I just have to share! I just have to tell you! I have a new neighbor just across the field, to the left of Our Treehouse. I am sure Grandmother Tree has noticed, too, as our new neighbor is easily visible and audible. Perhaps you would like to guess who my new neighbor is? Just look at the picture above. :O)

His name is Amos. He stands about two feet tall. He is a two legged creature that walks around in his pen, or perhaps I should say struts? He loves to rise very early in the morning. He has an amazing voice and let’s the whole neighborhood know the sun is rising. His body is covered in red feathers, and his tail is full and curved and covered with black feathers. Yes, I have a rooster named Amos for a neighbor. And he has enchanted me!

Now I know enchanting is not the usual word one would use to describe a rooster. But Amos really does bring me joy. And the way he crows! Why I am sure if my neighbors Maritza and Mike put him in a crowing contest he would win hands down. So then I got to thinking about how does a rooster crow? I found some interesting facts on Google.

Roosters do not have vocal cords. They have a syrinx or tube which is located at the base of the trachea, (windpipe) very close to their lungs. The rooster will take a huge breath before crowing causing the throat and neck to puff out. This enables the rooster to call out his “cock-a-doodle-doo” loud and long. The air passes through vibrating membranes inside the syrinx. And get this! A healthy, robust rooster can exceed 130 decibels, which is as loud as a jet engine with takeoff. (A decibel is a unit used to measure intensity or loudness of sound.) So let’s not forget their ears. Roosters tilt their head back to crow. This causes a small, soft piece of tissue to flap down over his ear canal to prevent hearing loss. And the crown on their head? Amos has a bright, red comb on top of his head. I am sure this helps him feel very handsome but also releases body heat as roosters cannot sweat. The red flaps, or wattles, under his beak also help him cool down on a hot day. Don’t you just love that word wattles?

Roosters have other jobs to do besides crow. They provide protection as watch dogs for the hens, watching out for hawks, foxes, and other predators. They will fight predators to try and save hens. This is where the spurs of a rooster come in handy. Spurs are sharp, bony appendages that look like horns which grow on the inside of the lower part of their legs. Roosters will find food, like bugs or seeds, and call the hens over to share this bounty. They make sure all hens get a turn at eating. They keep order among the hens, which lowers stress and I am sure this helps with egg production, One does not need a rooster for a chicken to lay an egg. But a rooster is needed to fertilize eggs if you want baby chicks.

I am sure my cat, Pan, has been around the chicken coop to check out our new neighbor, Amos. Pan considers all the surrounding fields around Our Treehouse part of his kingdom. He is keeping his cards close to his chest though. I have not heard one “meow” I think could be related to Amos. And Amos is protected by chicken wire, all around and up and down.

The hens will arrive soon. Then Amos will have his own kingdom inside the chicken coop!

With Love, Joan