Faith, love and hope go a long way in this world. Even in the life of a little chicken named Sally Lind.

Chickens and horses get along well together around the barn. Chickens follow the horses around while grazing. They eat the bugs the horses stir up. They help compost the manure in the way they scratch through it looking for worms. It is a good set-up for the most part.

Horses move incredibly fast and sometimes even too fast for a busy chicken. High Hope came tearing into the paddock last week at feeding time, and Sally Lind was busy scratching around. She got stomped by High Hope.

I was in the barn and heard her squawk. She quickly limped into a corner of a stall and sat down. She was hurt.

I gently picked her up. No blood, her wings looked and felt fine. Nothing seemed too wrong, she just limped. I put her in the coop.

I called a good friend and long time chicken owner for instruction on culling her. But held onto hope, faith and love. She would eat when I set her in front of food and water. I kept her quiet and away from all activity and other animals.

About five days later I was prepared to ask my husband to cull her out the flock when I noticed a tiny improvement in her limp.

She steadily improved and now nearly two weeks later, she is fine and out with all of us! Such joy!

Yes, faith, love and hope go a long way in this world. Even with little chickens!

Lesson learned? Clear the paddock of all chickens before calling the horses in!