Old Stanley finally gave up the ghost this afternoon, just as I was feeding his hens with extra cheap white bread. I saw him fall untidily next to an old watering can and he was dead as a door nail when I reached him.
I have commented before on just how good a protector the old guy has been over the years , so I thought it rather fitting that he was surrounded by his gals, all of which were filling their fat chicken faces with with two of tesco's best economy loaves as quickly as their greedy little beaks could muster.
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| Eric and Bogbrush two of the younger cockerels |
And so after seven years the king of the field , like Elvis has finally left the building, and the question
remains which male will now take over the old king's mantle?
My money is on Bogbrush ( above ) who is small but terribly aggressive
He suffers from little cockerel syndrome
Stanley's son, the impressive and gentle Badger , should by rights be the next alpha male
But I doubt he has the balls
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| Badger, handsome but fairly useless |
Will there be white smoke when the process is done?
ReplyDeleteLet's hope so!!
DeleteOh dear, sorry about poor old Stanley! I still can't adjust to all the sudden deaths in my bird flock...
ReplyDeleteThat's how I want to go, just keel over and dead in seconds.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be an abundance of dead animals laying themselves at your feet just recently. lol
Briony
x
The king is dead, long live the king...
ReplyDeleteThe king is dead ...... But the badgers will feed well tonight no doubt !
ReplyDeleteDid you know your video "Trelawnyd" now has a small fanbase
DeleteI forgot to say at the time, but until I saw that video I didn't realise Jason was such a looker.
DeleteI think he ought to ditch the hat.
Seven years? A rooster couldn't ask for a better life or death. Bogbrush looks like he's used to being in charge, but I wouldn't be surprised if one of the others got wind of new opportunity afield and gave him a run for the throne.
ReplyDeleteDied with his boots on, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteTime for another to take on all that responsibility. Badger 'knows' what he's doing.
ReplyDeleteOh, they shall work it out. The ladies may divide and group with the one they prefer.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the loss but I could ask no more...just keel over in the midst of doing.
I'm with you Gail. The ladies should have a voice and a choice of their choosing!
DeleteBogbrush looks very clean given all that mud.
ReplyDeletePlease tell me it isn't the bleach..
RIP Stan the ma... erm.... cockerel! I love the name Bogbrush! He's pretty cool - my money's on him too!
ReplyDelete:-( It's as though a little part of me has gone with him. Always sad to hear of a death, no matter whose.
ReplyDeleteBantams - little cockerels - little men - what's the difference John - they have to assert themselves. I must say that as a heading I don't think I have ever read one which is both so odd and so enticing.
ReplyDeleteHow very strange. One of mine keeled over last night. See tomorrow's picture and obit.
ReplyDeleteOh bless him. What a way to go.
ReplyDeleteMy money's on Bogbrush. Us types with 'weird hair' have attitude by the bucket load
Well, Stanley went out as he should.... nobody pecked him to death and he didn't have to give up the throne to a smart-arsed cockerel. He went the way many only dream of.
ReplyDeletePoor old Stanley. He had a good run though. Maybe his spirit will take over one of the other males.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to your blog in awhile and such fun I had reading all the adventures you are on each day...Poor rooster~! He must of had a good life guarding the girls..
ReplyDeleteI loved how you had different people say
Trewlawnyd"... I love hearing Aunt Gladys.. She is my favorite.. hearing her voice was wonderful~!...
Hope you have a great day~! ta ta for now from Iowa:)
Oh John ..... I hate it when animals die ........ but, it's all part of it I guess. I should think that Stanley had a very good life, being cared for by you, so, his is a life well lived. Now it will be a battle of the strongest to who takes over Stan's mantle. Only time will tell !!
ReplyDeleteHe had a good death ( quote from 'Legends of The Fall) and that's all we can ask for. XXXX
Saddens me to see my namesake go but all us Stanley's have to go sometime. He had a good run. Thanks for giving it to him.
ReplyDeleteBogbrush for king. RIP Stanley.
ReplyDeleteRIP Stanley. may the biggest cock win
ReplyDeleteVale Stanley. He had a good long life (for a chook!) with you and a good death. I hope the line of succession sorts itself out without bloodshed!
ReplyDeleteRest in Peace, Stanley. You did a good job here and now you can run free.
ReplyDeleteGod bless his little heart! I hope Badger finds his balls! By right, he is the heir to the harem.
ReplyDeletewhat Nota said ;)
ReplyDeleteGods rest ya Stanley. I'm going to cheer for Badger the undercockeral!
ReplyDeleteLittle cockerals are always surprising. I hatched out some chickens a few years ago and the smallest bantam cockeral was the most aggressive - my wife wouldn't go near him. He made a very poor sunday roast I can tell you, but he tasted good.
ReplyDeleteIt'll put Badger's nose out of joint if Bogbrush takes the crown - he's only been there five minutes!
ReplyDeleteOn another note John, I'm forever seeing posts of yours come up on my reading list, but when I click on them it says the page is not available (or some such wording). It's very frustrating to start reading something but not be able to finish it. I'll be forever wondering what the song was you heard in the restaurant! Can you not delete those posts completely? (or is it only me who can't see them?)
Mouse I have had problems with blogger recently
DeleteRIP Stanley. Sounds like a life well lived.
ReplyDeletePoor Stanley: You know how much you have been loved by your harem when Tesco's super saver white bread is of more interest than the super cock who fertilized their eggs keeling over.
ReplyDeleteKnowing nothing of chickens, other than that the ones ending up in my pot happily clucked about in abundance of field and scratching (at a price to match), I shall not ask you why you feed your hens white bread.
The real question in your sorry saga of who is going to rule the roost is: Who actually decides? The cockerels? The hens? I have an awful feeling that the hens are not very discerning. Probably couldn't care less where the next egg comes from.
Whilst I can see the attraction of BB's devilish white attire I probably would prefer gentle Badger. But then I am not a chick. Mind you, John, you never know: Bog Brush might soon find out the true meaning of being henpecked.
U
Ursula
DeleteAka mad as a box of frogs
White bread is an occasional treat for hens..... They love it.... Not as much as cheap spaghetti but almost
Look here Hen, It was the thought of, not even Tesco's Finest that took him oft.
ReplyDeleteLLX
Stanley had a good life in your pasture & care.
ReplyDeleteLove your stories.... RIP Stanley xox
ReplyDeleteRIP, Stanley. He left some big shoes to fill. Hope that at least one of the three cockerels is able to do the job as well.
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