Dear Franz Jospeh,
When I set off to that workshop at Jenna's farm to pick you up I was so happy to finally get chicks. You and your girleens were years in the making, lots of dreaming, and reading. I stayed at a very nice Inn and they were very kind you three. You stayed in the garage that first night with your heat lamp and the kind Inn Keeper checked on you, you three made him happy. That workshop Franz on that damp cool day, was so much fun I hung out with people just like me who wanted to start their first flock and dream of a simple life. From day one you have been a trial. When I returned home with you three there was something wrong with your butt. Lesson one, it's hard to clean a chicks butt, oh and that little dot, that wasn't anything wrong, it was what would eventually make you different from the other two fully butts. Every night you would chirp your little head off till I made it warmer in the brooder, just feet from my bed, giving you the name Empress Sisi. Yes it was fun, but damn you had some lungs. As you got older your little comb started to show more and more, again more differences from the other two. I wished that my Empress wasn't becoming an Emperor. As time went on, you got bigger and that comb got bigger and those damn waddles started coming in. You were a good "girl?" always in the middle of things and enjoying sitting on my lap. Then that dreaded day came when you started to crow? Really? I was still hoping you were just a dominant hen that crowed. I convinced myself that that was so. Nope, one day I sent your teenage picture to Jenna it was confirmed, you were a Roo. I was sooo sad, my empress would have to be re homed and I began worrying about the neighbors. Your named changed to Franz Joseph, your names sake husband. It all changed from there.
This was about the time you three were to go out side. We insulated the coop and made shutters to keep you quite. Those first crows of yours were the silliest things I have ever heard. Each weekend I was always worried the neighbors would complain. But they never did, in fact they loved hearing your crows. As time went on you grew and got older. The girleenes loved you, the neighbors loved you, and most of all I loved you. I heard the warnings, he'll go bad and ride your girls bare backed. You have always been kind to those girleens.
You got really sick once, I found you on the bottom of coop one night not able to get back to the roost. For two weeks you were a house roo. We studied together, cuddled, and were the best of buddies. I even took you to the vet and she warned me too of the possible dangers of a hand reared rooster. I changed my ways and so did you, both for the better. In time you were better and when I put you back outside with your girleenes you danced for them, you missed each other sooo much.
As time went on we got into it again, more research and I thought I smoothed things over. You got frostbite and we were getting along for me treat you and you were being a good boy. Those girls love you and you loved them with all your little heart. It was always a pleasure to see you call them over for food and share prized treats. If the greater being made a human man as kind as you are to those girleens I'd jump at the chance.
That scary day when I was super beyond upset and I thought I would loose all three of you, you let me cry with you guys over loosing the house, the magic of my daddy, and the beginning of me having to be a grown up. I'll always be great full that you let me have that last sit with you before... BAM I get back from chicken congress and you hate me.
Each day since you tried all kinds of things to scare me off, flogging, a bite to the face, and bad body language. Till Franz Joseph you flogged me from behind and would not let me get you out of the coop or get in the run. You my friend made chicken keeping NOT FUN! News flash you are MINE not the other way around. So you eventually won. What do I know about keeping chickens let a lone a rooster trying to be a rooster? I hoped, researched, and tried everything I could to help you live here. It just was not meant to be. You are going to a really nice farm in Guilford and finally do what you so desperately want to do, look after hens. You my little roo, will be missed but it's for the best.
Love,
Megan
No comments:
Post a Comment