Traumatization at Local Poultry Auction...

I did the unthinkable.

I sold roosters.

Actually, I guess for me - the unthinkable would have been to cook them.

Last night, under the cloak of darkness, we abducted the birds and put them into some ramshackle cages that Glenco built.

I shall forever be haunted by the blood curdling scream one of them let out as I snatched it.

25 years ago, I worked in Chicago, wore high heels and nylons and painted my fingernails.

Today - I abduct poultry in the night.

This morning I noticed that one of  the buggers had gotten out of the cage.

They were ramshackly after all.

With the help of a fishing net and a neighbor - I got him back in the cage.

Into the Heep we all went.

There was quite an assortment at the auction today - and it's a good thing I didn't have cash in hand - or I may have brought home Buddy a few more sister wives (hens).

And then there was a stunning bantam rooster.

Stun.

Ning.

I felt rather proud of my birds - they looked healthy and bright eyed in comparison to many a fowl at the show.

isn't the duck head sticking out of the cardboard box a riot?

The excitement was building as the auctioneer got closer and closer to us -

UNTIL...

I saw the Chinese man that was wearing swimming trunks, rubber boots and a t-shirt.

I didn't photograph him - seemed wrong to -

but here's his truck.

See that lift gate?

He was THROWING in birds there.

And rabbits.

My heart sank, I wanted to take my birds and run.

I wanted to say 'YOU can't buy my birds'.

I thought I had just done a terrible awful by bringing my birds there.

Traumatization was setting in.

Big time.

I almost hurled.

I've seen this before at the poultry auctions, and maybe I'm just a light-weight city girl - maybe just cause I like to put diapers on my chickens and have them in the house - name them, kiss them, wash and blow dry them, and make up life stories for them - maybe it's just me - but some people just simply manhandle the birds there.

Law.

Tears me up.

Luckily - a nice couple bought one of my Jersey Giants.

I asked them right away what their intentions were with my bird.

They were a bit surprised.

They assured me they had a harem of hens at home awaiting his free-ranging arrival.

I kissed him on the head (the rooster that is) and thanked them for their purchase.

The second black giant was up - an outspoken man with a long white beard bought him, and again - I asked him - 'what are your intentions?'

"I have 20 hens that need sex".

Well - ok, then.

Another kiss on the comb goodbye.

The last two were sold to a young man that spoke broken English.

He handled the birds so gently, that I felt that he either didn't want to bruise his dinner - or in fact he was going to be kind to my birds. 

 He smiled nicely as he handed me back the ramshackle cages.

Upon arriving home $34 richer, I noticed how incredibly quiet the yard was.

I didn't much like it.

Buddy's still here.

I only have 11 hens - so Buddy's in his sister wife heaven.

I could have kept all five roosters if I would have gotten about 4 more dozen hens - which I was willing to do...

But certain people around here that shall remain nameless - you know - the ones that don't cotton to goats and milk cows - or me doing the Demolition Derby at the fair...

'They' ixnayed my four dozen hens.

In the famous words of my mother...

"they law, I can't have anything"