The Value of a Rooster
Our rooster- Shing Hun- in the midst of his hens
Every once in a while I look at the roosters and wonder if they are worth their feed. Frankly, Shing Hun is getting old and probably not so tasty and, obviously, he doesn't lay eggs. He is absolutely lovely and grand and the kids love him- but he's too fierce to be played with like the hens.
Shing Hun struts around, crows a lot, and is something of a dandy.
Then one day we found a dead hen at the barn door. The next day Mike went into the barn and found Shing Hun in a battle to the death with a 15 pound tomcat. The hens were in one corner and Shing Hun was between them and the cat- battling to protect them. Thanks to Mike's intervention- Shing Hun came out on top.
On days when I come out with chicken scraps- Shing Hun walks around the scrambling hens- too dignified and watchful to fight over bread scraps and the kids' left over oatmeal. At night, he seems to check to make sure all the hens are in their coop.
Most days the roosters have pretty light duty. Pleasant even. But we can rest a little easier knowing that Shing Hun has his eyes on things when we're not there and he's proven fierce in protecting his flock. And that's the value of a rooster.
Comments
Keep on strutting ole' rooster keep on strutting!
Posted by: kelley | January 17, 2010 1:44 PM
Bless his masculine heart!!
Posted by: Carolyn McDonald | January 18, 2010 9:44 AM
I think I need to find myself a strong, handsome rooster like Shing Hun!!
Posted by: Kathy Jorgenson | January 19, 2010 1:12 AM
If the writer could have got her husband to stand still, I'm afraid the article would not have been about a chicken
Posted by: anonymous | January 21, 2010 4:59 PM
I fear that if a certain husband had stood still for a photo-the article would not have been about a rooster.
Posted by: mdj | January 21, 2010 8:40 PM
I love rooster/chicken posts. It reminds me of when I was little - my moms family is from way down south and they always had chickens, and I was given a baby chicken for a summer...I'm sure he turned into food once I left!
Posted by: kathy springer | January 28, 2010 8:27 PM
Shing Hun-- Rest in Peace
Posted by: Kathy D | April 22, 2010 1:22 PM
haven't seen such bird for a long time and they look handsome...
Posted by: Lily witch | May 26, 2010 3:36 AM