I am a woodworker and make Native American style flutes and bows. I blame my interest in chickens on my Irish grandparents and aunt, plus feather lust. I have helped a friend eat her surplus roosters for a couple years (I kill and clean and she gets some meat back that doesn't resemble her babies).
My daughter wanted chickens and I have sympathetic memories on the subject. I picked the subordinate roo from my friend's bunch. I wanted to test the kids' interest and my facilities. This roo turned out to be a sweetie. He is now in a run and coop with young ladies acquired just for him. He loves tummy rubs, and always lets his ladies eat first. Give him treats and he drops the treat and calls the dominant pullet over. She's the wariest of the lot, but she is already "mothering" the younger RIRs.
I plan to go in on some hatching eggs in February.
Looking forward to our own eggs someday!
