#22 - Rooster on Guard in the Backyard AND Bookstop

During the day, we often let the chickens and two roosters out of their chicken tractor so they can wander around in our backyard. My blog friends have been telling me about the value of a rooster and I've been blessed to see this in action. Even though we won't be able to keep these roosters, it has been an awesome education to see the roosters in action as they protect their flock.

Leaving a gap in the coop for them to explore and to eat goodies in the backyard.

But, this protection surprised me today when the large rooster saw me heading out the back door - he could see me through the panes of glass and he was very alert to my appearance. In fact, Big Rooster ran for the back door and began yelling warning calls at me, "Cock-A-Doodle-Do!" He'd step a bit closer while shifting his head from side to side to get a good side-glance at me and he'd issue another loud warning.

Howdy is now having to help protect ME from the roosters, especially while I am picking tomatoes.

I cracked up. Big Rooster did not intend to let me come into the backyard. At the least, he wasn't going to let me come into the backyard without him letting me know that he was on guard and aware of my presence. He was positioning himself directly in my way at the patio near the back door so I couldn't exit. His girls were about thirty feet away in the garden.

Howdy and Big Rooster are on guard in the backyard for the lady birds.

Frankly, I never could imagine that a BIRD could be this confrontational and this brave. My blog friends have shared their knowledge about a rooster's behavior, but to see it in person is pretty awesome. It impressed me. As Big Rooster prowled the yard, separate from the girls, it was clear that he was on official duty. I found it chivalrous. Such a gentleman beneath that Rooster exterior.

Howdy the Chicken Herding dog prefers to keep the chickens herded into the raised garden beds.

Another Farm Life Lesson I learned as a backyard farmer this week is that I should stay clear of Big Rooster because he can charge full speed ahead like a raging bull. This was a shocker...another surprise. Roosters are slick and quick. Beware.

Howdy, my Black-Tri-Color Australian Shepherd working to herd
the chickens, but Big Rooster is not as "herdable."

This makes me more sad to have to give our roosters another home because I can certainly see the huge value in having a rooster in the hen house. They are protectors. They are intimidating and they don't seem to have much fear of anything. They simply charge into the direction of danger for their ladies. My heart has warmed to these beautiful creatures in a way I could not imagined that it would. I have always wanted chickens, but they have endeared me toward them more than I thought possible, and I'm just getting started!

Always watching, watching, watching...

So, this week I've learned that Big Rooster is definitely a threat to be reckoned with and I won't step into the backyard without my bamboo stick in hand to shoo him away. But, I'm not so sure this will work much longer because he's learning to flex his Big Rooster muscles. Forget the bamboo stick, I might need a bat.

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THE BOOK STOP

DROWNING RUTH

I've just finished reading an old book I had shelved at the house.

I found the it to be interesting, but the jumping around

in the time-frame of everyone's lives during the story made

it a chaotic read. But, the storyline was one that made

you think about several points in life and about

family relationships. It's kept my mind busy on nights with insomnia.

Drowning Ruth seemed to be an easy read, but

the shifting time-frame could get a little wearisome.

The storyline moved along and I first thought it

was going to be about a family with mental

illness, and I think it ended with the main idea being more

about the lengths that family and people will go to so they

can hold the family and the farm together. It's also about

learning to appreciate what you have in life. It is fascinating to 

consider whether the relationships in the book are present because of

love, obligation, duty, secrets, guilt or as a blessing.

If you've read this book or will read this book, shoot me a comment on what you think

about it as well. I read a broad expanse of books, no set genre.

I'd like to know what your thoughts are, good and bad, about this book.