Monday, July 17, 2017

Trying to Crow

Our new flock of chickens is (knock on wood) doing well.  The 12 chicks that survived the skunk attack are thriving.  Nothing gets into the chicken area anymore except an occasional ground squirrel, tunneling in from a distant location.
Two white Delawares and a Buff Orpington

We ended up with one rooster in the bunch; one of the two surviving Cuckoo Marans.

This week, he started to crow.  Well, started trying to crow.  A mature rooster lets loose with a loud, robust cock-a-doodle-do.  This little guy tries really hard.  But all he manages to eek out is a pretty weak cock-a-a.... and then he rests before trying again.

It's cute.  And I'm trying hard to like him.  We will let him stay as long as he isn't aggressive.  Any aggressive actions toward us, and he will be history.

Unfortunately, he bears a strong resemblance to Calvin, who was a mean barred rock rooster.  Since Marans are a French breed, I've named him Jean-Coque.  I'm hoping that giving him a name will help me like him.

In the meantime, his attempts to crow add an element of amusement to our morning chores.
Two surviving hens from our original flock in front: Amelia, a lagenvelter and an Auracana

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10 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 17, 2017 at 10:37 PM

    Maybe if you both hold and pet the rooster often, he won't be so aggressive towards you when he try's to protect his flock. He will know your not trying to hurt him them. :)

    Erika

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    Replies
    1. Oak Creek RanchJuly 18, 2017 at 10:49 AM

      It does help to hold and pet the chickens. We haven't done much of that but I do sit in the chicken area with them, and I bring them yummy kitchen scraps -- so I'm pretty popular.

      Delete
  2. TeresaAJuly 18, 2017 at 3:40 AM

    I'm glad that you little flock is doing well.

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  3. LindaJuly 18, 2017 at 1:25 PM

    Happy to hear you don't have any more coop invaders! They sure are growing up fast. And, that is such a cute name for Jean-Coque, how can you not get attached now? ;)

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  4. An American in TokyoJuly 18, 2017 at 7:00 PM

    Glad to hear the chickens are doing well!
    Where is the video where we can hear the adolescent crowing?! ha ha!!
    I took a video when my finch was still a baby and learning to sing.
    It still makes me laugh to this day! =D

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    Replies
    1. Oak Creek RanchJuly 18, 2017 at 8:40 PM

      Ha ha; of course when I had my phone with me, he didn't practice crowing. Isn't that how it always goes?

      Delete
    2. An American in TokyoJuly 25, 2017 at 6:57 PM

      Yep!

      Delete
  5. Karen B in so californiaJuly 18, 2017 at 7:08 PM

    What's up with squirrels burrowing into the coop? Do they eat chickens and/or eggs? Or are they going for chicken feed?

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    Replies
    1. Oak Creek RanchJuly 18, 2017 at 8:42 PM

      The squirrels are going for the chicken feed -- especially the scratch (cracked corn and other grains). We have corn sprouting around the ranch where they planted/hid their cache. At Aspen Meadows we had trouble with them taking eggs, it hasn't happened here (yet). They don't bother the chickens (unlike rats, skunks and bobcats).

      Delete
    2. Karen B in so californiaJuly 19, 2017 at 9:57 PM

      Thanks, Annette.

      Delete

Thanks so much for commenting!

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