How do you describe Elton to people who have never met him and who may never met him? Elton's most distinguishing characteristic is a long flowing mane of blond feathers which strongly resemble a mullet. Picture Hulk Hogan in his glory days or Matthew McConaughey's character from "Dazed and Confused" and you will be in the ball-park. Let's just say, if chickens could drive, Elton would be the one cruising in the primer gray El Camino with a spoiler bolted to the tail-gate and asymmetrical hand painted flames down the sides. Before you saw him, though, you would hear his Kraco stereo blasting "Freebird" through a couple of 6"x9"s. I love this image of Elton because it's not too far removed from me.
Whenever I am cleaning in the yard, Elton likes to stalk me. Now, let me say up front that I do not believe that Elton is mean or malicious. He is just doing what his biological imperative tells him to do which is to guard his hens against unknown intruders. For anyone who believes that animals are incapable of premeditation, watching Elton would probably change their mind. He will follow me at a short distance as I go back and forth raking. When I look his way, his eyes will dart to the side as he tries to be very nonchalant about his pursuit. The instant that the rake is no longer between us, however, he will strike at my ankles with his claws and beak. This doesn't hurt when he connects (I let him have at it one day to see if I really needed to be afraid of him or not), but it does make you jump a bit.
This daily routine continued for my first week and a half and it was one of the more predictable elements. Then one day one of the other roosters, a beautiful red rooster named Russet, began to intervene. Whenever I was in the yard, he would emerge from the Chicken Barn and get between me and Elton. He would chase him off if he tried to get too close to me. I will never know what his motivations for this are, and I know that it is dangerous to ascribe human characteristics in some cases, but I have decided that Russet is my Guardian Chicken, even if I don't understand exactly why. Thank you Russet for having my back - when I learn feeds, I will make sure you get an extra ration!
