Cockle-Do-A-Do

We have a Roo! Yes, we have added to our growing flock of feathered friends. An early morning trip down the road brought us to our new fella after about a hour drive. It was raining the whole trip, but we were excited about the possibility of getting a rooster for our hen house. Decision time was quickly upon us as we stepped out of the truck. Janette had quite an assortment of roosters, but we were there to choose between 2 "Dominiques". The temptation to get both was there and would have eliminated the need to choose. But one was all we needed and trying to merit the qualities of each in quick fashion was hard. We needed a gentle but courageous individual, that would watch over the girls in a protective fashion without seeing us or our 2 year old granddaughter as a threat.





We settled on the one who appeared the most curious and mindful of our presence. He stood taller than the other, had the strong lines of good posture, upright rosy comb and sound looking feet. We learned some more details about him after loading him up in the cage we had brought along and covering his mode of transportation home with a tarp to keep out the wind and rain. It was obvious that he was one of Janette's favorites and was used to eating out of her hand. A good sign of his gentleness towards humans and the potential of being a gentleman to the ladies back home.

I suspect that he is not too happy being caged right now, as a quarantine precaution after being able to move around in his previous pen. But I keep telling him that he will just LOVE being free-ranged with the girls. Able to move about our acreage, enjoying the wide open spaces each day. The meal choices changing with each turned over leaf, taking dirt baths with the girls, not to mention the romance available. I am offering him special treats as I check on him, a sneaky way of making friends and to fatten him up for the duties ahead of him. We will be counting down the days till his release just as much as I am sure he is. More pictures to come when you can see him in all of his glory.

As an update "Big Mama" is still happily sitting on her nest with one week down and two more to go till d-day.

Deborah