I first heard it about 4:45 a.m. Ella was crowing, as usual, except something was different. It was enough to make me rouse a bit more and listen. His normal crowing is a rather pathetic “er er ERRRrrrrrrrrr” trailing of on a raspy note that sounds like a dull bandsaw blade cutting through a shoe (No, I’ve never cut a shoe in half with a dull blade, but I can imagine how it might sound…). Anyway, this morning he didn’t finish off that way. After a shortened ERRRrrr came a surprising high note! er er ERRRrrr Oh!
It’s curious. I don’t know what caused him to find that new note, but he was clearly delighted with it as he kept it up for an unnecessarily long time. At least it was coming from within the chook house, so it wasn’t a loud as when he’s out and about. He doesn’t always manage the new note, particularly when he’s yelling at me to GET UP/FEED US! That always involves much louder, more insistent crowing. For that he has to stand on a rock or a stump, and the ERRRrrrrrrrrr part is much louder and longer. And it invariably lasts until I GET UP/FEED THEM.
BTW: I should tell you that Ella no longer has a bare backside following his unfortunate mugging by Louie. His feathers are growing back nicely and he has a nice–though still small–tail.
That was then
This is now 
——————-
Just a side note to those of you who have enquired about the bushfires in Tasmania. At the moment, at least, my property is not near any of the fires we’ve been having following that horrendous day of 107.6 degrees F (42degrees C) and very high winds. That was the hottest day ever recorded for Hobart. It is cooler now, and calmer. At about 5a.m. (while being serenaded by Ella) I looked out the window to see dense smoke everywhere, having been blown this way from fires in the Derwent Valley. My heart goes out to those who have lost everything. It’s a terrifying experience, as well as a devastating loss. Fingers crossed we don’t have any more of it. And thank you to those of you who have asked about it. MM
The Meandering Matriarch 
So happy he no longer has a bare behind. I can’t get over a rooster called Ella, of all things.
Well, he was named when I thought he was my prize hen… I suppose I should change it to Elton, but it’s so hard to break a habit…
He’s so macho he can be called Ella and get away with it ;).
Ella looking very elegant and polished, quite a dandy. Hope the fires stay well away from you. You have fires we have floods, not here but in many places around the UK.
Yes, he is a dandy! High winds again today, so am hoping the fires are not on the move… its a worry! rain seems to come as too much or too little…
What a beautiful new tail. And we have been watching the news on the NZ television and our hearts go out to the people of Tasmania.
Yes, I think Ella is feeling more macho now that he has a new tail.
I think there are still 100 or so people still missing in the fire-affected areas. Hopefully they are all merely away from home. It’s a dreadful scene…
Oiiiiiiii !! Aussie bushfires. I don’t miss them in the least. Glad you’re doing OK … as is Ella. The new tail is looking almost resplendent!
I think the new tail may be the source of his manly pride, hence the new high note… Re the bush fires– think it is a good time to lay very low with respect to trying to sell a house in the middle of the bush… Am keeping a low profile…