Tuesday - 10/23/04 Noon
The Rhode Island Red Rooster from Easter has matured into an aggressive, macho,
territorial, bad bird... really got his feathers ruffled. He has been removed from the protective pen that holds the 3 hens
and is free to roam the world (take his chances in the world is more like it) but he
'guards' his hen pen like a dedicated sentry. Our English Bulldog Jeb spotted Mr. Rooster
strutting around and Jeb, ever curious, approached, sniffing the air. The Rooster, alarmed
at the intruder to HIS part of the yard, flared his feathers, dropped his wings, and did
the side step shuffle to attack curious Jeb. Jeb stared at him trying to remember, "Was it
fight or flight?" Jeb turned tail (a very little tail) and scampered as fast as his little
legs could carry him! The Rooster, flapping his wings, reached out and pecked my "baby
boy" right on the tail... and continued pecking until Jeb ducked behind Bob. The
Rooster stopped short... I think because Bob was laughing so much.
A few days later, IT pecked poor Gabby, world’s sweetest Bully, on the behind and just
about freaked her out!! Then he started after me, but I screamed for Bob. The rooster is
running free because he was abusing the hens, now he is abusing all of us. Bob of course
doesn't want me or "our gang" hurt but he thinks the Rooster is a hoot, acting like he is
KING of the world. I told Bob that Rooster had to go!!! With my mind made up, I took the
"Attack Chicken" to the vets and told them the problem. Not doing a good job of stifling
laughter the receptionist, asked if I wanted to "put it down" or place it. A man in the
waiting room said he'd heard, Attack Chicken & Dumplings was good. I told Katie I would
prefer "placing" but that it was one “m e a n” chicken.
One of the young ladies working there said she would take it home to her father who raises
chickens. She said most likely it just needed some discipline to stop it from attacking.
It seems aggression in a rooster is a desired trait, if you want baby chickens. Meanwhile
the vets and employees couldn't keep from laughing.
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