It's Time

Last May, we received 52 baby Roosters (Cockerels) and 12 baby Hens (Pullets).  All are heirloom breeds (White Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, Delawares, New Hampshire Reds). The Baby Peeps came from 2 sources:  Murray-McMurray Hatchery in Iowa (http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html) and Paul Harder, a Farmer in our general area (http://www.backtothefarmmo.com/). 

If you have been following this Blog, you may remember that the Hens are intended to add to the laying Flock, while the Roosters will be our Freezer (Meat) Birds. We 3 C's have been careful not to tell the Roosters their destination. And we have been careful that when company comes they do not talk about such delicate matters in their presence either.

Since we received the Baby Chickens, we have been taking very good care of them.  They are our partners here on this Little Farm.  They provide us food, companionship, and they help to restore the soil.  While in our care, they have been fed mostly organic food.  Since they have been big enough, they have been free range, with lots of space to scratch, play, take dust baths, and find delicious bugs to eat. 

The Baby Chickens are now about 4 months old.  The Pullets range freely in the same yard as the Older Hennies.  They stay together but they stay separate from the Older Hennies.  I suppose you could call that "out of respect" but rather they know their place.  "Peck order" is real in Chicken-dom. 

The Cockerels are in what has been described as the luxurious Rooster Pen.  Melanie would quickly add that we have some plans for this one which are not yet complete. 

The point of this little entry is to focus on the Cockerels, the Little "Roos" as we fondly call them.  Until recently, we would have described the Cockerels as the sweetest little Roosters.  They still are sweet.  But the hormones seem to be kicking in.  They are now more aggressive with each other.  It's not bad, I would add, but there is a shift.  And it will heat up.

A few are sparring.  Their Rooster games now show factors of dominance.  A few are practicing their new found Crows.  What a surprise it must be for a developing Rooster to open his mouth and emit a Crow.  Of course, their early Crows are not as polished as our 4 year old Rooster Freddie. Sometimes the early Crows don't include all of the syllables.  Often, they sound like they are crowing in a tin can.  At least that is how I would describe it and I am a Human.  I am not sure how they as Roosters would describe it.

The long and short of this little entry is that it is pretty obvious that is now time to process the little Roosters.  They are big enough.  Their behavior indicates that it is time too.  Richard takes the lead here.  He usually does it at night to create the least disruption.  Melanie and I will help with the finishing. We try to do all things on this Little Farm to show respect for the Circle of Life and respect for the Gift of Life from Living Beings.

It's somber time here on the Farm.  I spent some time standing in front of their pen this evening.  I thanked them for the gifts of their lives and themselves on this Little Farm.