Roosters: Nature's (Broken) Alarm Clock

The proud and majestic rooster. Highly valued as competitors for “sabongs”, or cock fights, these animals are trained to fight to the death. But, they're not simply harbingers of violence and death. They are beautifully plumed birds with a pompous strut and a hen house full of chickens. It isn't uncommon to see men carrying around their roosters to groom them, massage their muscles, and shower them with love and affection. Roosters are like the pet of choice for some older Pilipino men.

But, don't be fooled by their manicured appearance. Roosters are often separated from one another to prevent them from fighting. They are either fenced off or are tied to their perches by a string around their feet. People also caution children not to get too close because the roosters might peck at them.

That said, however, I hate these things. Old Looney Tunes cartoons with roosters crowing at sunrise are grossly inaccurate representations of the rooster's true nature. They cock-a-doodle-do all day and all night. Although it doesn't seem like a small animal could make a lot of noise, roosters can be heard from a mile away (by my own guesstimation). They often interrupted my Skype calls with friends and family during my extended stay in the Philippines. 

Here's a video of my rooster nemesis. It disturbed my sleep many times during my stay in Dumaguete. One night, I went outside to look for it to make it shut up, but, alas, I couldn't find it. It sounded like the rooster was right above me on the roof. Then one day, I found his hiding spot...

The next day, I had some fabulous chicken adobo for lunch. Just kidding!