Rooster Tale
Way back in July when we first got our chicks and keets, there were two males among the barred rock chicks - they're called cockerels. They were marked with a little red paint on the top of their heads to distinguish them from the females (pullets). Isn't he cute?
As all the chicks matured, the paint wore off and we couldn't tell the cockerels from the pullets. They all looked like these:
Well, they're finally reaching maturity and this is what one of our cockerels looks like now!
He's turned out darn handsome!
I have to say that he doesn't act like the macho, aggressive rooster I thought he'd be. In fact, he's quite skittish! Maybe it's because of all those guineas that follow him everywhere . . .
I swear wherever he goes at least half of our guineas are following him. I don't know if they're drawn to his fine profile or if their own males haven't matured enough to act as leaders.
At first I thought that the rooster must enjoy leading his own flock, even if they aren't the right species. But then I started to wonder if he's not really leading them, but instead trying to run away from them! Who wouldn't want to run away when you have a chorus of "Buckwheat!" constantly behind you?
Now here's a few pictures for anyone who is curious how our farm cats and poultry get along.
In general they ignore each other. There was a time when the cats practiced stalking them, but I think they gave up when the height and girth of all the birds exceeding their own!
I imagine its not so easy for the cats to take their afternoon naps anymore with all the squawking that goes on around here!
As all the chicks matured, the paint wore off and we couldn't tell the cockerels from the pullets. They all looked like these:
Well, they're finally reaching maturity and this is what one of our cockerels looks like now!
He's turned out darn handsome!
I have to say that he doesn't act like the macho, aggressive rooster I thought he'd be. In fact, he's quite skittish! Maybe it's because of all those guineas that follow him everywhere . . .
I swear wherever he goes at least half of our guineas are following him. I don't know if they're drawn to his fine profile or if their own males haven't matured enough to act as leaders.
At first I thought that the rooster must enjoy leading his own flock, even if they aren't the right species. But then I started to wonder if he's not really leading them, but instead trying to run away from them! Who wouldn't want to run away when you have a chorus of "Buckwheat!" constantly behind you?
Now here's a few pictures for anyone who is curious how our farm cats and poultry get along.
In general they ignore each other. There was a time when the cats practiced stalking them, but I think they gave up when the height and girth of all the birds exceeding their own!
I imagine its not so easy for the cats to take their afternoon naps anymore with all the squawking that goes on around here!
Posted by Susan at November 6, 2009 
Categories: Poultry
Tags: barred plymouth rocks new hampshire red rooster cat cockerel chicken birds pullet chicks guinea
Categories: Poultry
Tags: barred plymouth rocks new hampshire red rooster cat cockerel chicken birds pullet chicks guinea
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