Peeps in Europe!

[Erba]

Gosh butchering 9 roosters on your own, you are super woman!! I couldn't do that many at one time, cause I get an aversion to the smell when scalding them, so three or four, and then I'm out of there...lol I need to get me a gas camp stove I suppose, and do the whole thing outside. I do have an electric camping stove that I was using, but the helpers got impatient with it, so they went and used my kitchen gas stove, and I have also used the kitchen gas for single hens, but that smell...

 

[abpatchy]

I use a canning pot... nice size for my birds (couldn't do less in size) and keeps the temperature where I set it. Uses electricity... just an extention cord and you're set. I think it took like half an hour to heat to temperature (from ice cold water, that is the only thing I have at the coop.
But definitly not inside!!!
Thank you for the "superwoman"... sure makes me feel good

 

[abpatchy]

Youngster's photo shooting yesterday... these all hatched March 8th. Tiny yellow fluff balls back then...

 

[CuddleNest]

Wow they are gorgeous! Are those white ears?

 

[abpatchy]

Thanks! I think so too... love my roosters!
Yes, those are the earlobes.

 

[CuddleNest]

Oh I love it..and the long feathers on the top of the head, looking suave! Almost reminds me of hair. I find the colors to be brilliant and hard to look away from. I dont know, I hope I'm not getting addicted to another breed now!

I'm a cock lover myself, I understand . Despite the challenges with Butch, our mixed breed but looks a bit like a German sperber rooster, he is still a big cuddle cock, and I spend countless evenings stroking him over a late cup of coffee! Its a running gag in the house that I'm the cock whisperer...therefore if it comes to it, I am not quite sure how well I would handle butchering him. But if I had to, I would do it, especially with all the good advice you've given.

 

[abpatchy]

Oh yes, it looks very cool... really like hair. Especially when they move their head from side to side.. then the long feathers move.. slightly stiff... the ladies have a little puff on their head which is really cute too... not too big like polish for example. I fell for the roosters first though...
Robert Höck made a video about the Sulmtaler breed on youtube. Have a look.

I appreciate you saying that I gave good advice...

 

[BDutch]

Youngster's photo shooting yesterday... these all hatched March 8th. Tiny yellow fluff balls back then...

Beautiful cockerels.
Where are the young ladies? Or did you hatch only cockerels?

 

[abpatchy]

hahaha... no the ladies are there... actually I had more hens hatching than roosters... check out the picture where there are more roosters in it...on the other side of the fence are a couple of the young ladies.
It is really cute because they are starting to get interested in the roosters. The roosters have been for a while. But how the girls hang out by the fence checking out the roosters. A couple of month ago they couldn't care less. Like Teenagers, which I guess they are.

 

[LoreWalker]

Hi all! I just joined and thought I'd come say hi
I'm from the Netherlands!

Were putting the final touches on our coop and run this week and are getting our first chickens soon! Starting with some bantams, if we get rescues, but eventually want to get some larger breed. We live out in the woods and despite our run being pretty well-sealed off, I worry a marten might get in and kill those tiny little bantams! Plus there's not a ton of meat on most of them, and we do intend to eat some of them in the future.