Who's Who....Part 5

Years ago, when we decided to have hens for eggs,

we made it a point to avoid roosters.

We bought our hens as chicks at the feed store.

And all were hens.

And there was peace on the farm.

The next summer, we decided to increase our flock;

and ordered 25 chicks from McMurray Hatchery.

And from that group of 25, one hen grew into an "Amazon" chicken...

taller than the rest.

It wasn't long until it was apparent that a rooster had been slipped into the group.

That first "cock-a-doodle-do" gave him away!

Enter Elvis.

And still there was peace on the farm.

Oh, and by the way, I fell in love with the sound of roosters crowing in the morning.

So the next summer when it was time to order more chickens,

I made it a point to order another rooster.

This time I chose the breed that I wanted...

a very colorful fellow...

named Hank.

And there was no more peace on the farm.

Yes, Hank was the rooster from "%$#^$".

Once fully mature, Hank's daily entertainment was chasing down

and flogging whoever crossed his path.

Eventually, (after drawing blood) 

Hank was put to rest...humanely...by lethal injection.

And there was once again peace on the farm.

The next summer brought a group of fancy Polish crested chickens to the farm.

And amongst them...a crazy rooster named....

Rod Stewart.

Rod is still with us today.

He's been the favorite rooster on the farm,

(and many have come and gone in the mean time)

until this year's arrival of Elton.

Sr. Elton is a silky rooster who lives with the donkey girls.

He's the most people-friendly rooster we have ever had!

Along they way, there has been Ole Roy

(who is still with us).

Those 6 frat brothers (the Ameraucanas)...

of which only three remain.

And Henri, our gender confused Polish crested

who disappeared this summer.

With four henhouses, the seven remaining roosters are kept quite busy.

Luckily (for the hens) four of them are living the life of bachelors.

I am happy to say that at the present time...

there is still peace on the farm!

And so, for a farm that originally was to be a "Rooster-free" zone,

we have had our share of boys along the way.

Oh, the stories we can share about our crazy Roos!