Roo Removal

My roosters, better known as "the boys" have been adopted out.  I was sorry to see them go and will really miss THREE of the four who left! (I wasn't so smitten with the 4th one....I still think he was either gay, or a transvestite!)

 Having just recently learned how IMPORTANT that "hen to rooster" ratio really is ...I had no other option than to part with my beloved roosters.  ESPECIALLY after the death of poor Beulah (see post titled"Chick-Obit")  The girls were harrassed night & day....without ceasing...and there was no place to hide.  Poor things!!

The boys left this morning while I was at work.  Honey handled the departure affair for me (God love him!)  When I arrived home tonight & went to the barn to check on the Coop Community, things were eerily quiet!  Always before, there had been almost constant pandemonium.....the poor hens had no respite whatsoever, and even nights on the roost were tense with emotion. Most of the girls slept with one eye open!

The only members of the community IN the coop were Mama-Mia and her 10 new chicks.....and a couple of the other "mama-wanna-be" hens, checking out the nest boxes for size, comfort, and view.  The rest of the girls were out in the pasture with Kellogg (the only remaining rooster).  They were having a WONDERFUL picnic and were in no hurry to return to the roost.    Kellogg, (seen here at right) actually looked like he was standing just a little taller!  NOW, he is truly,  in charge.....and he takes that responsibility very seriously!  He seems greatly relieved that he no longer has to keep tabs on the actions of the other four roos, or run himself ragged defending the girls against the brutal attacks that were becoming common place.

Out in the pasture, while the girls feast on grasses, bugs, and what-not, Kellogg patrols the picnic grounds, alert to every change of wind and nuance of breeze.  He has the girls' best interests at heart & they seem to really appreciate his watchfulness on their behalf.  There has been, however, a few sad faces in the crowd.  Some of the girls lost boyfriends and are mourning lost love.  (Can a chicken experience "puppy love"??)  That's a sad thing to see in the face of a chicken!  (Chickens DO have other expressions besides just that "duh?" look!)  

I know I'll adjust to the loss of my little feathered friends.  I hope they will adjust to their sudden change of address!!  And lastly.....I hope there aren't any roosters in the ten recently hatched chicks!! Time will tell!!