Roo-ville is Shrinking

The rooster population here is considerably smaller today. As I found another dead rooster in their pen this morning. I don't understand why they are fighting each other so now. They have been raised together since birth and have shown no signs of aggression towards their bunk mates at all. Could it be the few days of warmer weather has awakened their breeding instinct? Spring is right around the corner and they are reaching their one year mark. Sorting out who is top roo in hopes of taking over the harem of girls that "Big Boy" is now taking care of. It's a mystery for sure, as we always find them dead or injured during morning chores.

Lon's brother, Danny and his son, Dwight came out today to take a couple of roosters off of our hands. Dwight is in the process of starting his own mini farm and was more than delighted to have a few roosters to start things off. I had to watch them both carefully ;-) , for they kept trying to coax some of our girls into their transport boxes as well. It was fun to see them picking out their favorites among our flock of 50 birds. I even sent them home with 3 broilers from our harvest chickens as well. Both stated they wanted to come back on a warmer day, so they could really enjoy the farm. Dwight is also interested in buying one of our baby goats if we have any to sell in a few months. I also promised to let him know when we had some baby chicks hatched. He will need a few hens to go with the 2 roos. He is planning to put up fencing on his property come spring and then he will be set up to add the animals he is desiring right now.

Orphington Rooster ~ taken

Barred Rock Rooster ~ taken

Hopefully things will be quieter now and the breeding pressure on the hens will dissipate so they can use their energy into laying eggs. Instead of running from the love advances of too many roos!

Quieter on the farm,

Deborah