Apologies to the pet chicken folks who are horrified by these things, but I have to share. My wife and I purchased 4 young EEs from a local guy and were assured they were all pullets, and he seemed to be right as they were all developing the same. No real difference in appearance until... one morning while tending the garden I heard the most pitiful sound come from the coop. Should have named her Caitlyn because she turned out to be a cockerel. haha We ended up with a beautiful rusty colored boy. Unfortunately, we are suburban so roos are a no no. He crowed day and night, sometimes every 15-20 minutes. My neighbors are okay and downright giddy about my chicken keeping but I didn't want to push my luck and have the city on my doorstep so I decided Bruce had to go. It was for the best because he was very aggressive and absolutely terrorized the flock. In our area, roosters aren't in demand except for eating so I didn't want to sell him. I figured if he was going to be anyone's dinner, it would be ours. So, I thanked Bruce for his life, gave him a quick, painless death, and he was cooked in the rotisserie for Sunday dinner. I've only ever had store bought chicken except for when I was a small child and didn't really remember the difference... It was the richest, most flavorful chicken I think I'd ever eaten. He was not a big bird by any means, but he provided a meal for a family of four and the carcass was slow simmered to make a beautiful stock that will become chicken noodle soup tonight. Gives you a real appreciation for where your food comes from, and a good feeling to know that you gave the animal a happy, healthy life before that "one bad day."
