My Easter egger rooster, Buck.

Buck was a surprise. We picked up six EE chicks that were all supposed to be females. After a few weeks, it was obvious that one of the chicks was larger than the others. It wasn't until a month ago that I knew for sure that he was a rooster. These are the first EEs I've ever had, so I didn't know what to expect. My wife was mad and wanted me to kill him because she doesn't want any roosters, ever. I think it is kind of cool to have a rooster, especially because I lost my favorite barred rock hen last year to a neighborhood cat that killed her in broad daylight. Hope Buck uses those spurs he's growing on that cat.

The good thing is my wife can't say I defied her wishes. It was just an error at the hatchery in the sexing, so I'm covered.

I'm amazed by how beautiful he is. His feathers are so intricate. These pictures don't do him justice.

He's only 17 weeks old, but he's already larger than my 3 year old BSL hen. We've got two 25 week old cuckoo maran hens and two 25 week old buff orphingtons hens. They and the BSL are really mean to him. When is he going to step up and be a man, er, I mean rooster? Enough of this hen-pecking already!

We have an 8m/o EE roo that someone who wasn't zoned for roosters gave us and he also is gorgeous. He free ranges the entire yard and is incredibly territorial about his yard so I pity the cat that comes messing around.

Wait until he matures - he will be a real beauty. Right now he's just a freshman eyeing up the senior ladies. Testosterone will help him 'get his groove on'. I still remember.

Alright, a few weeks ago, Buck let me know that he no longer likes to be picked up. He went totally Jurassic Park on me with is hackles opening up like that frilled lizard dinosaur in the movie (the one that killed Newman). He gave me a really hard peck that hurt for a week. I put him down and he began attacking my legs. I kicked the crap out of him until he retreated. He avoided me for days, but eventually came back around and would eat out of my hands. I really like him. He's so beautiful, and he crows like a champ.




So after several weeks of harmony, I walk into the run with some scratch feed this afternoon, like I do every afternoon, and Buck starts attacking me again. I let him bounce off my shoe a few times, but when it was obvious he wasn't going to stop anytime soon, I met his lunge with a firm kick to the chest, not hard enough to hurt him (I hope), but enough to make him think it over after about a half dozen kicks.

He's about 7 months old. I'm hoping he calms down as he matures. I also am wondering if I did anything to startle or threaten him. All the hens crowded me at the door of the run, and I had to gently herd them back in with my feet, but other than that, it was the same thing I had done many, many times over.

If I do have to kill him, I want to send him off to one of those freeze-drying taxidermist because he is too beautiful to pluck and eat. Wonder how much that costs.

My roo was the same way. After a year he mellowed down but did have a few days he wanted to challenge me then he gave up and challenged my mom if i was out.