Roo-What!

Tuesday, August 31, 2021 —(On September 20, the full moon, “Harvest”, will rise nearest to earth.)

It’s a boy!

One of my seven young babies crows.

I previously tried living with two bantam roosters, attackers whenever I entered their vicinity. They were among a dozen babies that came home with me years ago. Among that group, the most beautiful chick was soft-feathered and shiny black. I named her Pansy. I was devastated on hearing Pansy’s first squawked crows. Finally, Pansy began to breed and became my awful attacker.

The other bantam boy stayed sweet, wasn’t at all aggressive, until after Pansy had been re-homed. Once the second rooster became a breeder, his behavior toward me rotted completely.

Attacking roosters really can use their spurs! They fly onto a human leg while digging-in with incredibly painful grabbers. They hold on, forcing a pitiful human to fight back.

I hoped to deter Pansy, by carrying into the chicken area a spray bottle with water. Sprays didn’t deter him. In fact, it turned out that both roosters loved being sprayed. They attacked anyway.

My surprise-boy is a “Jersey Giant”. Hens of this breed grow to about ten pounds, twice the size of average egg-layers. I understand that Jersey Giant boys will reach thirteen pounds.

He’s been crowing for a month. Big, noisy, drawn-out wake-up calls. First-rounds occur at five a.m. or thereabouts. My first hope, maybe it’s a hen that happens to crow, not altogether unusual. Well, she’d be a gay hen, because although too young to breed, this chicken is interested in the girls. They still brush him off.

That’ll change as the hens near a laying age and Jersey’s advances become firmer while taking charge of the flock. Meanwhile, I’m keeping an eye on his still-undeveloped “spur area”. His attitude toward me is standoffish and not unfriendly.

My research suggests the Jersey Giant roosters remain sweet and gentle toward humans. I’m counting on that.

I’ll add about this bird, his absolutely beautiful “chicken eyes”. They’re not pinpoints but fill their sockets. Eye contacts with him are very cool.

Dear Friends: Roosters caring for flocks watch for and fearlessly confront potential threats. Diana