This is Fabio. He is handsome, he has a gorgeous mane and he makes the girls happy. Well I am the lucky girl who lives with Fabio. A Fabio. Okay a rooster named Fabio, and he is all of the things I describe above. His gorgeous mane is actually a beautiful mane of orange feathers. He is a very handsome Rhode Island Red rooster, and I love the crazy bird. Here is what happens when you live with Fabio.
Fabio (the rooster) follows me everywhere
Since Fabio is the last remaining chicken from our “seven chickens and a duck”, he needs attention. All of his hens are gone now and he seemed depressed for the first few days that they were gone. Now, Fabio and I hadn’t been very close before. In fact, he scared me a bit at first. The first day the “girls” were gone, I was sitting on the front porch (which my husband and I do often), and I heard a flap, flap, flap. Fabio flapped up the 3 stairs to the porch and came over to sit by me. I won’t lie, I was a little skeptical. He seemed sad though, so we just hung out for awhile. This continued for several days – he would spend hours on the porch, even when I wasn’t there.
The animal lover in me of course had to go to Coastal (the local farm store) and buy some treats for him. I found something that looked really good {if you’re a rooster – worms typically aren’t my thing}. Happy Hen Treats Party Mix brought Fabs {his nickname} and I closer. He really started liking me when I hooked him up with his tasty snack. Now he literally runs over to the porch in the morning when my son lets him out of his coop. Have you ever seen a chicken run? It is hilarious!
We have a huge property, and Fabio loves it when I am out garden. He is a good helper. Actually that isn’t true – he doesn’t do a darned thing to help, but he IS good company. He loves to wander around with me, which is pretty cool really.
Roosters are protective!
Sometimes Fabio doesn’t mind his manners when we have guests over. He has become very protective of me!. I always tell people, if he does a little sideways hop toward you, you might want to back up a little. We leave a broom on the porch, as he HATES it when you pick up a broom or rake, and he will usually skeedaddle pretty quickly. For awhile that is. Having Fabs around is akin to having a bodyguard…but better. We are working on his manners…it’s a work in progress. Fabio isn’t very impressed when I scold him. He just side-eyes me.
Fabio loves dirt baths!
I found him taking a delightful dirt bath in one of my ground level planters last summer. He was SO incredibly happy that I didn’t have the heart to stop him.
I remember the first time I saw the chickens taking dirt baths. They were flat on the ground, and I honestly thought maybe they had passed away. Then there was movement…and flailing, and dirt flying everywhere. Then I noticed pure joy on their faces {can you see that on a chicken’s face?}, and I just let them be.
Chickens have their own language
This was news to me. I had no idea that chickens talk so much. It is fascinating to listen to their different noises, which actually mean different things. I remember when we had the hens and Fabio sensed danger. He would make a certain warning noise and they would all go running for cover under a nearby tree. They also make a certain noise when they have found something exciting to eat. We don’t have many snails here in Central Oregon, but one day my son found a snail in a flower pot and he set it down in front of Fabio. Fabio immediately stabbed the poor snail with his beak, started making that “yummy” sound, and continued to eat his escargot. We were stunned at how fast he reacted. I needed a Fabio in my yard when I lived in the Bay Area. We had PLENTY of snails. Fabio also makes a sound while he dances around my son…it’s a sound of affection.
My rooster warns me when big birds are in the sky
Thanks Fabs. So Fabs and I have a thing. When he sees a hawk or other large bird in the sky (or a small plane), he makes sure to tell everyone. Once you are familiar with the different sounds that chickens make, you begin to recognize what the various sounds mean. The sound he makes when he sees a hawk, turkey vulture or bald eagle in the sky is VERY distinctive. I head down the stairs of the porch and start clapping and usually the birds will leave our area. Fabs looks relieved. I tell him, “I got ya buddy”.
Roosters poop…a lot!
They poop everywhere! They have no manners in this way either. The good news is chicken poo makes great fertilizer. He just doesn’t understand that my deck doesn’t need to be fertilized. But my flowers are amazing since Fabio has been around
Since Fobbie and I have become so close, it got me thinking about a couple of things. Does he really know his name? He seems to know it, but who knows…he’s a chicken. I also wondered if he recognizes the four of us who live here. I assumed so since he doesn’t seem to mind us.
Do chickens recognize their owner?
I was curious about this, and upon researching a bit, I found that chickens can recognize up to 100 faces! And they say chickens aren’t smart. I can’t even remember what I had for dinner last night. Chickens recognize their owners (who are usually also the people that feed them). He definitely knows my husband, my son, my daughter and myself. He might recognize, but not necessarily like, other faces that he sees frequently though. Hence why we carry the broom around when there are visitors.
Do chickens know their name?
Yes they do! Fabio knows he is Fabio, Fabs, Fabioso, or most of the other names I call him. Except “crazy bird”, “sketchy bird”. I don’t think he cares for those. Evidently, chickens learn their names pretty quickly.
They also know their owners name if you say it to them when approaching them. Again who knew that they were smart?
So now you know what happens when you live with Fabio. It is really interesting, and I love this guy dearly. I never dreamed I would a) have a rooster b) know anything about roosters c) enjoy a rooster’s company. I look forward to sharing our adventures with you.
