Friday, October 19, 2012

Knock, Knock - It's a Chicken Book Giveaway Extravaganza!


Just every once in a while, I like to have fun. (Shocking, isn't it?) I enjoy sharing my gardening experiences and what I've learned through trial and error as well as through classes and research, but there are times when I let my hair down and just get silly. Since I have very short hair - none to let down, really - it doesn't take much to get me going and make me happy.

Many of you are familiar with Jenny Lawson, better known as The Bloggess, and you may have gotten to know her through a certain blog post she wrote a year or so ago entitled "And that's why you should learn to pick your battles." There were towels involved (or should I say NO towels) and a certain giant metal chicken named Beyoncé. If you haven't yet read this blog post, STOP RIGHT NOW and GO READ IT. (Warning: Language may be offensive to some.) If you don't, you won't get as much bang for your buck in this blog post of mine that you're reading right now. Go on... we'll wait.

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Now you have the back story. Millions have fallen in love with Beyoncé (the Big Metal Chicken, not the singer, although millions love her, too), including me, and I started randomly looking for one of my very own.



We have six chickens in our backyard and no roosters. I'm told that every flock needs a rooster - for protection - but I didn't want a cocky bird that could possibly spur me or ride the hens and all we really wanted was eggs, anyway. Roosters are very poor at providing eggs.

Even if I could find a giant metal rooster, I knew I could never pass it off as an anniversary gift the way Jenny did, since we're into year 38 and everyone knows that Big Metal Chickens is for 15 years. So I was on my own and would just have to deal with Romie's reaction when the time came.

I couldn't find Beyoncé's twin, but as I was running through the aisles at the Independent Garden Center Show in Chicago this past August, this caught my eye:

Zaer Ltd. International is the wholesale distributor of this Big Metal Chicken

Since I was rushing to an appointment, I didn't have time to stop and talk with the vendor. I emailed them when I got home about the possibility of obtaining the Beyoncé wannabe, and to make a long story short, it ended up on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago.

Knock. Knock.
(Max is not impressed.)

Now of course this rooster came with a name - "Dennis" - and it's not that I don't like the name Dennis or anything, I just want my rooster to have his own name. Because he's mine. Even though there are hundreds of other Big Metal Chickens out there, only one belongs to me.

So here's the thing: After having to come up with eight names for my live chickens, I'm at a loss as to what to call my rooster. Will you please help me?

For all your thoughtfulness and generosity in helping me by suggesting names, the folks at Storey Publishing and Timber Press are generously providing a mini library of chicken books to the reader who submits the name I choose for my rooster:





If you're considering getting backyard chickens or you've already got them, this collection of books is a treasure trove of information!

In addition, Zaer Ltd. International, the wholesale distributor of "Dennis," is allowing readers to purchase this rooster directly from them at a 10% discount, BUT you have to  mention that you read about it on my website to order directly and receive the discount They're making this available to you, dear readers, at a greatly reduced price of $184.50 (shipping is extra). To order, call 215-766-2010. (And no, I don't receive any kind of compensation for orders of "Dennis.")


My girls feel a bit safer now that What's His Name (you tell me!) is standing guard over the coop.  I'm certain of it. I mean, really... what kind of predator would DARE even get close to the coop when this Giant Metal Chicken is in da house? (Truth be told, I think the hens were a bit leery of it at first, too.)

Tinkerbelle:  "Are you real?"


But he needs a name. Submit a name. Submit two names. Submit however many you want and next Friday night (October 26, 2012) at midnight EDT, I will choose the one I like the best. My Big Metal Chicken gets a name and someone gets some awesome books!  So have at it, y'all!

By the way, I got new towels, too. How lucky can a girl get?


Contest rules here.

_____________________
Zaer Ltd. International kindly provided me with my Big Metal Chicken, free of charge, for which I will be eternally grateful. It's amazing how happy a Big Metal Chicken can make you when you see it in your yard.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

My entries are Roberto Faverolles, The Bantam Menace, King Buff of Orpington, The Sultan of Pollo,and Silkie Frizzle

Wayne
bigman1 at gmail dot com

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Now this guy is something to crow about. tee hee.. Sorry I couldn't resist that. I think his name should be Arthur. You can call him Art for short. Art is what he is and since he is King of the roost he is King Arthur. There it is said. Have a great weekend.

Linnae said...

He looks like a Cornelius to me. Something about the wingspan, maybe.
Good luck!

DR said...

Right off the bat I knew his name was Rusty! I'm sure.

Anonymous said...

I think he looks like a King Henry
vickie
vmorgan456 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Amy said...

Has to be Rupert. Because Roop's in da Coop!

Unknown said...

Harry B. Proud. Promoter of all things fertile.

Christina said...

Rowdy is my choice for a name. Seems to just fit him. :O)

Carol @ OhWhatABeautifulGarden-Chicagoland.com said...

I want to call him Captain Roosteroo, 'Cap' for short. This gives you the opportunity to name something else Mr. Green Jeans. Whola, you've got an oldtime kid's cartoon show running around your backyard.

Jenny said...

I like to name my pets after someone so here are some famous roosters/rooster lovers yours could emulate. :o)

Remember the Looney Toon cartoon rooster Foghorn Leghorn - I think your rooster looks just like him so that's a good choice.

How about General Jack Pershing or General Jack as most people called him. He was a rooster from Iowa who raised money to support WWI.

Then there is Rooster Cogburn played by John Wayne in 1975. You could call him Reubon as a nickname, since Rooster was Reubon's nickname.

You could call him Colonel Sanders but that might make the hens nervous.

A not so quite famous rooster, Rooster Alan-a-Dale, who narrated the Disney animated Robin Hood & did a very good job I might add.

