One Fine Rooster Part 2

Braveheart is actually quite famous, although he takes it all in stride. Brave has been featured in a film made for the MSU sesquecentennial celebration called "The Great Experiment" in this film Brave plays himself, the brave and nobel free-range rooster. He has also been featured on the cover of the Michigan Farmer magazine September 2007 issue. You see it seems that free-range chickens are newsworthy since now in the age of industrial agriculture over 90% of our chickens are confined in CAFOs or confined animal feeding operations. Which brings me to why I got into chickens in the first place. I am concerned that increasingly our students here at MSU don't understand the environmental, economic, and moral consequences of the food they eat. So, Braveheart and his girls have become great teachers. My students now see first hand what these beautiful animals are deprived of when they are condemned to live in a battery cage.

One Fine Rooster

Move over Mel Gibson, Braveheart the rooster has stolen my heart. Braveheart is one fine rooster. He is everything a rooster should be: generous, brave, courageous, smart, protective, sacrificing...well you get the picture. Braveheart came to us quite literally as packing material (extra chicks to fill the box from the hatchery) and well, the rest is as they say is history. Braveheart emerged as the one to keep from the 12 other extra cockerels that were shipped with our first batch of chicks. Brave (one of his many nicknames) would storm out of the coop anytime a stranger was in the area checking to see if his girls were in danger. Naturally I handled the birds a lot and so Braveheart became very tame and tolerant of human contact. Braveheart taught me that roosters play a very important role in the chicken social order, he maintains the flock cohesion lording over his girls, calling them when there is good food (he is especially fond of raisin bread) and alerting them when there is danger. Brave can see a hawk in the sky way before I detect a predator is near. True roosters do crow in the morning but did you know they cock-a-doodle-doo when they are happy? When Mr. B (another nickname) hears my voice he begins crowing! Who could ask for more. Well there is way too much to say about Braveheart in just one posting. Stay tuned for Braveheart Part 2. Oh and by the way that is Paula Bloomer in the photo next to Brave.

Happy New Year Happy Chickens

Welcome to Chicken Mama's Blog. As I enter into 2008 I am so excited to share my love of chickens with you. Our beautiful flock of free-range laying hens (and Braveheart the rooster) are located at the Michigan State University Student Organic Farm. Our chickens live a VERY good life surrounded by 10 acres of farm, many wonderful student farmers, and 2 cats. Let me just say that chickens have changed my life. Chickens are beautiful fascinating animals and I look forward to telling you all about our birds.