Never Name Your Roosters Before They Crow

You remember our little Easter miracle baby don't you? The one Milah so aptly suggested we name Lazarus if it was a boy. I then decided if it was a girl I'd call it Liza, because when it closed it's eyes the lids were so dark it looked like it was wearing gads of eyeliner.


Well, it's been growing. Usually you would be able to tell by now if it's a girl or a boy. There are several things to look for. First the comb and wattles. If the comb and wattles grow in early and red you can rest assured you have yourself a rooster. Except...

roosters generally will also have erect tail feathers, like Sparky here. They tend to stand up straighter with their chest out and have a macho attitude. They like to taunt each other. Just like a lot of teenage boys I know.

Our little Easter miracle doesn't do any of that. Nope, this chicken definitely carries it's self like a hen; tail down with a horizontal stature and is very non-confrontational. But wait. See those pointy hackle feathers at the base of the tail? That's another sure sign it's a rooster. So what gives?

I've had no other choice but to sit around and wait before I could name it. But this morning while I was doing chores it finally let it's true colors show. Sir Sparky d'Uccle crows the cutest, most perfect little cock-a-doodle-do you've ever heard. Today our little Easter miracle here, however, let out the most pathetic excuse for a crow to slip past a beak. It sounded more like a cat hacking up a hairball while it's paw was stuck in a mousetrap. It wasn't pretty. But it was definately a crow.

Now we know for sure it's a boy that just acts like a girl. Our little Easter miracle appears to be a cross-dresser.

So I wonder? Should we name him Tootsie?