RIP, Paul

A sad goodbye to my little frizzled bantam Cochin rooster. Paul spent the majority of his eight years as the second-string rooster; the runner up; the small auxiliary roo. Then last December Emile, the alpha rooster, passed on. The Coop One rooster is dead, long live the rooster—Paul ascended to the throne. Sadly, this little guy’s reign was short-lived. Paul's health has been sliding downhill since midsummer. On a crisp and clear Sunday in October, he decided it was time to leave. He made his way to a sunny corner in the hen pen and spent the day there laying down with his head on the ground, his breath becoming more shallow and sporadic, until he was gone. I could have sequestered him, but the hens were not bothering him - and I think he liked being surrounded by his flock right where he was. Plus, he had friends watching over him. Mary and Jennifer, who are both his age, and who spent every night of their entire lives roosting with him, spent the day standing by his side. Do chickens form friendships? Do chickens mourn? There's no question in my mind. The Coop One rooster is dead. And an era has ended - there are no more roosters to take his place.

Farmer-ish - The Journal that Lives Between Farming and the Arts

I first discovered Crystal Sands when I was doing some internet surfing for chickens a few years ago and found her beautifully written blog, Pajamas, Books, and Chickens. I was originally drawn by the “chickens” in the title, and the blog is, in fact, about chickens. But it’s also about parenting and gardening and farming. And life. And simplicity. And peace. And beauty. And kindness.

Because I love the blog I was excited when I found out that Crystal’s newest project was an online journal called Farmer-ish, a project she undertook because she wanted “to help others develop a deep understanding and love of farming and farmers and learn how they can live more sustainably themselves.” The second issue was just published and I’m enthused about it and delighted to be a part of it. If Farmer-ish is new to you, a good place to delve into the new Fall issue is Crystal’s touching and very personal story about an egg hatching disaster, and about loss: “Mourning (Unfinished).” When you’re done reading that, scroll back to the top and click on some of the other content. This is a collection of phenomenal writers and they’ve written some interesting and truly inspiring stuff!

Go to Bed with the Chickens and Stay Safe from Malaria

An Anopheles stephensi mosquito slurping up some human blood - Jim Gathany, CDC (public domain) — An *Anopheles stephensi* mosquito slurping up some human blood - Jim Gathany, CDC (public domain)

There’s a scientific journal that focuses entirely on malaria research. It’s comforting to know that there are so many scientists researching this terrible, devastating disease that they can have their own journal. What do you call a journal about malaria? How ‘bout Malaria Journal? I wonder how many scientists stayed up all night brainstorming that. I wonder if alcohol was involved. Anyway, I recently ran across an article from this aptly named journal because chickens (what else?!).

An article entitled “Chicken Volatiles Repel Host-Seeking Malaria Mosquitoes” concluded that “non-host volatiles repel host-seeking An. arabiensis and thus play a significant role in host discrimination. As such, this study demonstrates that non-host volatiles can provide protection to humans at risk of mosquito-vectored diseases in combination with established control programmes.”

Translation from science-journalese into English: Certain mosquitoes that carry malaria are repelled by the odors produced by chickens. Mosquitoes find us by homing in on our scent. And if our scent is masked by the odor of animals that the mosquito doesn’t feed on, they simply won’t be able to find us. In this study in Egypt, Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes - common malaria-carrying critters, were less attracted to sleeping humans if chicken odors were also present.

As mosquitoes in the tropics become increasingly resistant to pesticides, we need to find new ways to control them. And while some smart researcher is likely to come up with a device that emits specific chicken-related odor compounds, all you really need to do is sleep with your chickens. Now, we need to talk to the CDC about their recommendation that chickens never be brought inside the house.

Adventures with Chicken-Themed Attire

I don’t get out much these days (because covid social distancing) and I think my skill set for social interaction is getting a bit rusty. Recent case in point:
Home Depot Check-Out Clerk: I like your shirt.
My Brain: Alert! Alert! Human Being Attempting to Initiate Conversation!
Me: Um…….What? (Look down to scan upper torso to see what shirt I’m wearing.) Um….Thanks. Um….I’ve got thirty of them at home.
HDCOC: What? Um…..Do you, like, sell them, or make them or what?
Me: Um…What?
HDCOC: You said you had thirty shirts like that.
Me: What? Oh! Ha-ha. No, chickens! I have thirty chickens! Chickens. Ha-ha. I’ve only got one of these. I’ve only got this one shirt.
HDCOC: What? Um…. what do you wear when you wash it?
Me: What?
HDCOC: Do you wash your shirt?
My Brain: Abort! Abort!
Me: Thankshaveagoodday! (Exit store)

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