Note: Mr Kazudy passed on in late July 2003. This story was written a few months before he died

We have 3 Roosters currently. Mr. Kazudy is a 8 yr. old buff rock. He used to be the top rooster until 3 years ago when he lost a nasty fight with a white cockerel. Mr. K is now in retirement, leaving flock management to the other, younger roosters. In his dotage Mr Kazudy has lost his will to crow and fight. He has osteoporosis which makes it hard for him to walk. So he has become the whipping boy to our other two roosters, Igor and Spike. The younger boyz left Mr K alone for the most part over the winter but as the weather warmed up they decided not to let Mr. K eat or drink and if the weather was particularly foul (fowl) they would chase him out of the coop and not let him back in. Leaving a sad old rooster to sit in the wind and rain (until one of us humans would intervene and place him back in the coop, making it clear to the other roosters that harassing Mr. K is not acceptable behavior) Most mornings would find him hiding under the nesting boxes (there is an 8" crawl space, just enough for Mr K to crawl under) in an attempt to not be bothered by the youngsters. This did leave him unmolested but also without breakfast. So it was decided in early spring that Mr K needed his own digs so we set up a chicken tractor (aka moveable coop) with feed and water and put him in it. He drank for a long time as the only food and water he was getting was when we would hand feed and water him every afternoon. than he had his first full meal in peace. Later on in the day we added some hens to his new apartment (now a swinging bachelor pad). The hens were acting broody (this is an uncontrollable urge to sit on eggs until they hatch) but did not like the move so the urge to brood is waning now (but I digress)). Mr K seems to like having the hens as company and they have been helping him preen and get his feathers back in order. You see, the other roosters along with not letting Mr K eat or drink, also would not allow him to preen or take dust baths (the ultimate chicken pleasure and necessary to keep parasites at bay and feathers healthy). But now that he has his own place he is preening and bathing when he isn't eating or sleeping. He is one happy old guy now.

Mr Kazudy with his hens at the old farm