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Discover the story of Luiz Miguel, who swapped his toy car collection for bantams and now cares for more than 20 birds in Santa Catarina.
In Santa Terezinha do Progresso, Santa Catarina, the childhood of Luiz Miguel Nohatto Lorenzetti, just seven years old, is marked by a peculiar passion that completely deviates from the traditional habits of his age. While the vast majority of children spend their leisure time and weekends with balls, dolls, or video games, Luiz Miguel finds his true enjoyment in the chicken coop, interacting daily with birds that have feathers, beaks, and wings.
The boy proudly reports that he made the conscious decision to trade his old toy car collection for the commitment to care for the bantams. According to Karine Nohatto, the boy’s mother, this journey began after receiving a pair of birds, gifted by a family friend. Since this initial milestone, the breeding has thrived remarkably, and currently, the household space already hosts more than 20 bantams.
The beginning of the journey with the bantams
Luiz Miguel’s deep connection with the animal kingdom is not a recent event, as he has been around animals, especially horses, since he was a baby. However, it was around the age of three that his specific interest in the world of birds became evident and prominent in his life. Regarding the moment that triggered this path, the mother shares details about the initial transition:
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“He has been around animals since he was a baby, especially horses, which have always been part of his life. But it was around the age of three that the bantams appeared. At the time, he was gifted a fine rooster, but the bird was too big, and he could barely hold it. So, the person who gave it decided to gift him a pair of bantams. That’s where it all began.”
The relationship Luiz Miguel maintains with his bantams goes beyond simple admiration or a momentary pastime, being based on real tasks of management, discipline, and daily care. As the boy studies in the afternoon, he has already incorporated into his sense of duty the need to attend to the birds as soon as he returns from school.
As Karine explains:
“Since my son studies in the afternoon, he knows that when he gets home, he needs to take care of the birds. And this is done with our guidance and help, but he really enjoys it. And since they roam freely around the house, he also plays farm, builds cages, and includes them in his playtime, often with friends.”
The young caretaker personally prepares the food and offers fresh water to the group of birds. He also takes on the task of collecting the eggs, which are later used for the family’s consumption.
As the birds roam freely around the house, he takes advantage of his free time to play “farm,” builds small cages, and includes them in his recreational activities, often in the company of friends. Due to this lifestyle, the routine with the bantams gained great visibility on social media.
On the internet, the boy became known as “Piá do Ganizé,” a nickname that naturally arose due to his habit of always taking one of the birds to participate in horseback riding events. Regarding the unexpected attention, Karine comments:
“What appears in the videos is exactly his daily life. We never imagined it would have such a big impact and that so many people would be charmed by the story and his relationship with the animals. We are very surprised.”
Plans for the future and rural vocation
Although Luiz Miguel is only seven years old, which makes any verdict about his adult profession premature, the boy already shows an impressive clarity about his desires. Passionate about the bantams, he has two fundamental dreams revealed by his mother: to study veterinary medicine and significantly expand the breeding on the family property in Santa Catarina.
“He says he wants to have birds of various sizes, colors, and breeds. He also wants to be a farmer because he loves horses.” The continuous interaction and care for the animals reinforce that his desire for the future is solid and not just a passing phase, being something that genuinely makes him happy.
With information from Globo Rural
