A Bright Pink Cock

As some of you will know, I live with a feisty cock who causes me no end of trouble. I have tried a number of approaches to keeping him at bay, including whacking him (judiciously) over the head, but nothing seems to work.

I had almost forgotten about him over the winter months as we kept the flock indoors, away from the fierce cold and snow. Under no circumstances would I be going into such closed quarters with him, so Arūnas had been taking care of them. However, now that the days are warming up and getting longer we have returned them to their outdoor run and given them free range of the garden each afternoon, once egg-laying is complete.

Oh my GOODNESS, he’s pink – I can’t bear to look at him!

Since Arūnas has been away for the past week bringing our camper van back to Ireland, the onus has fallen back to me to deliver fresh water and feed to the chickens each morning. Whenever I am in the run I am constantly on guard, a whacker always within easy reach. I can see the menacing eye of the cock sizing me up, waiting for any sign of distraction so he can make his charge. And he has charged a number of times. And I’ve decided I’ve had enough.

We had more or less decided that he was more trouble than he was worth and that he was destined for the cook pot. Various distractions impeded his dispatch and, as it’s not a job I relish doing on my own, I decided to take a different approach while Arūnas was away.

Perhaps if I stand on one leg they’ll think I’m a flamingo.

Inspired by this story, I decided to dye him pink. There would be two key benefits, I reckoned. Firstly, the girly colour might bring him down a peg or two. Secondly, it would give me no end of joy to point him out to our friends and neighbours.

As luck would have it, I had prepared a large batch of beetroot liquid to colour eggs for Easter. Beetroot juice is notorious for its staining ability, so I reckoned a quick dip in the stuff would transform cocky-pants in an instant.

Hey, you! Are you responsible for this pyjama suit?

I’m not sure I got the shade I was after, but I’m quite pleased with the results. He does seem a little indignant and the girls are mostly ignoring him. His demeanour has improved considerably in just a few days. If the improvement continues, I might just keep him pink going forward. Considering his alternatives, I think he’s faired quite well.

What do you reckon, folks – good solution?

This has been a Tongue-in-Cheek post for April 1st (April Fool’s Day)! No cocks were harmed, or dyed, in the making of this post!

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I am still the king. (I am, I am…)