This is Mini May, the Russian Orloff Bantam Hen. I purchased her as a chick, last spring. She is a super friendly little bird, with lots of spunk, and a huge stomach. Mini May likes meeting people, and is usually the bird I opt to take to educational events.
(Mini May and I where at Octoberfest at Old Economy Village last year)
Mini May quickly became a family favorite, and we wanted to find a good mate for her. I ended up trying three different Russian Orloff Bantam roosters, but all of them where aggressive. Thankfully, I found Ollie, and shipped him in from a breeder in Washington State. It was love at first sight.
The two get along like peas in a pod! Ollie is super sweet to Mini May. Unlike most roosters, he follows his hen around everywhere, doesn’t show any interest in the hens next door, refuses to mate with Mini May in public, and doesn’t mess up her feathers with dirty feet.
Every night, Mini May and Ollie wait at the edge of door of their chicken coop. Mini May has to be picked up, pet, and tucked into bed. Ollie just stands there quietly. But, last night Ollie was the only one standing on the edge of their door. Ollie has always kept his distance from humans, so I was surprised to see him anxiously pacing the edge of the door for me…alone. Where was Mini May!
Mini May was in the back of the box brooding. When she saw me, she fluffed up her feathers and let out quite a few squawks of distaste. Thankfully, she didn’t nip, as I plopped four more eggs under her belly.
Poor, Ollie still doesn’t seem to know what to do with himself, or his cranky wife. He continues prancing up and down the side of their box. Ollie was further perplexed with his new neighbors, that I put into the coop next to his. They seem to resemble him and the wife.
Originally Published: here
Written by: Jamiegoof