The Song of the Morning

In April, I ordered eight new day-old female chicks–to replace the hens we had lost over the last couple of years. The hatchery I ordered from sent me eleven chicks, which is very nice of them, considering that baby chicks are fragile things and some don’t make it through the first week.

Well, I raised those little chicks and didn’t lose a single one. And now they are almost five months old and two of them are crowing. Two others are suspected roosters, even though they haven’t found the courage to cockle-do-a do. Probably intimidated by the others.

Conventional wisdom says you shouldn’t have more than one rooster in a coop where there are hens (oddly enough, a bachelor coop of all roos does just fine), because they’ll fight. But about a month ago, one of my old roos died, so I did a little repositioning, so the roos are a little less crowded– and I’m hoping they’ll get along just fine.

But at our house, the musical medley starts right outside our bedroom window at four or five a.m. I like the sound and usually sleep right through it, though I have had dreams where someone is trying to sing opera and not quite getting it. I think that’s my new lavender orpington Roo–he has a very melodious tone. There’s an Easter Egger Roo who is definitely the top of the heap, and he crows ALL THE TIME. Round the clock. If something moves, he’ll crow at it. But that’s his job, I think.

Fortunately, my neighbors tell me they like the songs of the roosters–makes them feel like they’re out in the country, even though we’re in the middle of the most densely populated county in Florida. I like their music, too, but hubby is a light sleeper, and he loves to moan about them. But that’s okay. He’ll get used to them–he always does. 🙂

And a happy good morning to you!

Angie