A Journey Through a Different Way - Funny Story Pg. 69

[ruth]

Hey Cyn - here's our big bad boy.

Black Velvet - just look at that "look" he's giving me.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

My Daddy would of told you that roo was giving you the stink eye. Wow if looks could kill. Watch your back there.

Sure hope you can keep Scarlett, she will out grow that stage but do ya have enough ducks to get her thru it.

 

[speckledhen]

He's awful handsome, Monique, but looks dont overcome a bad attitude! I may be about to process my first cockerel...he earned it. I dont have time for that stuff and I daresay you dont, either! You're a busy lady!

 

[bayouchica]

Oh Monique,

I'm am so sorry to hear about Big Boy passing. I was praying he would make it.
I had to put down a chic before for the first time a couple of months ago. It's not an easy thing to do,my hubby usually takes care of that for me, too. He was away at work at the time.

How are the peacocks doing ?

Miriam

 

[basicliving]

Hi Monique,

I'm so sorry you lost your big, gentle giant.

It made me tear up to read about his passing. And I'm really sorry you had to put the chick down. And then to learn about Scarlett's latest escapades. It's been a tough week for you. I pray things get better.

I know you must be feeling a little frustrated and heavy hearted with all these unpleasant issues suddenly occurring concerning your flock. You are such an inspiration, Monique, and from a totally selfish point of view, I pray you hang in there.

Take care,
Penny

 

[speckledhen]

Monique, we did it. Jake is off to freezer camp so no more bad boy here. I hope you dont let that big guy bully you. You have enough stuff to deal with at the moment.

 

[ruth]

Hey Cyn - good for you. I'm trying to work up to being able to process chickens/ducks but haven't gotten there yet. But since I've had to cull three baby chicks at this point, I'm getting closer. It's been the plan all along that I would be raising them for meat consumption as well as eggs.

He did charge me this morning. I was in coop feeding everyone and a bunch of the roos jumped one of the hens. I always knock them off, especially when they are in "gang rape" mentality and likely to hurt her. Well the others ran out of coop like they do every morning when I go in there and clean them out but Black Velvet charged me. I kicked towards him and then he really puffed up and came at me. For a moment, I swear he was seven feet tall. I grabbed a sheet that was on baby chick hutch and started popping it towards him. He ran. I continued chasing him through the yard. I'm sure I looked like an idiot. At least looked some kind of crazed bull fighter. However when I went to leave yard, after putting sheet back over hutch, I caught him staring me down. For a moment I thought he would come at me and I had two empty feed buckets (coffee canisters) in my hand so I threw one at him - didn't hit him - just towards him, right at his feet. He didn't budge. I decided it was a good time for me to leave. He really is so gorgeous I'm hoping that I can train this behavior out of him. I've never had a problem with any of the others but I've been training them that I'm top roo since they hatched because I had such a fear of roosters. I would wait till they went to roost at night and pick them up and carry them around. I still chase them out of coop every morning and knock them off any hen they try to mount in my presence. I've never gotten so much as a stare out of them. I think I just ignored this big guy. He was always off on his own with his little blue girlfried that something finally got because he took her way off, down the back road of our property every morning and didn't return till dark every night. Now that she's gone, he's trying to establish another flock and take more hens. I guess he thinks he's taking mine. It's almost like he's a new comer and he's trying to rise up in rank. He's never hung around the flock till now and I guess he didn't get the memo that I'm Top Dog and Top Roo around these here parts. I'll give him some time only because he's got looks going for him and I'm hoping he will be breeder stock once I get the B/B/S Orp eggs to hatch that are in bator now. I've found someone that will build some breeder pens for me. I need them. My Marans have started laying now.

On the good news front - I just got back from my vet's office - picking up more eye ointment and Betadine scrub and Tylan and other medical supplies. We got to talking about all the hens I sew up using regular needle and thread and how they all heal just fine. She went in back and came back out with a box of three dozen individually wrapped/steril suture needles with absorbable sutures - for FREE. Said it had been given to her and she was giving it to me. Now I can sew up my hens in style and it will be less traumatic on them because these are "cutting" needles that will go right through the skin and I won't have to struggle and push/pull like I've been having to do. YIPPIE. Last night was "Duct Tape Party" night. I go in coop in middle of night and pick up the hens, one by one, and put one or two strips of duct tape across their bare backs. It will stay on a couple of days and give them some reprive from the roos.

Never a dull moment around here. I'll be keeping an eye on that BAD boy grandson of yours.

 

[ruth]

Well today was a GREAT day. Look what I found in the coop today.

My first Marans egg. Now the two roos, Jesse and James, and the eight females, all need to go in a breeder pen so I can start hatching more Marans. The roos have been active for quite some time so I've been waiting to see when the girls would start laying.

I got this cute little egg yesterday and knew their time was close. Then today got that big, brown egg above. Yippiiee.

 

[hcammack]

WOW very nice egg color.

 

[sara]

That's a nice egg! Congrats.