Thank you BYC Community - got the courage to thin out the roosters!

[mattamuskeetmom]

I want to thank you all for the wisdom that you impart every day on this great forum. I am a first-timer with the chickens, and this forum has been invaluable to me. I posted a while back about roosters getting aggressive to my little boy, and the resounding answer was that I needed to get rid of the roos. I did it, with the help of my Dad, and the hens, my remaining two roos, and my little boy are all much happier. Not to mention, the chicken was the best I have ever eaten! I wrote out my chicken story, and you can take a look if you are interested at my blog www.mattamuskeetmomma.blogspot.com

Thanks again for the help along the way! Have a great night!

MM

 

[theoldchick]

Mom has to do what she has to do to protect her kids. While many of us consider our chickens backyard pets, I like to remind people, if it weren't for chickens our ancestors would have starved to death. These versatile birds provide the protein we need even in sparse environments. One thing about processing your own birds is you know they were raised with kindness and processed with respect.

 

[TeamChaos]

What a great blog entry! I added you to my reading list. Your dad is an awesome guy- I'm glad you included a pic! I got the same from my family- "can't you put them up for adoption?" uh, no. There is no way to put into words how refreshing the calm is in a chicken yard that is over run with roosters no more.

 

[Sally8]

What a wonderful story. I enjoyed reading it so much. We had to get rid of a very young rooster for the very same reason and am looking at rooster #2. Why do they all want to be so aggressive? Why are all our odds 98% roosters to 2% hens. I thought it was just me. Thanks again for the story.
Oh, wanted to add, I'm amazed at the number of people who say things like re-homing him. Why would I want to re home a mean and aggressive rooster. Take a chance on another child or older getting hurt. I see all the time, animals being hit for aggressiveness or other bad behavior. We seem to take in rescues. especially cats. Sometimes they spray, scratch, etc and I've been asked, even by my vet, "Can't you find someone who would like a barn cat?" The day before I had a male cat humanely euthanized for spraying and attacking my other male cat, he sprayed in the garage and the smell is still here. Give him to someone else to abuse him? NO! I am so against euthanizing but more so animal abuse. Just sayin'

 

[NJchixs]

Thanks for telling your story. It was a very enjoyable read and gave me a few laughs. If I decide to get some more chicks next spring, maybe your dad would like to make a visit to the jersey shore for some freezer camp demo, lol.

 

[mattamuskeetmom]

Thanks for the nice comments, everyone! I wanted to put my chicken story out there because it seems like there are so many stories going out to the general public lately about the "cute factor" of owning chickens (like this month's Southern Living, for example) It just seems a little irresponsible to not focus on the importance of flock management for the health of your birds (not to mention what happens when your birds get aggressive to your children). I am learning as I go, and I wanted to let others in the same boat as me know that you can do it too! I wouldn't make it without all of the great advice that gets posted everyday on this forum. Love you guys!

MM