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or simply enjoy an opportunity to cuddle with them . During my stay , I had the pleasure of spending time with a passel of five-week-old yellow Lab pups , who loved to play and then promptly curl up in my lap for a nap . Being around these adorable bundles of joy brought me enormous contentment , as well as channeled my inner child .
As for the chickens , the resort has about two dozen Silkies , who have taken up residence in a spacious covered enclosure . This breed is characterized by silky feathers , which make them appear like miniature fluff balls with tiny Uggs on their feet . They are very soft to the touch , have five toes , turquoise colored earlobes ( how Santa Fe !) and a “ walnut ” comb . Silkies are known to be gentle birds who love company .
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They like to chatter and to also make sweet purring and vibrationlike noises when they ’ re calm . This type of chicken loves nothing more than to raise a clutch of eggs , and as they are a magnanimous sort , they ’ re not picky about whose eggs they are . There are documented cases of Silkies raising other types of poultry , including ducklings and goslings , taking care of them as if they were their own .
I admit I was initially a bit apprehensive about entering the Silkies ’ arena , but with encouragement from the resort ’ s horticulture and nature-based specialist Daniele Simmons , I gamely headed inside . Twenty-five chickens greeted me . Some came right up to me and curiously moved around my feet , as if sizing me up . Others
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were busy eating either their feed or some veggies brought in from the garden .
Simmons invited me to sit on a chair and observe the creatures , while she talked about them . I learned about Blanco , the main rooster , who assumes the duty of keeping the others in their place . He thinks nothing of pecking at them if they are disturbing him or if they are trying to eat food he has claimed as his own . Then there ’ s Wilbur , the smallest of the bunch . As the runt , he was named after Wilbur in Charlotte ’ s Web . Lemon Drop is appropriately yellow in color . And Princess , who is always exquisitely groomed , has a royal moniker .
I began petting the Silkies , enjoying the feel of their soft feathers .
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I laughed at their antics as they comically scratched around the dirt , then fed them a fresh cucumber , which they adored . Watching their behavior , I was able to pick up on some of their cues and subtleties relating to communication , teamwork and leadership . Finally , I let several take turns sitting on my lap . Their docile nature had a soothing effect on me and I could see how such an experience could lower stress and anxiety levels . Being with these chickens provided me with an opportunity to slow down and reflect , something I need to do more often in my hectic life .
You ’ ll find serenity is a commodity in spades at Sunrise Springs . Nestled amid seventy acres of breathtaking natural beauty with towering cottonwood trees and spring-fed
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