They'd become dinner in my 4x8. LOL.
Here is how I decide who is dinner and who is not. Most mutts, automatic dinner status. Pure boys, two went to new homes this year, both for breeding. Silly took one boy, sold the other to one of my egg customers. He's got 60+ hens, only had one rooster. The third boy is still here. We'll see how he turns out, he may be for eating too. Any pures that don't find new homes, but I have no use for also go in the freezer. Then there are the mutts who just grow on you... mostly cuz of the silkie mix in there. Rod Stewart was a keeper because from the beginning he was an ugly sucker. Short, fat, and to much black skin. LOL. He's was/is just like his daddy Roger. Great to the hens, nice to people, mean as a demon to anything that TRIES to interfer with his ladies. He even has great attitude with the chicks. He used to be number 3. Worked his way up to number one, because Mr. F died protecting the girls from a coon attack during the day, saved all the girls, some minor injuries, but he took a real beating, died of internal injuries a week or so later. Was totally devastating. He was the type of roo EVERYONE wants for their flock and family. He was also 4 yrs old, so he had the moves down for his ladies. HIs ladies love him, would just squat for him, preen him, never had a bare back or head with him. Roger now... Roger was a demon silkie. Great bird. He'd bite me every time I picked him up, then let me pick him up, ride around on my shoulder. Just had to let me know that HE was boss, and it was HIS decision not mine. LOL. He survived a hawk scalping, a raccoon attack, then finished raising the babies that survived that attack, then ended up not surviving the second hawk late fall last year. He roosted on roost 5 feet up, kicked the crap out of roosters twice his size, (had to resuce a RIR roo that was pinned in a corner in a metal filing stand with Roger beating him, RIR became dinner, bad attitude), and very good to the ladies as well. SO, after that, Rod became number one and he will NOT relinquish his postition. He won't back down from a fight, even from Strutter who out weighs him by 10 pounds. (We eat his kids though) Strutter is a keeper, because he's good to his girls, the neighbors girls, people friendly, and he's for breeding. The phoenix are for breeding. Fritz the Jerk is just a funny lawn ornament. He likes the big girls, but can't quite hit the mark... HELLO! One pound bird trying to get some some from 6 pound birds... Not happening. LOL. They squat for him though, I think just to make him feel better, and I think they secretly go off laughing their beaks off. Now, Why do I keep the white Jap boy... Well, he's going to be for breeding also.
The ones I don't want to eat, and don't want to breed, I sell to this Chinese lady. Her family likes the silkies for breeding and for more dinner, and have no problem with the silkie cross roos for eating either.
