About a year ago, The Farmers made a colossal blunder. They learned a very valuable lesson that many novice chicken farmers make. They didn't do their research. They wanted to bring in Blue Laced Red Wyandotte (BLRW) hens. They thought the chickens were beautiful. They located another chicken farmer that hatched them and had a good reputation within the chicken farming community. (That much research they did) However, they trusted the chicken farmer who said he could usually tell males from females, but warned the Farmers, "not with 100% accuracy". The Farmers rolled the dice and got two hens and two roosters. I guess 50% accuracy isn't bad. (Insert eye roll here)
As the chicks grew, the farmers also grew to love them. Their first attempt at hand raising chicks was successful. The Farmers were proud. Then, they moved into the Palace with us. There was no way on the planet Earth that any one of us ladies were giving up our spot on the roosting bar for those kids. We made them sleep on the floor. That worked for a bit, till those boys kept growing. The Farmers dubbed the Roosters the Duke and Count of Cluckingham. The girls are Jojo, and Gigi, The Duchess and Countess of Cluckingham.
Jojo and Gigi are the movie stars of the palace. They are divas. They sashay across the courtyard like they own the place. The boys love Jojo and Gigi. Those girls love the boys. The rest of us could care less if the Duke and Count call us over. We ignore them. We do listen up if they squeal about a perceived threat, but usually its a butterfly for something stupid they get all bent out of shape about.
Those boys were sweet and timid one day, then a switch was flipped the next. That switch was to an engine that would not shut off. Those boys chased every tail feather in this Palace. It was not a happy time in the palace for us. One day, when the farmers came, we were running at full speed for them with the boys hot on our tails. As soon as we reached the farmers, we all flew into the Farmer's arms for safety, and shoulders, and behind them where ever we could go to get away from those insane roosters. Farmer B would have none of that. The boys were promptly moved in to the "Bachelor Pad" where they have remained contained. The Farmers would go in nightly to see the boys. They were always nice to the farmers. They still danced and cat-called us from the prison yard. Separated, the Duchess and Countess visited the Duke and Count often. Talking through the fence. They would signal Gigi and Jojo and they would go running. I am sure to slip them a file or some kind of contraband so they could make their escape. Not us. We don't need a Roo. We are soooo over that! So, during their incarceration, the boys get lonely... I guess. One of the barred rock girls informed us, at the watering hole, that the boys have a new love interest. Well this we had to see... so we all gathered by the fence to take a look. We began to laugh and cackle as we discovered that we had been replaced by a red disk. FINE WITH US!!
Fast forward to a month ago, the Farmers again suffered from another bout of insanity and ordered chicks. Now, there is a whole slew of new babies coming. Great. Just great. The Farmers have a Chicken Math Problem. They multiply way too much! (Insert angry eyes here)
Last weekend, the farmers built an East wing to the Palace. It looks real nice! We were all excited and curious about what was happening until we realized it is for the ever growing chicken population at the palace. The Farmers decided to clean out the courtyard and the Bachelor Pad. They let us roam on the range while the boys stayed locked up in the courtyard so they could take out the winter hay in the boys room. No one know for sure what happened next, but a cock fight ensued so bad the farmers had shovels and rakes trying to stop the fight. The boys had an occasional squabble, but have never fought like this before. (And they were not going to stop till one of them couldn't crow anymore.) We all stopped and watched the farmers separate the boys repeatedly. After successfully separating the boys, they discussed at length what to do because they were still trying to get at each other through the fence. The Count was obviously mad at his brother and fences could not be mended, so he decided he was moving out. The Palace wasn't big enough for the both of them. He put an ad on Facebook about "Bachelor Roo looking for love with a flock of available ladies" and such nonsense. He listed all his good qualities such as being a fair dancer and would alert the flock during perceived threats...Blah, blah, blah. Next thing we know, a very sweet human couple came and visited with the Count. They told him of a flock of available ladies that were in search of a handsome Roo, such as himself. Didn't take him long to decide, his bags were packed in a second and a half and off he went to his new home and his new lady friends where he will be the only Roo. The Farmers were sad to see him go, but were very happy to see that he was going to be the king of the flock in his new place. (sniff, sniff , they grow up so fast) Jojo and Gigi
So, now we only have a Duke of Cluckingham (for now).The duchess and countess are a broody pair and the farmers have plans of possibly letting the Duke become a Father, but we shall see.
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