This to me is amazing, nothing short. Upon recollection of a question I asked a long time ago, about the nature of the rooster, the leader of the pack. My query was, why does the big cock bird, the clear leader, always go to the house after all is in, even after his subordinate, a big red dude? The answer was: and this comes from a very old-time dude. The best rooster is the one that is the last to go to bed. He is the keeper of everything, even to ensure that no one is left alone.
I have a coop that has encompassed my buckeye flock, two barred rock ol' gals and a whole whack of youngsters, whom are about 8 weeks old. Until a couple of days ago, those youngsters in that very house have had a total segragation by wire. A different exit from their home to the great outdoors, a different part to run in, but all combined together, except for the wire that separates.
The day before yesterday the big day came, the entire clan was put together, the wire walls came down, one big and open coop. The run is the same. Open, open to all to hang together. Of course, the usual, the normal pick pecking of the hens. The cockerels (they are only 11 months old), were the most calm, they greeted their newly made nestmates with open arms, and loved them all. One particular cockerel (remember 11 months old) thought that some of the fat and buffy looking buff orpingtons should be bred. Not..far too young and the pullets let him know. Forget it. That bird put that dude straight.
This evening, thought I would open up the yard and let the buckeyes and the two barred rock hens have a chance to get outside for a couple of hours, before the daylight wained. They made good use of it.
Some of the babies, still not very smart, decided to go outside to check out that new wild blue yonder, and that they did. They are young yet, still haven't quite figured out that close to sundown, they should hit the sack. They were out meandering about. The cockerel, he being clearly to me the alpha male (although he loves his brother so much, never thought a rooster could love another rooster, but he does), was hanging around the outside of the pen. I thought that very odd, every other older bird was inside, knowing the safety of their home. I watched and I listened. No sound, nothing that would keep him from going inside. But.....hey.....looking about 10 feet beyond the pen was a little baby gold laced wyandotte, a pullet, she didn't figure out clearly how to get back into her yard home, still a little juvenile to really "figure it out". I walked over, the cockerel hot on my tracks, and between him and me, we coaxed the little girl to go into the gate that lead her to her home, her place to be secure, her place with all her little buddies. The cockerel then entered the home too. Took his place on the roost with the other dude and the gals, and the evening sleep began.
I am proud of this dude. And yes. He is the keeper of the clan. I know know who will always be the one that I look up to, and know full well that he is the man. He is the one that I will always trust.
Did I mention my love of the buckeye breed? The roosters that never shut up, I don't mean crowing, I mean that they talk continuously, and believe it or not, I understand mostly every word they say. They are very special, and I still can't get over that the pullets, since the day they began to lay, have not missed a stroke, still going strong, and oh yes, did I mention the personality of the birds. Coming up to be my favourite of all the ones that I know, I am limited with my knowledge of breeds, but between my buff orpingtons, gold laced wyandottes and cochins, clearly, these are putting the meter the highest. Beautiful days, with beautiful nights, with friends, love and health. CynthiaM.
Probably a duplicate post, but listen, I have things to say, things to see, this life is beautiful, as I sit here outside on the deck, and revel in the scent of the evening scented plant, that blooms as dusk arrives -- the night scented stock -- aka matthiola bicornis. Ever smelled the evening scent of this plant? The flowers are tiny, lavender in colour, close during the day, but are awakened by the lack of the light of day, evening and all through the night -- look out -- these pretty little night flowers will make a scent that pervases (spelling please) every scent on earth. One of a kind, once you smell this scent, you will know what I mean. Night scented stock. Think of the scent of stocks, you know that scent. Well, think of this scent, although slightly different, that persists all night long, until the early hours of dawn itself pervail, then the scent is gone. It is beautiful for the moths -- and the night creatures -- let your imagination go wild -- night time, a time of distance, a time that most do not even attempt to be out in. The night flowers, the night creatures, the night insects -- which do no include the mosquito. A few toads help out so much. yes, soon to see those toads that were just a teeny tiny thing, now we hear them as we walk....toads, night creatures and flowers -- have I taken you there, in your mind's eye?
