winner for sure!
We had Rosy and Posy so, what's in a chicken's name?
Voted up, useful, awesome, and interesting.
Thanks for sharing this story!
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Thank you mathira. I love being a writer and observing about life.
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Joelle, well-stated my friend. I hope to live long enough to see society act in such a manner. :) Thanks for your thoughts.
Long life to Butch :-) Your chicken chronicles is like a mirror to our society. We are all different and we each bring something special and important in our society. Sometimes it's big and more often it's small but at the end of the day we all need each other to have a society that works and make sense (I think we still have to work on the making sense part of things)!
Enjoy your weekend :-)
billy, butch seems a prefect example of good work ethics. You are really very observant and you have the knack of making your hub read like an interesting story.
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Ruby, I'm heading over to your hub now...thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed the laugh.
I love this. I'm still laughing..lol Butch is my kind of gal.Ha..I agree with tobusiness, more please...
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Jo, I was thinking the same thing....an army of Butches and our nation would be making a profit. Oh, if it could only happen, eh?
Have a wonderful weekend my friend and thank you.
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Thank you Theresa....I'm enjoying these parables and it's nice to know I'm not the only one. Happy holidays to you my friend.
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Alicia, I agree with you totally. We need a great deal more Butches. Thank you!
Butch in 'eggsactly' what this world needs, great work ethics and productive to boot. A few more like this prolific chick and we'll have the economy back on track in no time at all. :)
Love the chicken chronicles, keep 'em coming.
very, very well done Bill, both as an interesting description of a chicken and a wonderful fable / parable about workers and working. Wee done. :) Theresa
Butch and her human counterparts are noble beings. The world depends on their efforts. I loved meeting another of your chicken family, Bill.
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True words, Vellur. Butch is my kind of chicken. :) Thank you for stopping by my friend.
Butch is like the unsung hero, the one who will never be known. Hats off to all Butch's in this world. They contributions are very important to get the show going. Great inspirational write. Voted up.
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LOL...Flourish, what a great comment. I promise to give her a special stocking stuffer because of your suggestion. Thank you!
I love Butch's work ethic. I do hope there are a few extra mealworms in her holiday stocking. Not because she expects it but because it's good to reward goodness.
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Bill, I suspect quite a few businesses would agree with you. Hard work seems to be two four-letter words in this country.
Thanks buddy; the weekend is upon us. :)
Bill, I need a few more like Butch where I work :-) My kind of chicken. This has been fun, meeting your chickens. Great job Bill.
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Thank you Thundermama...I'm having fun writing them and it's nice to know others enjoy them as well.
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Thank you Ann! Butch really is pretty funny; she will just stand at my feet and cluck at me until I drop bread to her. She refuses to chase after pieces I throw. Too funny!
bill
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Hi Brandi! Thanks for stopping by. Becky puts me to shame; no doubt about it.
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My pleasure, DDE...thank you very much.
Another gem. Butch sounds like my kind of chicken, not showy, just a get down to business kind of lady. I so enjoy these Bill. Keep them coming.
Butch is definitely unusual for a chicken; I've never known one who waits for food! She's obviously a great character and can teach us all a lesson. Steady work and calm attitude can get you a long way.
Entertaining, as ever, bill! Ann
I just love this Hub! I checked out the video of Becky the Homesteader! Wow, I really need to take some lessons from her and Butch! Amazing.
Amazing tricks and so much to learn from this hub thank you
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Awww, thanks Faith. I enjoy writing this series. Only two chickens left and then I'll have to think of something else.
blessings always
bill
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DJ, you make me laugh every single day. That's a gift that keeps on giving. We have two dogs....I actually did an article about them about a year ago when we had three....I'll see what I can do to make you happy. :) Thanks my friend.
bill
Love reading about Butch! Bless her heart for she has given you her Christmas present. Your Chicken Chronicles are a delight to read and we all can learn a lot from chickens. Blessings, Faith Reaper
Bill, you can make an interesting read out of anything!
I expect that you will give equal time to the dog. It's the only right
thing to do.....and, I am a dog lover.
Santa Paws is coming to town!!!
DJ.
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LOL...yes they do, Sha!
Silly man, all of our pets call us Mom or Dad! :-)
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Poolman, spoken by a man who obviously has spent some time observing chickens. They really are fascinating creatures, but all creatures are if we take the time to observe and learn. Thanks my friend and Happy Holidays to you and yours.
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LOL...Lizzy, that was so corny it was funny. Thanks for the laugh my Dunedin Wonder.
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Thanks Sha! Are you saying I fathered chickens? LOL One of my many talents, but one we don't talk too much about.
Have a great day my dear.
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Good morning Suzette and thank you. When you don't have much money you learn to make things out of whatever you do have....I'm glad you like the coop; the chickens seem to be happy with it. :)
Bill, you know I love your "Chicken Chronicles immensely." I am now convinced that a class in "Chicken Watching" should be required in all of our schools.
There is so much to be learned from chicken watching. It would seem that chickens mastered the art of running a society thousands of years ago, and they don't change a thing.
They are a little selective in picking their friends, but don't discriminate based on color, size, or anything else, and they follow their leader.
They show up to work everyday, and truly appreciate their bonus in the form of special treats. They never demand higher wages or threaten to go on strike.
I could go on and on, but bottom line is that people could learn a great deal from chickens.
No "cheep" jokes about this valuable bird! Aaaahahahahahah . . . yeah.
I love this series, Bill. It seems Butch is a workaholic just like her dad! :-)
I have to agree with you regarding Becky Homestead's voice. It's not the pitch so much, but the sing-songy-I'm-talking-to-4-year-olds delivery. I love the coop the guy in the first video built. Pretty ingenious!
Your Chicken Chronicles are certainly interesting and humorous and I guess we are more like chickens than I ever imagined. I love your chicken coop - actually quite nice and I know you built it yourself. You have many talents, Bill and putting them all to good use. This one gave me a chuckle this morning. Thanks!
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Pro-Hubber, thank you my friend. I agree with you completely....there is an incredible world out there just waiting for us to learn from it.
Another wonderful hub from Bill.:) Nature has created every creature with its own strength to survive and populate. For being a human beings, its our responsible to think and find out what lies behind this miraculous things. I enjoyed reading your hub...Thank you Bill
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Thanks Kim. I've considered a children's book about the chickens...we'll see how it goes.
bill
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Thank you Randi! I have the sled out and ready.....every year I get my hopes up and every year they are crushed. LOL I'm still just a big kid.
Bill,
I keep imagining a future "Animal Farm" novel from your perspective.
Maybe a compilation that begins with Butch. As always, awesome work.
Much Enjoyed My Friend,
Kim
Fun! Thank you so much for introducing us to your chickens and the amazing lessons of life we get from them! I hope you get your snow.
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Amen to that, Eric! Hopefully they will all receive the recognition they deserve.
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Janine, I'm not even a woman and that sounds like hell to me. LOL Thanks as always my friend.
God bless Butch and our writers who work so hard daily without recognition.
Butch definitely does sound like a hard worker to me and will say that I couldn't even imagine giving birth (or laying an egg) daily. God bless her for that and nonetheless in cold winter month of December. Thanks for sharing Bill and have a great day now, as always!
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