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Adolph: patriarch, rooster, friend
by Richard Long
Fall 2008
Adolph definitely rules the roost around the farm.
Adolph, a Barred Rock rooster, is the oldest member of the current chicken flock at Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary. Not only that, he is the only chicken that has been a resident of Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary since the farm’s inception over six years ago.
Kelly Peterson, then Pacific Regional Director of the Humane Society of the United States, rescued Adolph from the axe, and he needed a place to reside. We were only too happy to give Adolph a home and a name. He became known as Adolph immediately because he had a very distinct quickstep marching style. Yes, had! Since his rescue, with regular attention, meals, and safety, Adolph has left the quickstep behind, and he now mingles with the rest of the flock.
Imagine Wayne’s distress when one late summer morning in 2005, he found Adolph lying on his side too sick to get up and move around. A regimen of electrolytes, oral antibiotics and applesauce was immediately begun, along with a period of waiting.
I arrived at the farm that morning intent on picking some of the huge crop of wild blackberries. With Wayne, I observed poor Adolph and his struggle. Then, after awhile, I proceeded to the berry patch and picked. And picked. I went on home and made blackberry jelly, but the picture of Adolph in my mind kept me uneasy.
Adolph needed company, and I needed Adolph. So, I loaded the blackberry seeds in the car and headed back out to the farm. Adolph was still in the same place he had been that morning. I carefully placed a couple tablespoons of the berry seed mash in pecking reach for him, and I sat down for a visit. I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I saw him raise his tired little head and start pecking at the seeds. He ate for quite awhile. Then he rested. So I went back home.
The very next morning at feeding time, Wayne went straight out to see how Adolph had fared through the night. There was Adolph, standing and eating more seeds! He continued to improve daily.
Today, Adolph did the morning chores with me. He carefully monitored the amount of chicken scratch I was putting in each of the feeding dishes, and he purposefully took a sip from the fresh water I put in each of the fountains. I don’t know if he was just watching out for his friends in the chicken world or just wanting to be by my side. It doesn't matter. Adolph is truly the patriarch of the chicken coop and a wonderful friend.
