I need advice

[bobbi-j]

Frankly, I'd get rid of the leghorn and one of the orpingtons. The leghorn because of his aggressiveness, and one of the orps because of the amount of hens you have. Or, you could do as previously advised and eat all three roosters. I would not keep an aggressive rooster around when you have a child that comes to visit and likes to help with chores. It would only take once for him to scar her for life. I also would not tolerate having to carry a rake around with me to do chicken chores. Part of the reason I keep chickens is for the enjoyment of it. I would not enjoy having to fend a rooster off with a rake. If I don't enjoy the bird, it's gone.

PS - canned chicken is delicious! Labor-intensive and you may want to have several to butcher and can to make it worth your while, but it is very good and handy to have on hand.

 

[donrae]

Diego is not a good rooster. You state he comes after your husband and daughter, and you have to carry a rake. That is the very definition of a BAD rooster. It sounds like you're very bonded with your gd, and I admire how you're exposing her to a more natural life. Wouldn't she have so much more fun if she could go among the chickens? Collect eggs, toss scratch out for them, rake bugs for them. Get rid of the roosters and she can enjoy the hens a lot more. If you're determined to keep a rooster, pick the buff orp that stays the farthest away from you. Don't try to make him a pet, let him keep his distance. Oprs can be slow to mature, so it may take him a while to be good with the ladies, but Orps are also a more docile breed overall.

Edited--I sincerely hope no one EVER laughs at you on this site! Lots of us old timers forget we didn't always know as much as we do now, but really most of us are here because we love having chickens and want to help other folks, even rank newbies, learn about them and enjoy them also. We've often forgot how overwhelming it is to start fresh and want to do the right thing, but not always know what the right thing is!

 

[tnspursfan09]

I am definately a rank newbie. We had chickens when I was little, I remember my dad ordering all these different chicks in the mail. And a bantam rooster we called Billy jack, but other than that I have no idea what I'm doing and have been trying to take in everything I can here. I say here because every time I would google something about chickens there this site would be...got hooked on the enthusiasm...and the pics.

I know I'll have to do something with Diego. With the other roosters growing up he's getting worse every day. Didn't help anyones mood that it stormed off and on all day...'cept the garden. The peepers (frogs) are still singing. But the low pressure of the storm is giving me a headache, so I'll think about this all tomorrow.

 

[mandelyn]

Yeah, I think the Leghorn roo would be good with dumplings. There are so many roosters out there, you don't need one dangerous to humans. A sweet and kind rooster will still protect the girls. You may be able to keep both Orpington boys if they are good about sharing. If not, you'll have to pick a favorite.

I don't have tolerance for mean roosters, and they're the only chickens I've raised that I've eaten. I'd rather sit and have coffee with a sweet rooster who talks to me, than walk around with a rake wondering if he's going to sneak up on me.

 

[tnspursfan09]

Is there a thread about how to pluck and prepare and all that? My only experience with cooking chickens is to pick one up at Food City.

 

[donrae]

We have an entire section on meat birds! Lots of threads there about butchering, with some good links to nice videos, etc.

 

[tnspursfan09]

Do yall have any idea how helpful you and this site are???
I feel less lost every day, and not so much like I fumbling aroung in the dark.

Sandi

 

[Roddonna]

fresh Eggs are Great. We only have one Egg Layer right now. the other hens we just got a to young yet. we have a fresh Breakfast every 6 days at our house.

 

[tnspursfan09]

We now have four laying. One big white egg from Dora and three purty brown ones from our reds.