Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Hinotori]

My husband wont allow them or showgirls. He thinks they need a dashed line tattoo around their neck and cut here

 

[Smokerbill]

At least you don't have to pluck the necks before you fry them.

 

[Smokerbill]

Best sauerkraut I've made yet. Tastes just like good store bought. Got three and a half pints.

ETA:
And I'm almost ready to put my next batch in the fermenter.

 

[ValerieJ]

@Smokerbill you mentioned you hoped you have a cockerel in your batch of chicks. If they are not straight run, there's not a lot of chance of that. So, I thought I should mention that if you want Cooper back you could have him.

I just tried to integrate Cooper into the flock this afternoon and it didn't turn out well. He is an alpha rooster for sure and it does not matter to him that Ralphie is bigger. Doesn't matter to Ralphie either. He was scared.

Such a hard situation for me. The hens all seem to love both roosters. I will try again sometime. It makes me sad to see Cooper on his own, but his coop is only big enough for 2 or 3 chickens, and that is not enough hens for a rooster. He will tear them up.

 

[Hinotori]

Size doesn't matter. Attitude matters.

I had a silkie rooster that had all large fowl running in fear at the sight of him. Brahma rooster ameraucana roosters. They fled in fear. He liked to sneak up and grab a beakful of butt feathers for first attack. Later he'd taught his hens to go marauding with him. He hated anything that wasn't a silkie so hens weren't safe. They too ran at the sight of a silkie.

He taught that to his male offspring as well. I didn't get chicken friendly roosters until I quit letting the chicks be raised in his pen. He finally got taken out by a cornered and fed up ameraucana hen who got a good head peck in that mostly blinded him.

Spent the last 6 plus months of his life depressed with only his faithful older hens calling him in and out of the house and to the food and water.

 

[ValerieJ]

Size doesn't matter. Attitude matters.

I had a silkie rooster that had all large fowl running in fear at the sight of him. Brahma rooster ameraucana roosters. They fled in fear. He liked to sneak up and grab a beakful of butt feathers for first attack. Later he'd taught his hens to go marauding with him. He hated anything that wasn't a silkie so hens weren't safe. They too ran at the sight of a silkie.

He taught that to his male offspring as well. I didn't get chicken friendly roosters until I quit letting the chicks be raised in his pen. He finally got taken out by a cornered and fed up ameraucana hen who got a good head peck in that mostly blinded him.

Spent the last 6 plus months of his life depressed with only his faithful older hens calling him in and out of the house and to the food and water.

Wow. What a learning experience that was for you.

Well, I guess I won't expect Cooper to ever get along in the main run then. Perhaps I'll start looking to rehome him. I have never brought a chicken to auction because I'm uncertain of the fate of those birds. They certainly are not treated well while there. I don't know. I give him his own treats whenever anyone else gets them and he hangs out at the fence line with the girls who love him. That might have to be enough of a life for him. He has a will to live, so culling is not an option at all.

 

[Smokerbill]

@ValerieJ , thanks for the offer but I don't think he'd work out with my girls, and it would probably cause more "excitement" than I would want to deal with.

Ideally one of the NH chicks is a little roo that the older Barred Rocks can teach manners to. And if they're all pullets, I'll be just a little disappointed, and who knows, it might be for the best (for me) to have a roosterless flock.

I'm sorry he wasn't a good fit with your flock. He's a nice looking rooster!

New batch of kraut is in the fermenter.

 

[ValerieJ]

@ValerieJ , thanks for the offer but I don't think he'd work out with my girls, and it would probably cause more "excitement" than I would want to deal with.

Ideally one of the NH chicks is a little roo that the older Barred Rocks can teach manners to. And if they're all pullets, I'll be just a little disappointed, and who knows, it might be for the best (for me) to have a roosterless flock.

I'm sorry he wasn't a good fit with your flock. He's a nice looking rooster!

New batch of kraut is in the fermenter.

Ahh...that's disappointing. I thought since he was with them before it would be a good match. But, no worries. It will all work out. He will either find a new home or he will live as he is. He is not a miserable guy. He has a good life. Just not with the girls.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

 

[Smokerbill]

Making a half gallon of yogurt this morning. Milk is heating on the stove now.