Chicken Math

[Smart Red]

I've been hoping this one rooster would attack me so I would feel better about sending him to the chicken coop in the sky. he must be reading my mind, because he is behaving like a gentleman. darn it

I had two roosters, one a light Brahma and one an Australorp. The Australorp was an attack rooster, the "Count of Monte Cristo" or "Monte" was his name. He had the grands terrorized and even had the audacity to test his authority as head of the coop with me. (I won.) I had plans to invite Monte for Sunday dinner. Son agreed to do the deed and I would take care of the rest. I caught him during the night and put him into a cage so I wouldn't be trying to catch him once son arrived. Oops! Son didn't come until well after dark so I let grandson take Monte out of the cage and walk around with Monte under his arm for a while.

The next Saturday was scheduled as another attempt at butchering. Again cage, again Son didn't make it out at a reasonable time. Granddaughter carried Monte out of the cage in around the yard before letting him back in the coop. The third Saturday I swore I would do it myself if Son didn't make it out. With Monte in his cage once again, the grands waited for Dad to arrive. Just before he drove in, the other rooster - my gentleman - turned coat and took three bites out of my Gypsy! With little ado, I caught the Brahma and let Monte free. We had chicken for Sunday dinner and Monte became an excellent rooster. I suspect he realized how close he came to the axe because he left the grands and myself alone once his competition was dinner. . er. . history.

 

[baymule]

Our 6 year old grand daughter spent Thursday night through Monday afternoon with us! That girl loves her chickens! After picking her up, I explained how I had sold 3 hens to a young family who had 3 year old twins and that the children were all excited about gathering the eggs. She was glad they went to a good home. Then I told her that I had butchered 2 of the old hens and which 2 they were. She was ok with that, because I also explained how when they slow way down on laying, we have to get more chickens to replace them, so the old ones have to go to make room for the new ones. Then we discussed a couple that we would keep as pets. And I told her that I would still have to butcher some more of the old hens, she was ok with that too. Sensible girl.

She couldn't wait to see her new chickens, the Blue Laced Red Wyandottes. She was in the coop early Friday morning playing with the hens. I have to put in a plug for Red Stars here, they are calm, easy going hens that don't mind one bit a little girl catching them and hugging them.

The little girl across the street came over Saturday and they spent the day chasing chickens. They caught the hens, lugged them around like a suitcase, put them in "chicken jail" (a small coop for chicks) fed them treats, let them go and caught them all over again. The girls came in to get a drink, snack and cool off, then right back to the chickens they went. I figured those hens would suck their eggs up to the back of their throat, but they managed to lay despite all the love they received. 2 little girls got filthy, played, sweated, gathered eggs, chased chickens and had a blast. It was a great weekend.

When it came time for our grand daughter to go home, she left with dozens of eggs and 3 pints of chicken broth I canned. She loved the broth and wanted broth and scrambled eggs for lunch and supper. I guess I need to can more chicken broth. Look for the numbers in the coop to go down.......

 

[thistlebloom]

baymule, you are one blessed woman!

She's very cute....and your grand daughter is too!

 

[canesisters]

Bay, that story should be read everytime a community is voteing about allowing backyard chickens or not. What a great story about the other benefits of chickens - besides eggs and meat - they are just FUN!
Thanks for sharing!

 

[Nyboy]

Looks like one happy little girl. I also believe red stars are the best chickens, I miss mine.

 

[baymule]

Some of the hens kicked their feet when picked up, which can result in scratches. The Red Stars just dangled their legs, didn't kick and didn't seem to mind 2 little girls carrying them around. Too bad I don't have an outdoor doll house. I think hens would be the new Barbie!!

now to get bigger breasts and fit those chicken feet into high heels

 

[bj taylor]

what a great weekend! your granddaughter will remember those days all her life & tell her children about it

 

[canesisters]

HATCHING!
I checked on Nova (the broody) and found 2 chicks last night! They're a day early, but then, she hatched her last batch early too. It must be really warm under there.
Out of the 11 she started with, I'm only expecting a couple of more to hatch. I tried candeling them this time and most look (to my inexperienced eye using a less than super bright flashlight) to either have not started or to have quit half way through.
(whoa, that was a really awquard sentance...)
Anyway, even though I'm not planning to keep any of them, SUPER EXCITED!

 

[so lucky]

Yea! Babies!

 

[canesisters]

Sad in the coop this weekend....
Nova only hatched out the two. Saturday my friend came to pick up her chicks and poor Nova has been sitting on her empty nest calling for them. So sad.
If there had been more chicks, I probably would have kept one for her. But since there were only the 2 - and since they were 1 of each of the breeds my friend is trying to start raising - there are no chicks for Nova to raise. I'm going to give her a couple of months to get her strength back (being broody is HARD) and then maybe try for a big batch of early spring chicks. By then my (good) roo will be nearly a year old and I can put in a few of my own eggs.

Hummm... I wanted 6 chickens.. I've got 10 (+ 3 roos, but they don't count, right?) and am planning for more 'to make the hen happy'. That's not chicken math is it