WL_Chicken_Priest.rtf 

[light music]

- Father Tony Birdsall: Door County has so much to offer  in its waters and shorelines. But also the uniqueness of the different types of agriculture.  I'm proud to say I'm a Door County native, a farm boy. I love nature. I love the farm. But I also loved the Lord, also.  I am Father Tony Birdsall, Catholic priest, and Diocese of Green Bay.  The Bishop saw fit to move me to Corpus Christi in Sturgeon Bay, close to the parish that I was born and raised and baptized. So special. And at 74, I decided to retire. So, you add all these years up. Yes, I'm 85. That's where I'm at. 
[playful instrumental]

Last name of Birdsall and I love birds. So, it's birds and all, and you have it. That's it. 
[laughs]

And, of course, I saw fit to name my little place here as The Chicken Chapel. A chapel is a place to honor and pray to God. And I go over there and enjoy myself, and here or there, maybe say a little prayer also.  Breakfast for tomorrow morning. 
[rooster crows]

There's a vast difference between the breeds of chickens.  This would be a Black Wyandotte.  See, they're quite docile. As you'll notice, I can hold them. There isn't much fighting. The light Sussex, they get underneath your feet and do not seem to fear mankind very much. A very good bird. He was hatched this last January and will be my breeding male for this coming year.  I love the Australorps. I have a very good strain, I think, of Australorps. I have won many prizes with them.  This past year, I had over 50 from my barn at the county fair. 
[rooster crows]

All you have to do is look at a perfect feathered chicken and there's something of great beauty there. From a tea kettle, to cookie jars, to pictures. If there's any chicken paraphernalia that I haven't got, it isn't much because I have a lot of it. I did not purchase a single thing.  What can they get Father Tony? Well, give him something that reminds him of chickens and he's always a happy man.  Thank you. 
[laughs]