| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| maggie14 |
Posted - Oct 18 2009 : 9:45:42 PM
Hi Ladies, I found this really cute and funnie story in a Farm magazine. It is rather long but is a must read. enjoy!!
Maggie
Woman vs. rooster: Let the games begin
He's done it again. There may be many things that are unpredictable when you're living in the country, but on my family farm, there's one thing you can be sure of: the behavior of The Rooster.
Call him what you like --- demon, spawn, addled, riled, or as my sister says, a critter "with issues" -- in all outward respects, he's your average gold and white, mixed breed, Leghorn-type rooster.
Underneath that impressive red comp, however, lurks the mind of a prize fighter-- he floats like a butterfly anbd stings like a bee.
He arrived at our farm second-hand ( now I can see why) from a neighboring farmer, who'd given him the name "Donnie." With large wattles and enough spur to proclaim him a cowboy, he struts lordly around the chicken house, superintending the happiness and safety of his harem of 100 hens. We've tried having more roosters, but the ol' boy just won't hear of it ( the companion he arrived with met an untimely demise at his hands). He's never at loss for conversation, like how great he feels before the sun comes up (thanks a lot) or where there's an immpressive tidbit that the girls should take note of. He also sounds the "buck-ACH-buck-buck" alarm when there's a cat, dog, or other nemesis lurking about. And usually, that nemesis is me. Like clockwork, his behavior at egg-gathering time is predictable. Sometimes I'll joyfully belt out loud "Yoo HOO, rooster!" within a hundred yards of the henhouse, just to hear him sound out the alarm. Other times I'll go for the disdainful "Seinfeld" - esque greeting Jerry reserved for Newman: "Hello...rooster." There he stands by one of the two henhouse doors, beady little eyes fixed upon me, waiting for me like the bouncer of the greater poultry world. "Hey, girl. You want a piece of me?!" (No real temptation-- he's old and tough.) I grab what my family affectionately calls a pig paddle, a hockey stick left behind one season by a deer hunter. Thus armed, I enter the roosters domain.
Now, Donnie has respect for the paddle. He knows that if he messed with me, it will come into contact with some part of him. Observing his behavior over time, I seriously think he likes that, because he'll push his luck and peck at the paddle.
"C'mon,lady! I can take you on!" Note to animal rights activists: as a deep and true animal lover and raiser, I only sondone hitting poultry in self-defense. He has respect for my father, perhaps because of the good-sized cane he always carries with him.
My 12 year-old nephew loves to terririze him, chasing him under the roost. My mother and sister are terrified of him, and refuse to set foot in the henhouse except in the case of a dire egg emergency. I used to share their feelings, but realized one day that life is too short to let a bird get the better of me. Besides, as Grandma always said, I'm a lot bigger than he is. So the rooster isn't used to much feminine contact, and he's not sure what to make of me.
Our henhouse is divided into two rooms with a solid door between them that's left open. I don't trust him not to sneak up on me when I'm reaching into the nests, so after I've given the girls fresh water on one side, I'll shut the door to gather eggs on the other.
Each time without fail, he'll come running to hurl himself at the door when he sees me shutting it. When I'm safely on the other side putting eggs into my pail, I'll hear a loud, ringing crow. Roughly translated, it means "You haven't got the better of me, woman! Come out with you hands up!" Once finished, I open the dividing door and step outside. As soon as I shut that chicken-wire door behind me, Donnie comes running up and throws himself against it. The look on his face (once he's collected himself) clearly says, "And don't let me see your face around here again! (Lord, the things I have to put up with.....)"
He's not too proud to accept treats after our daily rirual, especially carrot tops, potato peelings, and scrambled eggs (I give the chickens the cracked ones that we can't sell). This latter treat produces the greatest "callin' the girls" response.
And there isn't much that's funnier than a big, beautiful rooster with scrambled egg all over his face. As I waled away, victorious with a bucket of eggs, I count to 10. By then he'll have crowed at me. "Ur ur ur ah urrr! You just come back here and try that again! I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!"
When I'm interested, or feeling full of ginger, I'll crow back, which enrages him. I can just hear the pround indignance when he answers back. Many the time I've kept city-dwelling relatives in stitches with a heated crowing contest between myself and The Rooster. Now, prudence whould suggest the obvious. Why in heaven's name keep such a cantankerous old buzzaed around the farm? Because a little obstruction keeps life interesting. Because I admire anyone -- man or fowl -- who takes a stand for what they belive in. You might not always win, but you're gonna let'em know how you feel regardless.
