Remember Big Bertha, our huge hen? We thought she might have been a he when we first got them. She was a lot bigger than the other little chicks. The more we read about the variety we thought we had, the more we thought Bertha might have been a rooster but after the little black roosters and the little Bantam roosters, who were about 3 or 4 weeks younger than the first batch of chickens began crowing over a month ago, we assumed Bertha was a hen.
See how much bigger she is than the other chickens?
Yesterday morning just as it was getting daylight, I staggered outside to let the chickens out. It was halfway dark, I was halfway asleep and the cicadas were so darned noisy, I couldn’t hear myself think. Just as I got to the big girls’ coop, I thought I heard a crow. There are 14 hens in that coop . . no roosters! Couldn’t have been a crow. I decided I just wasn’t awake enough, the cicadas were so loud that it was coming from the Dominique/Bantam coop. The chickens were let out, and I set about working in the garden.
In just a few minutes, I heard the loudest crow! There was no way that was coming from the far coop with the Dominiques/Bantams. I looked and there stood Bertha . . proud as could be . . standing on the ramp crowing her his little heart out. Those other 13 chickens were scared to death! They were jumping and flying into the fence and in a general panic. Bertha stood up there and crowed and crowed.
The other chickens must have figured out the noise was coming from one of their own because they quickly calmed down. I didn’t hear any more crowing the rest of the day. He must’ve worn himself out.
This messed up my elaborate plan of moving some of the roosters here and some there, and moving a hen from this coop to that coop. I need to spread some of the Dominique roosters around but with Big Bertha being large and in charge in Hen House #1, I don’t think I need to try to put another rooster in there. I’m afraid we’re going to have to find a new home for one Dominique rooster and one Bantam rooster.
Who would have thought Bertha would wait til she was over 3 months old before she’d start crowing!
Shirley Albertson Owens (sao) says
That is hysterical. Are there any advantages to the chickens to have a rooster in their midst? I was just curious!
I am happy that Bertha found her crow!!!! 🙂
Have a great day!
sao in Midlothian, VA
Roberta says
Having a rooster you get babies. 😉 Well if the hens go setty.
Don’t worry about moving the bantam roosters, they will get along ok for the most part. No clue if the dominique roosters would get along or fight.
Hugs!!!
Diann Smith says
Bertha has become BERT.
Ruth says
You could rename him Big Burt,and then all you’d need is Ernie.
Sandy in IL says
Funny story, Judy. I like the name Bert! We were at Rural King last week and they had baby yellow chicks that were soooo cute! Also a few black ones. (I had never seen black chicks before.) I can see why you fell in love with chickens. They are so entertaining.
Sue H says
This was so funny, as my Aunt Bertha is staying with me for a few days. I am sitting here at the computer, rolls in the oven, listening for Aunt Bertha to come up the stairs when I see…Bertha Crows! What a funny thought. I do like the idea of having a Bert & Ernie. Ernest is also a family name, and I had a cousin Ernie…
Erin says
Too funny! Yes, now a name change to Bert? This is hysterical!
Vera says
This is so funny. We had a similar story when we got what we thought were ten baby girl chicks. I named my very favorite girl “Sue” after the sunbonnet sue quilt blocks. Well Sue turned out to be a “boy named Sue” and loudly announced it every chance he got. He’s no longer with us and that is another story for another day. Really like hearing about your chickens (and roosters)!
Jevne says
Too funny, Judy, guess he was tired of being treated like ‘one of the girls.’ I don’t think you have to change his name, he can be ‘a boy named…..Bertha’.
I so enjoy having your posts arrive in my mailbox every day. Thanks.
Karin says
I guess Bertha is now Bert, huh? LOL
Linda Steller says
Oh that is just too funny!
Helen Koenig1 says
LOL – love the story! Of course now you have an Al-Bertha instead of just plain Bertha!!! I do love the thought of a Bert-ha and an Ernie (could be an Ernestine – or an Ernest!!! just a thought)
vickie van dyken says
SURPRISE!!!!! ROFLOL
Judy Whitehead says
A friend ended up with 3 roosters so far that she has re-homed here. It’s gone from super quiet to a bit noisy in less than 24 hours! LOL
Barb in MI/FL says
Now Bertha can be Bert! LOL
KatieQ says
Maybe this rooster is just like the boy named Sue.
Donna K. from N. TX says
Big Bert now. None of that girly Bertha stuff from here on out. LOL
Tamera in ND says
It doesn’t surprise me that “Bertha” didn’t crow until 3 months. Full-sized breeds mature slower than bantum breeds.
Congrats on your new rooster, he he he.
Most breeds bred for egg production have had the “broodiness” bred out of them, but it’s possible that one of your hens will go broody ad you would be able to raise your own chicks.
Wouldn’t that be fun?????
Mary says
I can definitely relate! I have a beautiful Hampshire Red that was in a batch of Red Stars chicks who were supposed to be all hens. The chick was cute, cuddly, and very friendly but grew faster than the other girls and was just a bit redder. Then she started crowing at 4 months. Now “she” is a beautiful rooster that wakes everyone up in the mornings and warns us when something is disturbing the hen house.
Judy Garber says
I haven’t laughed so hard in quite a while! Go Bertha! (not a thing wrong with a boy named Bertha!!)
Helen Koenig1 says
It DOES occur to me – that for a lady as concerned about roosters as Judy is – not only does she have several now – but one is almost a pet! (yup – I’m referring to Big Bertha!!!! LOL)