For those of you who are new here, and for everyone who has been following along with the saga, let me present to you : The story of Napoleon, the wayward rooster, and Turkey Girl, his star-crossed lover. Part 1:
#birdtwitter
#birdtwitter
Introducing the cast: This is Napoleon, my tiniest rooster. He's a Silkie breed, but doesn't have the right feathers (they're usually soft and fluffy). He loves Turkey Girl.
This is Turkey Girl! Isn't she beautiful? She loves Napoleon back, spurning all of our large and glorious toms in favor of his company.
Napoleon and turkey girl have loved each other since they were tiny chicks. Neither of them has eyes for anyone else. Usually roosters have a harem, but not Napoleon. I've never seen him try to woo any other girl, and he sleeps cuddled under TG's wing in the coop each night.
One morning I went to toss some corn (it helps keeps the birds warm in winter) to Napoleon and TG, who as usual were off alone together. Suddenly, chaos erupted. Turkeys were screaming and hollering, bumping Napoleon out of the way to get the treats.
Napoleon had found a bit of corn and was calling, gently clucking and cooing, to Turkey Girl to come get it, but he was muscled aside.
Again and again he called to Turkey Girl, but each time she tried to come to him, a big tom blocked his way, trying to catch her attention.
Turkey Girl gave all those big boys a look and pecked them away, clearing space and coming back to Napoleon's side, eating the corn he had protected for her.
In the end, she chose him. She chooses him over and over again. It's not size that counts sometimes, but how you use what you've got :) Napoleon's very unroosterlike, monogamous mind apparently appeals to Turkey Girl's unique sensibilities.
Napoleon & TG's love has caused some issues. For instance, the turkeys wander out in bad weather while chickens hide in the coop, staying warm. Napoleon wanted to follow TG everywhere so multiple times I had to chip him out of ice. He'd get cold, sit, and freeze to the ground.
Chicken feet are warm so ice melts, then refreezes. He's not dumb he's just so in love with Turkey Girl he wants to be with her, and his little chicken body can't handle the cold I have to be on constant Napoleon patrol to make sure he's ok.
Napoleon is quite a handsome little guy! And yes, he got his name because he isn't aware of his size. He's not aggressive but he won't take guff from the turkeys or any of the bigger boys.
Dear, sweet, Captain Napoleano. Please go back in the coop where all the sane, warm chickens are.
Bonus: Baba Yaga turkey.
Bonus: Baba Yaga turkey.
Guess who was just outside for a half an hour in angry, freezing winds searching for our intrepid little hero, Napoleon.
He is found. Judging by the turkey tracks all around him, he and Turkey Girl were out too late and he got too cold. This chicken will be the end of me.
He is found. Judging by the turkey tracks all around him, he and Turkey Girl were out too late and he got too cold. This chicken will be the end of me.
It's another brutally cold day in Minnesota, and all the birds are hiding in the coop except for Napoleon, the Arctic adventurer.
Napoleon and Turkey Girl really wanted kids. They tried to mate, sit on eggs, and were always adopting everyone else's children when those got old enough them their moms kicked them out. Here they are with one of their young turkey adoptees.
They even adopted one of the emus for a long time, until it got old enough to take a mate of its own. It followed them everywhere.
Napoleon and TG, absolutely inseparable. Always off on their own adventures, not part of the rest of the flock. Usually with one or another adopted child.
To be continued in Part 2!
To be continued in Part 2!
