Harry the Rooster has always had trouble figuring out what time to crow. At first, I thought it was because he was young, and new at the whole crowing thing. Then, I thought that his refusal to crow only in the morning was due to an ever-expanding ego--that he thought he was just TOO fabulous to be limited to crowing one measly time per day.
Over the past few days, however, I have begun to wonder if his constant crowing is more of a cry for help.
You see, over the last few days, I've noticed something about Harry, or specifically, Harry's neck feathers. They're missing. It would be one thing if they were missing as a normal part of molting--after all, the girls are losing quite a few feathers now that the weather is warming up. But no, the skin that has been revealed due to the missing feathers appears to be sort of an angry, red color. Like the feathers have been yanked out. Like maybe, just maybe, Harry is being picked on.
Granted, Harry is the only rooster amongst 11 other chickens, but he's always seemed so self-confident and strong, I was mostly worried about him picking on the girls. Now, though, I'm starting to wonder.
Maybe the girls got together, and decided that they're tired of being in constant fear for their virtue. Maybe all 11 hens have formed the We Hate Loud Roosters Club, or have created some sort of Thelma and Louise pact that embraces violence against roosters.
Maybe one of the other males on our property should be a little more careful about being a cranky tyrant, or the same thing will happen to him.....just saying.
Anyway, I'm wondering if the girls have banded together to beat Harry up, and his constant crowing is a desperate attempt to get assistance.
More research will need to be done in order to determine which hypothesis is correct.
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