In spite of rooster Larry Bird, we’ll get deadline accomplished
Life is full of twists and turns, and here’s a stupid twist I never expected.
I threw out my back defending myself against Larry Bird, our rooster, who attacked me for no good reason while I was practicing with my golf wedge in the yard. So I took a swing at him and threw out my back in the process. After I limped into the house, I demonstrated my incredible patience and kindness towards dumb animals by not grabbing my shotgun and blowing Larry’s head off.
We’re in the midst of deadline for the next issue, so everything during this busy time will take even longer to accomplish as I make my way from chair to chair. There is a lesson in this, but I can’t figure out what it is. I think it involves stupidity.
Meanwhile, our Special Preparedness Issue has sold off the newsstands (It took about three days), so if you want to subscribe and get a copy don’t go to your local bookstore but click here instead. Click here to see the Table of Contents and read a few of the articles.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Rhode Island Red?
That rooster looks remarkably like one that attacked my little sister while she was doing chores (gathering eggs) when she was about six or seven years old, back sometime around 1979-1980.
Didn’t hurt her, but scared the ever-lovin’ crap out of her, and ran her out of the chicken yard in tearful hysterics.
Daddy made her find a stick (a piece of bamboo about a foot taller than she was), go back into the chicken yard, and go beat the hell out of that rooster. And when he ran, CHASE HIM and HIT HIM AGAIN!! It was pretty fun, watching this little girl learn to take control of the situation, and gain confidence over something that had scared her so bad.
Of course, she wasn’t strong or fast enough to hurt the rooster, but she chased him all around the chicken yard with a little whack here and there, and her stick and Daddy-provided inspiration taught her not to be afraid of that rooster.
After that, her stick stayed leaned against the fence next to the chicken yard gate, and she did her chore (gathering eggs) with her egg basket in one hand, her stick in the other - and if the rooster got within about 20 feet of her, she’d set the basket down, put both hands on the stick, and remind the rooster who was boss!
May 10th, 2008 at 10:57 am
After a previous attack by Larry, I had starting chasing him around the yard on the advice of my sons, who play with the chickens regularly and have firmly established themselves above Larry in the pecking order. However, now with my tentative back I don’t dare chase him. In his little brain, he’s probably figured he’s got me by the old yubangees.
To add to these problems, we just got three geese ( I forget the breed) who are destined to grow up to be large and aggressive. Pretty soon I’ll have to go into my backyard with my sons as bodyguards. It’s all very embarrassing.
To further complicate matters, I like Larry Bird. I wouldn’t hurt him. Maybe I need to carry mace. Life can sure get complicated in a hurry.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:26 am
We had a lovely rooster & dumplins dinner last month. We had 2 roos and I finaly got tired of having to beat the **** out of the Sussex every time I went into the coop. I always carried a big club with me due to his meaness. This winter he rushed me and I hit him so hard I knocked him cold. I felt horrible at the time & watched over him till he woke up. (the girls were pecking him) I guess I should’ve taken him out then, ’cause last month he spiked my daughter in the foot while she was out raking the yard. She was just short of having to get stitches. We dispatched him the next day. I love not having to buy chicks, but Roos are a pain in the rear!
May 10th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Perhaps you could sic the geese on Larry? They might give him a run for his money if they work together. heh heh.
Just wanted to take a moment to give your whole BHM team a big THANK YOU and JOB VERY WELL DONE on the special prepper issue. FANtastic. A friend of mine mentioned that she signed us up for a freebie military sub but it hasn’t arrived yet - I’m glad I snagged a copy of this one on the newsstand when I saw it. Somehow I’m not surprised it’s flown off the shelves. As always, excellent work - but this one is very needed. Hopefully it’ll help out folks who are new to BHM and preparedness issues, but seeing the need these days, in addition to those of us who are midway but still have room to improve.
Thanks for all you do, guys and gals!
May 12th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Well, we were thinking about getting chickens & roosters. Now I know the 1st thing to set in and around the coop…. a weapon of some kind to let them know who’s boss. Glad I read this blog before we all would be getting attacked. I got a laugh out of it, even though it probably isn’t funny to ya’ll. Love your books and magazine! Thanks for it all.
May 12th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Keep in mind that you don’t have to have a rooster to get eggs from your chickens. If our Larry Bird disappeared, it would not affect the hens’ egg production. In fact, they’d probably be glad to be rid of the oversized monster that keeps jumping on them. We keep Larry around because he’s a colorful character, and he does try and warn the hens about predators, especially ones from the sky.