I have a coop that has encompassed my buckeye flock, two barred rock ol' gals and a whole whack of youngsters, whom are about 8 weeks old. Until a couple of days ago, those youngsters in that very house have had a total segragation by wire. A different exit from their home to the great outdoors, a different part to run in, but all combined together, except for the wire that separates.
The day before yesterday the big day came, the entire clan was put together, the wire walls came down, one big and open coop. The run is the same. Open, open to all to hang together. Of course, the usual, the normal pick pecking of the hens. The cockerels (they are only 11 months old), were the most calm, they greeted their newly made nestmates with open arms, and loved them all. One particular cockerel (remember 11 months old) thought that some of the fat and buffy looking buff orpingtons should be bred. Not..far too young and the pullets let him know. Forget it. That bird put that dude straight.
This evening, thought I would open up the yard and let the buckeyes and the two barred rock hens have a chance to get outside for a couple of hours, before the daylight wained. They made good use of it.
Some of the babies, still not very smart, decided to go outside to check out that new wild blue yonder, and that they did. They are young yet, still haven't quite figured out that close to sundown, they should hit the sack. They were out meandering about. The cockerel, he being clearly to me the alpha male (although he loves his brother so much, never thought a rooster could love another rooster, but he does), was hanging around the outside of the pen. I thought that very odd, every other older bird was inside, knowing the safety of their home. I watched and I listened. No sound, nothing that would keep him from going inside. But.....hey.....looking about 10 feet beyond the pen was a little baby gold laced wyandotte, a pullet, she didn't figure out clearly how to get back into her yard home, still a little juvenile to really "figure it out". I walked over, the cockerel hot on my tracks, and between him and me, we coaxed the little girl to go into the gate that lead her to her home, her place to be secure, her place with all her little buddies. The cockerel then entered the home too. Took his place on the roost with the other dude and the gals, and the evening sleep began.
I am proud of this dude. And yes. He is the keeper of the clan. I know know who will always be the one that I look up to, and know full well that he is the man. He is the one that I will always trust.
Did I mention my love of the buckeye breed? The roosters that never shut up, I don't mean crowing, I mean that they talk continuously, and believe it or not, I understand mostly every word they say. They are very special, and I still can't get over that the pullets, since the day they began to lay, have not missed a stroke, still going strong, and oh yes, did I mention the personality of the birds. Coming up to be my favourite of all the ones that I know, I am limited with my knowledge of breeds, but between my buff orpingtons, gold laced wyandottes and cochins, clearly, these are putting the meter the highest. Beautiful days, with beautiful nights, with friends, love and health. CynthiaM.
Probably a duplicate post, but listen, I have things to say, things to see, this life is beautiful, as I sit here outside on the deck, and revel in the scent of the evening scented plant, that blooms as dusk arrives -- the night scented stock -- aka matthiola bicornis. Ever smelled the evening scent of this plant? The flowers are tiny, lavender in colour, close during the day, but are awakened by the lack of the light of day, evening and all through the night -- look out -- these pretty little night flowers will make a scent that pervases (spelling please) every scent on earth. One of a kind, once you smell this scent, you will know what I mean. Night scented stock. Think of the scent of stocks, you know that scent. Well, think of this scent, although slightly different, that persists all night long, until the early hours of dawn itself pervail, then the scent is gone. It is beautiful for the moths -- and the night creatures -- let your imagination go wild -- night time, a time of distance, a time that most do not even attempt to be out in. The night flowers, the night creatures, the night insects -- which do no include the mosquito. A few toads help out so much. yes, soon to see those toads that were just a teeny tiny thing, now we hear them as we walk....toads, night creatures and flowers -- have I taken you there, in your mind's eye?
Last edited by CynthiaM on Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:52 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : I thought of something, something that is beautiful, something that I think others would enjoy, the scent that I am experiencing as I post)