If anyone knows anyone who needs a sweet, lovable, soon to be BIG rooster, let me know.
It was my plan to take my straight run Speckled Sussex and choose the best (biggest, nicest, and prettiest) roo to keep with the hens. The others were headed to freezer camp. I am usually pretty ok with it as long as someone else dispatches them. But my little SS are the sweetest birds I have ever known and I CAN'T eat them. I love them. All 5 of them.
They are hatchery stock (Ideal) but still pretty and sooooo nice. No special treatment (I mean above and beyond the other breeds I have) they are just naturally lovable. They run up to greet me, they let me pet them and seem to like it. They'll happily lay in my lap or let the kids (6 and 7 years old) handle them. They seldom fight unless the buff orp who came with them starts it. They are already the size of my polish hen but still peeping. I think they were hatched June 8th, but I might be off a week. They are so personable they have positively influenced the demeanor of my whole flock... my old, skittish birds now come up and tolerate brief contact without bribery because the little ones make it seem like fun!
I need to relocate 3 of them, as I have a home for one already (holding him till October!) I will be traveling to Lebanon (from Medford) next weekend (8-26 through 8-28) and also the weekend of September 10th. I also plan to list them on craigslist and failing that I will bring them to the swap. I just can't eat the nicest chickens I have ever had... I am sure someone wants a speckled sussex....right?