Or at least turn into nasty teenagers?
The "chicks" are 7 weeks old now, and I definately have 4 roos and 8 hens. My plan is to keep one roo - I like the sound, the neighbors like the sound, and I like the idea....I'm not looking into a breeding program or the like, but I have room for more. I bought them all also expecting some for meat.
My plan is to send 3 of the roos to the freezer in time (knowing full well these aren't grocery store Cornish X, but we're the type of folk who eat wild turkey over store bought, and much prefer vension to beef). I have three SLW and one RIR roo.
My determining factor will be who is the best tempered roo. I've read a lot about roos here who have been coddled (for lack of a better word) only to turn nasty because they think the human isn't top chicken.
I haven't handled them all a lot - much less than I anticipated (silly work and other human activities), but there is one roo who is VERY human friendly - he will hang out and likes to be pet, comes up and hangs with us when we are by the run etc. He did "bite" my husband today - I told him to knock of sticking his fingers in there because I'd just fed them all strawberries - which said roo took out of my hand.)
So, since he's nice now, will he turn bad? When should I start watching for bad behavior? The bugger is obviously turning favorite because of being personable. I think even hubby will be unhappy if he ends up going to be dinner (I don't expect hubby to help - we both are hunters, but I do all the game processing).
I have a 2 1/2 y/o daughter who LOVES going in with the chickens, and "flogging" will absolutely not be tolerated. I'm just curious when I should start watching for signs on aggression....
The "chicks" are 7 weeks old now, and I definately have 4 roos and 8 hens. My plan is to keep one roo - I like the sound, the neighbors like the sound, and I like the idea....I'm not looking into a breeding program or the like, but I have room for more. I bought them all also expecting some for meat.
My plan is to send 3 of the roos to the freezer in time (knowing full well these aren't grocery store Cornish X, but we're the type of folk who eat wild turkey over store bought, and much prefer vension to beef). I have three SLW and one RIR roo.
My determining factor will be who is the best tempered roo. I've read a lot about roos here who have been coddled (for lack of a better word) only to turn nasty because they think the human isn't top chicken.
I haven't handled them all a lot - much less than I anticipated (silly work and other human activities), but there is one roo who is VERY human friendly - he will hang out and likes to be pet, comes up and hangs with us when we are by the run etc. He did "bite" my husband today - I told him to knock of sticking his fingers in there because I'd just fed them all strawberries - which said roo took out of my hand.)
So, since he's nice now, will he turn bad? When should I start watching for bad behavior? The bugger is obviously turning favorite because of being personable. I think even hubby will be unhappy if he ends up going to be dinner (I don't expect hubby to help - we both are hunters, but I do all the game processing).
I have a 2 1/2 y/o daughter who LOVES going in with the chickens, and "flogging" will absolutely not be tolerated. I'm just curious when I should start watching for signs on aggression....
