A Bird's Eye View

Chapter 2:

Oh, Flower of Gamrie

Nine roundish eggs went into the incubator. We had fallen for the folklore that pointy eggs are more likely to be a cockerel.sI was so impatient!

I wasn't too disappointed when I was told only two eggs were developing. Then the day arrived when the first began to hatch!

Flower & Petal, hours old

Crikey did it take some time! But eventually a little yellow chick laid exhausted but alive in the incubator. Soon the other was on its way. The first chick couldn't wait and basically dragged number two from its shell! That should have been taken as a sign.

Both alive and well they were named Flower and Petal, two little future hens?.....Wrong.

Flower & Petal, 3 weeks old

From day two they were quite hyper. From one week they were attacking each other. From four weeks it seemed obvious by their aggression and confidence we had two little cockerels on our hands.

Sadly, Petal had an accident and didn't make it. I cried for two days, the big soft lump I am.

But Flower was a strong healthy chick.

His dad was Dino, the multi coloured dark cockerel and his mam was a gold and black Vorwerk. However, chicken genetics are a funny thing and Flower was mostly white. And aggressive. And crazy. Yes, our one surviving hatchling was more triffid than flower, more chav and more different to what I had envisioned when embarking on this road .

A neighbour kindly gave us two little girls to keep Flower company. Marion and Mavis. Whilst Mavis was a female, Marion was not! Which meant we now had four Cockerels! Oh joy. Eagle and Dino already disliked each other so two more where just what the doctor did not order. 

Flower, his dad Dino & brother Marion

Flower grew more and more dominant, psycho, jealous, talkative and hyperactive every day. Luckily, him and Marion played in the dirt like two best mates whilst Mavis tolerated them.

Soon the day arrived where all three would join the general population. As I thought, Mavis despite being little, was tough and independent. Marion was chilled and took it in his stride. Flower..... Flower went on attack mode with everything, spreading panic and chaos among the free rangers.

Then Flower realised he was a cockerel! We had hens running in every direction, pursued by the amorous triffid, followed by Dino trying to stop him. Flower's energy knew no bounds. He then started to fight with daddy Dino and bully Marion. So he was put under the care of Eagle, the Brahma twice the size of Flower. It worked. Flower grabbed a hen and Eagle would shift him. Flower was clever enough to leg it before Eagle got hold. Except for one time, where I watched Eagle grab Flower off little Mavis and helped Mr. Lover Lover do a triple back somersault with a double twist, that he landed perfectly.

Flower & his ladies

Having hand reared Flower I expected a little understanding from him. After all, he used to sit on my shoulder and peck my ear, ride around on my arm and talk to me constantly. Well he was still talking - one day he suddenly attacked my wellies, working his way up till he found flesh! I gave him the benefit of doubt until it happened a fourth time! I picked him up, told him off and carried him around for a while. He wouldn't shut up until he eventually ran out of steam. I got him a treat and it seems, so far, that was enough for a truce.

Our boy, Flower.

Flower is an enigma. Nothing like his Dad and dances like no other Cockerel before amour takes over. Eagle has him in check and Mavis has the ability to calm him down. At eight months old he is a beauty.....and still a devil... but he's our Flower and will remain with us come what may, until he joins the chicken coop in the sky.

In friendship,

The family.

Note from Flo, Custodian of Gamrie Gardens:

I hope you enjoy these stories! They are written my a close family member who wishes to stay anonymous. They are one of the main caretakers of our mixed flock of birds that live on the land. These stories bring me a lot of joy as I hope they do for you as well. There is SO much drama in the chicken coop, it's hard to stay on top of current pecking orders, who's with who, disagreements, who gets to roost where, and beside who, who's the daddy, whose the mum, and of course being such a small animal there is always danger. I'm grateful to all of you who have read this far! Rest assured, there are many more stories to come. I am considering creating more visuals for this as well, perhaps a YouTube channel in the future? Let me know if you'd like to see more.

Till the next time, happy growing.