Chanticleer is another I think most of us have heard of.

This has been so much fun! I do I hope I win.

I will add, I spent yesterday touring Moss Farms, P Allen Smith's farm & he has a large metal rooster very similar to this one in his barn.

Kylee Baumle said...

You all are AWESOME! Keep 'em coming! I see a couple that are definitely in the running!

Jenny, I've been to Moss Mountain Farms twice (last April and this past May) and I don't remember seeing that! I think I need to go back. :-)

Houseplant Guru said...

How about Wattles or Tidbit. Tidbitting is something roosters do.

Unknown said...

My girlie Kristen, a.k.a. "Chicken Mama," thinks he should be named "Doodle." As in, "Cock-a-Doodle-Do!" She desperately wants a rooster, but it's just not happening in our neighborhood. I told her to be happy with our 8 girls. However, she is obsessed with the fabulous big metal chicken we saw at the tack shop where she gets her riding gear. It's Beyonce's twin, I swear! (Do you know I didn't know the Beyonce story until Janet told me about it at the Fling? I had just started reading The Bloggess but hadn't heard about Beyonce. So. Stinking. Hilarious!) ;-)

Anne said...

Hmm, after reading the Blogess piece, I'm thinking that gender bending is OK in the huge metal rooster category. The most fitting to me is "Gaga." Because your rooster is so stupendously large and imposing, and anyone who loves chickens will go gaga for this handsome gent, Gaga seems fitting. See what you think! I have to wonder where this guy will fly to next time a derecho blows through!:)

vivian said...

The way he has his wings spread i think his name should be Lindbergh.

Kylee Baumle said...

Oh, you guys are GOOD! This is going to be hard, deciding!

Unknown said...

Rooster Cogburn, after a John Wayne movie character. Toughas nails on the outside, with a heart of gold. He's just making sure everyone knows who rules the roost.

Barbara said...

He looks like a King Tut. My second choice is Roosta...

Nancybeth said...

Call him John aka John Hancock.

ScardofShadows said...

Manfred (Man friend? - lol )
Rocket the Rooster - because he almost looks like a rocket about to take off, and you can call him Rocky for short because he's tough and got the right stuff. :)

Alys Kidder said...

Such a fancy rooster has to have a name that fits! I think his name is Jeune Coq, which is french for cockerel. i'm pretty sure he is French, don't you think? If you go to google translate you can hear the pronunciation of his name. Sexy!
Alys Kidder
Alyskidder@gmail.com, aka chickening on FB

Craig & Miss said...

He reminds me of Cornelius or "Corny" for short!

Everyday mom said...

He looks like an Ol' Yeller to me. We have 6 chickens at my kids preschool and the naming of them was a ton of fun.

Ditching Debt said...

His name is definitely Gus!

Alys Kidder said...

I'm on a french rooster name roll...how about Jean-Luc..as in captain Jean-Luc Picard of star trek? They're both out of this world!

rika said...

Casanova
Hawkeye
Snoop Rooster
Sir Robin (Monty Python reference; the knight with the chicken on his shield)
Sonny Jim (with a pun on the "sunny", because he does look rather happy about being yellow)
Clyde
Darragh

I am going to have chickens, one day! And an apple tree and yellow curtains in the kitchen window. I am pretty sure I am going to name my chickens after Lord of the Rings characters, tho. Because I am a nerd. Like that.

Congratulations on née Dennis:) He is a lovely specimen of giant metal roosterhood.

rika said...

Casanova
Hawkeye
Snoop Rooster
Sir Robin (Monty Python reference; the knight with the chicken on his shield)
Clyde
Darragh

Not-Dennis is a lovely specimen of giant metal roosterhood. I hope to have chickens in my yard one day:)

Nathaniel Griffin said...

His name should be Roosevelt!

Here are some snippets from the Wikipedia entry on Teddy Roosevelt.

"...he is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership...as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity."

"As an outdoorsman and naturalist, he promoted the conservation movement. On the world stage, Roosevelt's policies were characterized by his slogan, "Speak softly and carry a big stick"."

Theodore Roosevelt was also a boxer and an outdoorsman.

Sounds like a rooster to me.

Say it with me now, "Roosevelt the Rooster."

Modern Mia said...

He is The Dude.

Sarah Salisbury said...

Rudy the Rooster
Kull the Chicken King
Phineas the Protector
Paquito
Dragon
Duvall
Napoleon
Wadsworth

:)

kristen kmb34me@hotmail.com said...

1. Oscar
2. Bernie
3. Bertrum
4. Marcellus

I love chickens :)

winniethepooh4metoo@yahoo.com said...

Chanticleer from one of the earlier posts sounds like a good name to me...Can't tell you why.

He looks like a Chester to me... I picture him strutting around the henhouse chest first and putting on a display with all those outstretched feathers. Gotta love Chester ruling the roost!

Can't wait to see what that big, 5 foot tall, yellow, metal, cousin to Beyonce rooster ends up being called. Guess we'll all know very soon <3

Kylee Baumle said...

rika ~ You are the winner of the chicken books! We decided to name him "Hawkeye." I don't have a contact email for you, so please use the email link in the left sidebar at top to email me with a shipping address for the books. You can also contact me through my Profile link on the right sidebar. Or if you want one more choice, you can leave a comment here and I'll get it, but since all comments are moderated (to screen for spam), I don't have to publish it. Whichever works for you. :-)

Thanks for all the great suggestions, everyone! It was a difficult choice to make!

Bren Haas said...

That is a really cool chicken ... I saw him a few times on the IGC Trade Show floor. Great Share!

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