Angi, more questions. I understand the mood thing. But with the colour of the snood, caruncle and waddle, let's speak of these. I haven't quite figured that one out. These apparatus can change from all being a light grey to mostly blue to all completely red within a very short time. What does it mean when all these apparatus are that bright fire engine red? I would think the opposite colours would mean the opposite mood. So, lets just find out what the total fire engine red means? Relaxed or uptight? What fascinating birds these are, never would have dreamed that they could entertain me as they do. The turkey hen was protecting me from Whoppo the other day. Now go figure that one.
Yesterday, I was standing outside the fence of the chickenyard and Whoppo (the male Muscovy duck) was doing his usual deed of trying to intimidate me by walking back and forth along the fence and hissing big time.
Abigail, which is the bronze/slate X hen came over to him and started to make a sound that I haven't heard before. The hens can make several different sounds, beautiful sounds, and the sound that she make I can only describe it as a purring sound, but in kind of a high pitch. She walked around Whoppo and walked around him, making this sound, and then he put her face right beside his face and made this sound. This intimidated him and he walked away immediately. She followed right behind him making this sound, all the way over to the other side of the yard, and then she went on to pecking some stuff on the ground.
Whoppo was not done with me yet, he still needed to think he was king of the yard. He came over to the fence and started his antics again. Over she came immediately, walking around and surrounding him, making that kind of loud purring sound. Identical scenario. Finallly he left again, with her hot on his tracks, the faster he walked the faster she walked, I am not kidding. Finally when he was at the other end of the yard, she proceeded to eat stuff again. This happened one more time, identical.
I don't know if a turkey hen would try to protect me. But she certainly did not like what Whoppo was doing in front of me, that hissing and looking like he was gonna bite right through the fence. I eventually just left because I had stuff to finish off in the house. It sure felt like I was being protected by Abigail cause she sent Whoppo off in his tracks three times yesterday morning, it was very cool. Now I have a special bond with Abigail, she is now my friend, just like Isabella, the white chicken that lays brown eggs. She is one of the most friendliest chickens I have ever seen, and follows me around like a dog. (well, it couldn't be because I am always unearthing bugs and worms for her now is it? I give her special attention because she gives me special attention).
Wow, what a world I have entered and live in, the birds, the bees, no sugar loaf trees though, not on that Big Rock Candy Mountain, yet.......beautiful day in this beautiful life, many more beautiful things to come. Cindi