A Rooster Named Randy
- Melissa Roy-Hiller
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
Once upon a time, a rooster moved into a cedar tree, in the forest next to my homestead. I don't know how long he'd been there before Baby-Bella (my fur-baby), discovered him, but he made sure to keep up appearances since that fateful day.
You see, the day prior, my beautiful soul-pup, Luna, took her stroll across rainbow bridge. I suspected that she was feeling a bit unwell, and I had a 'strange feeling' that she may be leaving me.
One day, while standing at my kitchen sink washing dishes, I asked The Universe for a sign -- and suddenly this vision appeared before me. As soon as I saw it through my kitchen window, I grabbed my camera and ran riverside ---
A few days later, Luna's spirit-journey began. Despite being lost in grief, I knew that I had to focus some attention on wee Bella, as she too was feeling the loss of her adopted Mama.
I invited her to take a walk with me through the forest next door. She ran ahead and insisted that I follow her to the base of Randy's cedar tree. I expected to see a squirrel, so imagine my surprise when I looked up and saw this sight.
As the weeks passed, Randy continued to make his presence known, and before long he was inside the homestead fencing, becoming acquainted with his future home! By this time we were into November and winter was setting in.
December 2023:
It became obvious that this visitor was not going anywhere. He claimed his squatter's rights, and held onto them tightly.
🤔"What good is a lone rooster?", I asked. "Let's build him a Love Shack, and get him some ladies!" {So that's what we did!}
December 29, 2023: The day that Randy met his future Chicky-Mamas was a fascinating day indeed!
Before long, he moved in a little closer.....
Spring of 2024:
We introduced a few more Sister Wives.
Midge was our first homestead Mama! WTG, Randy -- you did it!!
Summer 2024 ~ A busy time indeed!
Soon we had a full-on chicken farm! What fun this adventure has been....
Autumn 2024
One rooster, 9 wives, and a Love Shack = dozens of hatchlings, --- and that's how a productive homestead is made!
It's time to make room for the newest additions! I had a pile of scrap, a few hand tools, and lots of grit!! A determined girl can get things done once she sets her mind on it. I had never built any sort of structure before, and uneven boards make things tricky ----
Here goes! ---
I did it!! 💪🥳
The FREE-RANGERS love their freedom! Look how happy they are 🥰
PS Here's a little side-story for ya -- When the ladies first came to live in "Randy's Love Shack", he was a complete gentleman and had not moved himself into it yet. Randy had made the reckless choice to roost in a tree nearby, while his ladies were protected inside their new home. (Keep in mind, Randy was a forest-dwelling hobo in the months leading up to their arrival)
I had seen the forecast and knew that the temperature was about to plummet overnight -- from plus 4C, down to -22C, as the east winds brought the arctic outflow. I urged Randy to relocate from his tree branch, into the coop with his ladies, but we could not catch him to put him inside.
The next two days were brutal for poor Mr. Randall. By the third night we were able to coax him inside, but the frostbite had taken it's toll. His glorious comb turned black and eventually fell off, leaving behind this tiny ridge cap. The ladies still find him handsome -- and I find him easier to identify when he's standing next to his identical son, Junior!
This concludes the story of how "Randy" became the mascot of Manatee Mountain Homestead, and how he lived up to his name!! 😉