Much Ado About Roos!

Well, it's finally happened.
After nearly two years,
all of the Roos have found the hens.

Let me "recap" for you....


Two summers ago, I bought a dozen Ameraucana chicks...
a "straight run" as they call it....unsexed.
Well, the odds were not in my favor and 6 of the twelve turned out to be Roos.
Those six roosters were named Number 1, Number 2, and so on.
Because we did not want to stress our hens with too much testosterone,
we kept the Roos in a house close to the farmhouse...
with quite a distance separating them from the hens.


Last summer, crafty ole Rooster Number 6 made his way through the blackberry patch,
across the orchard to the other side of the woods and found "love"
at the barn.  Before long he brought his buddy Number 5 with him
and they both moved into the barnyard henhouse.


Each morning Rod Stewart (lord and master of that henhouse) 
and his manservant, Henri, chase Number 5 and 6 out of the henhouse and into the barnyard.
There, they spend their days wooing the ladies and avoiding Rod and Henri.
But each night, 5 and 6 return to Rod and Henri's henhouse to sleep.


Lately, Numbers 1,2,3 and 4 have been seen making the trek to the barn
to fraternize with the ladies.


They don't stay, however.
At least they didn't until.....

Sunday morning on my way to do the early AM chores,
I opened the door to the Roos' house to let them out.
Out ran Numbers 1,2 and 3.


But no Number 4.
Where was number 4?
Did he fall prey to a fox, or a hawk? (After all, it's that time of year again.)

Wondering...I made my way to the barn and
 opened the door to the barnyard henhouse.


And who did I see?
Yep...there he was, hiding in the corner...
waiting for the other roosters to exit.
Number 4 had defected. 


And when he jumped down into the yard,
Rod Stewart was there to chase him away!


Rod made it a point to let ole Number 4 know that those hens were his and off limits!


During the day there were several battles between roosters...
none of them serious.
The funny thing is...
at night they will all return to the same henhouse to sleep.
And every morning the same drama will unfold.


Some things just never change!
And I am half expecting to some morning open the barnyard henhouse
to find 8 roosters sleeping over.
At that point we might just have to consider chicken pot pie!

(This hen would be swinging from the chandler if we had one in the barn.)

Here is my advice to you...
If you are thinking of having a few backyard chickens...
do it!

Always buy hens...skip the roosters....they are more trouble than they are worth.
That is, unless you live in an area where no one will be bothered by
the every morning "cock a doodle do"..
in which case I would highly recommend you get just one rooster.
Never buy chicks by the "straight run"....you have a 50% chance of getting
multiple roosters....
and that means multiple troubles!!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Oh I that is too funny. I love how Rod Stewart is warding off his territory. We have one rooster and only six hens left. My husband two weeks ago just purchased 11 Dixie Rainbow chickens, some new breed I hear. They are crossed with broilers and laying chickens. I am hoping there will be some hens from this batch. The last time he bought 6 and all 6 were roosters. Barred Rock ones that were so cagey the hens wouldn't come out of the coop.
Do you know anything about these fast growing Dixie Rainbow chickens?
Tamera
Country at heart
Gone Country said…
Hee,hee, those bad boys!

I ordered some hens last October and still ended up with a rooster which always seems to be my luck when buying chicks! We love him even though he is noisy and occasionally reminds me who the boss is!
Bev, that sounds just like our farm at the moment! Too many roosters! You tell a good story. Hugs, Dawn
Anonymous said…
BOYS! I tell ya. They are a handful it sounds like. Do love their plumage though, much better than hens'.
This N That said…
Me thinks that where there are gals, there will be guys even if it takes a year....Boys will be boys!!
They may be a lot of trouble but they are very handsome...
Bliss said…
I agree! Our rooster has got to go when my kids are out of school and I can actually sleep in. One morning I woke up while it was still dark thinking I heard screaming in the distance. Just Nugget learning how it works.

~Bliss~
Country Gal said…
Oh how cute ! Awesome photos ! Chickens are quite funny arent they ! I remember what they are like from our hobby farm ! Hope they all get along ! Have a good day !
Teresa said…
I had one rooster and ordered only hens. Well, two of my hens turned into roosters, and now my old rooster keeps attacking me. One is certainly all the rooster anybody needs.
TxFarmhouse said…
all I can think of is "those poor hens"! Very entertaining for us but I'll bet those girls are dreading them! I think chicken pot pie sounds good.
Very funny...
BumbleVee said…
Rod Stewart...hahah...that's the wild hair guy.... too funny.