Nardole the Brave!

[silkiemother]

such a pretty bird!he kinda looks like my friends' polish named tala he is an absolute sweetie and looks really funny

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

LOVE Nardole!!!!! he is the best!

 

[pitbullmomma]

Nardole the Brave is probably the best young cockerel I have ever met, with the possible exception of a rooster in my youth called King Louis.
Nardole is a Polish crested with a mild cross beak and a crooked tail, and no brains at all, but he tries.
He was supposed to be a pet for my cousin's children, and he was a great favorite called Blanche until he started crowing, but alas, my cousin lives in the middle of town and no roosters are permitted, so he went to live with cousin Dona, ie ME and I initially did not want him.
But the very first day I had him, I fell in love.
I knew nothing of quarantine, so I just chucked him in and hoped for the best. He was older than my pullets by quite a bit, and I was prepared for him to bully them and need to be removed. What I was not prepared for was just how seriously he would take his new job.
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He would stand guard every second of every day. He would stand at the door when the girls were inside eating, and when they napped under the ladder, he would stand above them on the ramp and scan the skies.
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Once free ranging started, he learned to tidbit, and then it became his whole life. Catching bugs and calling his little flock over was what he did, when he wasn't busy watching for predators.
Which he did, with remarkable dedication, and almost unrealistic bravery.
There was one afternoon when I happened to glance out my window, and see all the chickens scatter into the bushes and overgrowth except for Nardole-- he was charging in the opposite direction, puffed up as much as his 5 month old body could fluff. Following his trajectory, I saw a fox galloping towards him!
I sent my dog out and ran outside in my house slippers. Nardole was in the Fox's mouth, but flapping and kicking for all he was worth! My dog saved the day, and my beautiful boy was wounded, but made a full recovery.
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I was astonished at both his bravery and overwhelming stupidity. He charged a fox, with no spurs, barely able to see.
He earned every bit of tlc that he recieved until his beak and eye healed.
The experience did not discourage him. If anything, it strengthened his resolve to be flock protector. Nothing was safe-- low flying airplanes were chased off the property, loud trucks on the road were threatened until they retreated, and no tractor was permitted to get passed him and into the yard. He perfected his alarm call, and the rest of the flock runs whenever he uses it.
He is always on guard.
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I brought home a feral hen with three new chicks, and Nardole was immediately interested. Despite keeping her at a distance in a smaller pen, he could always see her and was fascinated.
Then, when the flock was permitted to gather together and free range for the first time, he was immediately interested in the chicks-- talking to them softly, offering them crickets. He is SURE they are his own.
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I was worried he would attack them, and was prepared, once again, to intervene. Once again, he has defied my expectations in the most charming of ways.
He looks silly, with his huge crest in front of his eyes, with his crooked tail and funky beak. He is high maintenance, needing burrs removed and his beak trimmed.
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I wouldn't trade him for the world.

Best. Story. Ever.

I Nardole!! What a good rooster!

 

[Dona Worry]

LOVE Nardole!!!!! he is the best!

He really is! I never in 100 years would have picked out a Polish crested for myself, and certainly not for a flock leader, but now that I have the one, I am getting 4 more! He was a gateway drug!
Although, it is for practical reasons too. I had 6 other chicks that were supposed to become Nardole's designated flock and live in the enclosed run, BUT they started pulling his feathers out, and every once and a while, for no reason whatsoever, the older pullets will start plucking him.
There's gratitude for you. . !

I'm hoping a little flock of ALL crested birds, in a large, fun, completely enclosed run will be the perfect paradise for my perfect boy!

 

[lilmillefleur]

I'll gladly give you all my dim witted silkies...lol

actually I take them back they are too fluffy to give away

 

[silkiemother]

yes silkies are too funny looking not to love.oh imagine a silkie polish mix!

 

[Shadrach]

Roosterism!
There is something about roosters. It doesn't seem to matter how daft they look, or act.
I've got eight at the moment. Each one is a complete indiviual.
The most aggresive one eventually calmed down, it took a lot of work and now he takes better care of the hens than any of the others; he just doesn't like people......who can blame him.

 

[silkiemother]

 

[Dona Worry]

AHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[townchicks]

Thanks for that sweet story, put's a smile on my face.