From M. A. CROOKS
We have kept chickens for many years purely for the indulgence of fresh
free-range eggs. The current population have been kept, as they say, from
the egg and the pecking order is well established. There is no doubt as
to which is chief chicken, as it exhibits all the usual manifestations
of being the boss including, occasionally, ‘treading’ the other birds in
imitation of a cockerel.
Recently, however, the bird has taken an even bigger step towards cockerelhood
– that of trying to crow. Indeed, it has refined its performance to the
point where it is indistinguishable from the real thing – to the annoyance
of our neighbours whom it wakes at unearthly hours.
Since these birds have never heard a cockerel nor presumably do they
know what one is, could it be that they have an archetypal memory of cockerel
behaviour in addition to hen behaviour? If this is the case is it precipitated
in a group of birds by the need for a ‘boss’ figure and only appears in
the bird at the head of the pecking order, or does that bird suffer a hormone
change which results in the appearance of the latent cockerelness?
In short, is this a case of Henopause requiring HRT (Hen Repopulation
Therapy) or has the bird just sexually freaked out?
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M. A. Crooks Letchworth, Hertfordshire
