Friday, June 19, 2009

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?

8 comments:

Victoria Janssen said...

Tootsie might work....

Unknown said...

So you think our little Easter miracle might be a cross-dresser?
How funny! And what an assortment of characters you've got! (Lady)Madam Millie, Sir Sparky and now Tootsie! I've got a feeling it's gonna get pretty interesting around there.

Wendy said...

Liza might still be an apt name: she's who LOTS of DragQueens impersonate! lol!

Julie-Ann said...

May I suggest Vic as in Victor/Victoria? She might be a hen impersonating a rooster impersonating a hen! This way when you really do determine what gender he/she is, you can just add the "tor" or the "ky"

Thanks for the great blog. As a city girl I really enjoy reading it.

Anonymous said...

Name him Sue. Boy named Sue.

Or... Freddie Mercury cause he was the biggest Queen....


Yeah I know that was bad.


:) Megan

Ms. Becky said...

Ha! you make me laugh. what a cutie patootie. if you could only capture his crow on tape...i want to listen!

LauraP said...

Chickens are so much fun. Love you little guy.

Anonymous said...

Oh man, that's great! I've enjoyed browsing your site. Daffodils, and chickens and apple blossoms oh my! :) We had a chick (supposed to be a hen) with a blood red beak so my husband named HER Wallace (after Brave Heart) SHE turned out to be a Rooster. Go figure! :)
Jessie at Blog Schmog (a fellow PW reader)