In many ways, The Rooster and I are a lot alike. I also know we're planning on culling the flock this fall in exchange doe pullets, and it's this knowledge that Donnie will not be here forever that makes me enjoy battling with him while I can. Technically speaking, the rooster's doing his job, fertilizing eggs. He see's me as a threat to his family, removing those eggs, and nothing will convince him otherwise. Breed characteristics will also make cartain birds more aggressive. Sure, fooling around with genetics mI've got no desire fpr such a politically-correct animal.
With everything in life, some things you just accept, instead of busting yourself trying to make a change.
And actually, I think he likes our daily routine as much as do.
"Ah, here comes that woman. Let the games begin!"
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| herblady55 |
Posted - Feb 06 2010 : 1:53:41 PM
LOL That was great. We had a rooster like that when I was a kid. Man-o-man, those spurs hurt. Thanks again for the giggle.
Sister-chick# 905
Judy
Hugs&Squeezles!
I am not contained between my hat and my boots! -Walt Whitman- |
| maggie14 |
Posted - Feb 05 2010 : 08:12:30 AM
Oh I wish I could take credit fot writing this story but I can't. I found it in a country magazine and I just new I had to share it with you all! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!!!
Hugs,
Channah
Friendship is not something that can be bought, it is earned. |
| Rea231 |
Posted - Feb 05 2010 : 07:13:18 AM
Great story!!! You need to be a writer! I could invision the whole thing. I am sitting in a classroom giggling and my students think I went nuts!
The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Feb 02 2010 : 4:46:35 PM
Loved it Channah. So funny!
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| paradiseplantation |
Posted - Feb 02 2010 : 10:59:58 AM
Loved it, Channah!
from the hearts of paradise... |
| maggie14 |
Posted - Feb 02 2010 : 08:30:14 AM
I had to bump this up again because it was so good!!
Hugs,
Channah
If you can dream it, and if you are willing to put forth the work and effort, you can have anything you envision. |
| maggie14 |
Posted - Oct 19 2009 : 9:08:15 PM
I'm so glad you all like it! I new I just had to share it with you all.
Maggie |
| Sheep Mom 2 |
Posted - Oct 19 2009 : 6:20:00 PM
I have always named my rooster "Stewpot" just so they know just where they stand!
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
| MommaJ9 |
Posted - Oct 19 2009 : 4:20:53 PM
Thanks for sharing! I think that anyone who has ever had chickens (& rooster) can relate! And if they can't...they will!
Farmgirl #783
http://jabezfarm.blogspot.com |
| maggie14 |
Posted - Oct 19 2009 : 1:19:45 PM
Hi Connie, I wish I had written such a great story but I didn't. I took a writing class so hopefully I will be able to write like that. :) It is a cute story!
Maggie |
| eskimobirdlady |
Posted - Oct 19 2009 : 1:02:14 PM
omg maggie you can cetainly paint a picture with words! donnie has a brother in alaska (or maybe a cousin lol) rory has respect for only two things in life, the broom and hubbies #11 shoe!! he is our attack/guard bird. since our dog would unlock the door and show the bad guys the valuables its really good to have rory around! he has chased off all the squirrels, voles and nieghborhood dogs; as well as any prospective company, off the property and we havent lost a baby chick yet! i wouldnt trade him for the world! by the way he also came to us second hand lol. peace connie in alaska |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Oct 19 2009 : 11:39:10 AM
I had a rooster several yrs back that attacked and chased off a bobcat, I think the bobcat was SOOOOOOOO surprised by his dinner fighting back so feircly, that he thought he better run, lol.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| Autumn Leaves |
Posted - Oct 19 2009 : 10:40:48 AM
Way cute, thanks for sharing. Been there done that with my cranky old guy, his name was Streeker. In a streek he was right behind you! One day my husbands "big & tough" brother came to visit, as the guys were making their way past the hen house my husband warned of the attack about to happen. My brother in law gave it the "I'm not affraid of no stupid chicken" Needless to say a couple minutes later he was running across the yard sceaming like a girl "get him off me" Hubby and I never laughed so hard.
Warm Wishes
Jennifer
Never let yesterday use up too much of today - Will Rogers
http://jenscountrylife.blogspot.com |
| Cabinprincess |
Posted - Oct 19 2009 : 09:09:30 AM
That is too funny! We had his twin but she was a hen. We re named her from Gracie to Dumpling's just to let her know where she was headed. LOL
Smiles, Melody June
God's gift to you are your talents, your gift to Him is how you use them. |
| Alee |
Posted - Oct 19 2009 : 07:37:46 AM
That is great- thanks for sharing, Maggie. I kind of hope Donnie stays and the culling passes him over.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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