It's A Boy!

New Farm's Most Unwanted


by Kate
When you order enough chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery, they are kind enough to throw in a “surprise bonus chick.” With a combined order between us and some family friends of over 25 chicks, we qualified. When we picked up our variety of chicks from the post office one early morning in April, this little lady (or so we thought) arrived free of charge.

At first, we joked how funny she looked and donned her with the only proper name we have ever given a chicken: Arsinio. Named after the early 90’s comedian Mr. Hall and his flattop haircut, Arsinio arrived in style to New Farm.


As the chicks grew, Arsinio’s flat-top feathers developed into an explosion of white and black plumage. We began to question Arsinio’s gender. The older Arsinio got, the more she started to appear to be a he. One day, in early July, my mother reported that she had heard a feeble “cock-a-doodle-do.” Our suspicions were answered: It’s a boy.


We identified him as a Silver Polish, one of the crested breeds of chickens. His striking silvery white and black plumage gave it away.

The honeymoon stage of rooster ownership lasted only a few weeks. At first it was charming to hear our bantam crow out to our hard working, egg laying ladies of the coop in an attempt to swoon. We were true farmers now, awoken at sunrise to mother nature’s alarm clock. Arsenio behaved as if he was responsible for the sun coming up in the morning.

But like all relationships, ours and Arsinio’s began to turn. His crows became louder and more frequent. The neighbors began to ask questions. Each night he would escape the fence and roost on top of the coop. Each day he would chase around Whitey Jr. (apparently we were host to the only monogamous rooster) and attempt to mate. By August, we had established that Arsinio was a problem. He had quickly risen to the top of New Farm’s most unwanted list.

For the past few weeks, I have arisen to the sound of Arsinio crowing into the leafy suburban morning. In an attempt to provide Arsinio with another home far, far away, I searched some animal rescue websites and even considered a post on Craigslist. From this search, I discovered that bantams are difficult to give away for free on the internet, let alone for a few dollars. Animal shelters don’t even take roosters. Apparently, no one wants a bantam.

Arsenio's habit of roosting out of the henhouse eventually got the best of him. A few days ago, Arisnio simply vanished. How and where, perhaps only the local owls or coyotes know. It seems his nightly escape habits proved too risky for NewFarm. I can’t say I’m sad to have him missing because tonight, I will sleep soundly knowing that I won't be awoken. Not at 4:30 A.M., not at noon, not at dinner, not a sunset.

R.I.P. Arisnio. Here’s hoping our next New Farm “bonus” will be a bumper crop of butternut squash instead.














Arsenio in happier days with his girls