Listening to mine, I believe they do it to declare their presence to other roosters, who do likewise. Over and over. From 4:30 on. When these birds were in the jungle being jungle fowl, they would have begun their day making sure every other rooster knew they were still on terra firma and still in possession of a harem. I'm guessing that silence from one quarter would have alerted the remaining roosters to the existence of an un-cocked flock of hens and provoked and exploratory strut in the hope of adding those to what the first rooster in, already had.
My rooster has as yet no name. I don't know why it is but my family and I are hopeless at naming our birds. We've had dozens over time and only named a couple; a hen who loved to fly - Jean Batten (should have been Jean Batt-hen', looking at it now), and one other, whom I forget. I had a rooster as a child and named him Chapultepec and thought it hilarious to say, but in my adult period, the names just don't come easily. Even our dear departed dog, Sparky, took weeks to name and then I had to ask a class of children for suggestions.
If you've an idea for a name for this fine young New Hampshire Red rooster I have posturing in the run at the moment, do tell. He's quite the gentleman and not overly huge or flamboyant and despite my mentioning his crowing, restrained in his use of voice. Some roosters crow like banshees, this one is reasonably melodious.
18 comments:
"Some roosters crow like banshees, this one is reasonably melodious."
So you can cross "Robert" off your list of possibles then.
Mr Darcy, Clapton, Valentino, Shakespeare, Alarm clock, Heathcliff (my favourite but probably not fitting), Anonymous, or Hefner.
Irving, for the literary reference?
I was going to suggest Muldoon (as in Roberta), then realised I had the wrong novel, and the character is wrong anyway for that other Muldoon. It could be an ironic naming though.
Anonymous - hilarious! You're continuing your run of riotously funny-yet-vacuous comments. I hear the swishy approach of a broom and yes, Suz, Anonymous was the obvious rejoinder.
I'm appalled by 'Hefner', I have to say. Doesn't really fit my image of 'quite the gentleman'and it implies that my hens are bunnies/bimboes.
Given his colouring 'glowing ferrous', I'm leaning toward 'Russel' (one 'l', you'll note). It's not a romantic name, but as we'll have one as our next Prime Minister, I might as well get in now :-)
Garp, Wildcrafty? I hope As-yet-unnamed-rooster is neither trans-sexual, nor an ex footballer! Muldoon indeed! Anonyomous has ruled out 'Robert' so you can't be meaning 'Piggy'. Washington Irving, otoh, is an interesting suggestion, given his pen-name, Jonathan Oldstyle. That's starting to sound like something. My favourite rooster of course, is Foghorn Leghorn, so the double-barrel might be the way to go.
Chanticleer
I've read that tale dozens of times, to various groups of children. He's a bright bird! I don't know yet if mine's as astute. I'm moved to post the story, thanks.
"Emile" says, Katya, who just called into the shop.
Oh for God's Sake...Call it Shunda and be done with it!
She may just have it!
I am a little nervous about 'crows three times' thing though, Suz.
but should it be necessary at some point to sever head form body it will be much less painful if named Shunda!
You're suggesting that I use 'Shunda' in the way some might, 'Banzai'!?
Mrs Barunda would be bereft. She'd never forgive me and she's a robust woman who I'd be loathe to cross.
There's another battle cry I learned while in Council - Kee-O!
That'd suffice as an accompaniment to delivering a coup de grâce. (It's the sound a possum hears when it trips one of those yellow Timms traps :-)
Definitely not Garp, unless you want a rooster defining your world every day ;-)
I like Emile. And I'm sure you could be bold enough to get away with Shunda.
There is something to be said for getting to know an animal before giving it a name. You could always ask the rooster (or the hens!)
Is he titled 'rooster' I wonder, because he arranges the roosting (of his hens)?
it might be that you have roosters and roostees
it is all a matter of who thinks they rule the roost and who actually rules the roost
there is no gender equivalent for "hen pecked"
my friend was called Mr Rooster, a great name!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywontdart/sets/72157622983995776/
I now look after Curious Hen, Geiger Hen (she was clucky when rescued, ticking, every thirty seconds she'd go off, as though she'd finally detected radiation) , Hurt Hen (horrific condition) and Whole Hen, along with Yellow Hen the bantam
Jordan - you're the Name-Master. I don't doubt you've even handles for the spiders that shelter under your eaves!
I did have a cocky bantam that I named Bill Moss - he was a strutter-and-a-half! I farmed him out, once I caught the elusive gentleman. Had a voice like a bandsaw.
Post a Comment