Although I consider myself an early-riser, to me that means I get up sometime after 7:30am. I so dislike getting up in the wee hours that I once considered whether I really wanted to go to Germany when my flight required I be at the airport at 4:00am. In the end I went, but there was a large amount of mumbling complaints and requests for gallon jugs of coffee.
This morning, however, I shot straight out of bed at 5:00 without a second’s hesitation. I heard it: the crow. The rooster among us was awake and crowing in my quiet, residential neighborhood. I threw on a sweater and staked out the coop from our living room window, frantically wiping sleep from my eyes and trying to get focus on the two suspects’ mouths: Edna and Stella.
After about 30 minutes I noticed a trend with Edna (the new araucana). She (he) would put her (his) head out with mouth open, as if to crow, but nothing would come out. Every once in awhile there would be an audible mini puff of a crow. It was like watching a teenager try to talk in a low voice, but a squeak would still sneak out here and there. That’s the best way I can describe it. So Edna, now called Ed, is our crower.
But wait – the plot thickens! I have noticed that Ed seems to get picked on. From time to time he seems to get little bald spots on his back from getting pecked. I always assumed he just fell to the bottom of the pecking order. But what I witnessed this morning makes me think there are actually TWO roosters among us.
As I continued to watch them, I noticed Stella (the new plymouth rock) was picking on Ed a lot. Eventually they got into a “stare off”. Both had their necks protruding, holding steady eye contact, and neither was backing down. Then they started jutting their heads back and forth a bit. Then things got really crazy, they both fluffed up their neck feathers, and some sort of squirmish followed. Basically, I think I just witnessed my first cock fight. At 5:40am, no less.
So what to do? We can’t have cock fights and crowing going on in our little urban food forest. The roosters need to go. Here’s an idea I have been mulling over that may make me lose a few readers… Keep in mind that the chances of me finding a nearby farm needing a rooster are slim. If I sold him/them on Craig’s List, someone will probably buy him/them for meat. If I took him/them to a feed store, they would probably sell him/them for meat. See where I am going here?
Is it insane if I butcher Ed, our for-sure rooster, in my backyard? (I still want to see Stella crow before his/her fate is determined)
The first time this thought occurred to me, I even thought I was crazy. But as I thought about it more, I realized that this is what people do on farms all the time. But I’m a city girl. Yet I’m still straddling the line between city-girl and farmer by raising chickens – basically I’m an urban homesteader. So does that difference really make it so morbid? I’ve gone hunting for meat. I buy free-range chicken for meat. Isn’t this kind one step in that same direction? Discuss.
I see nothing wrong with deciding to eat Ed and/or Stella. It’s a natural progression from keeping hens for eggs to making use of your surplus roosters. It’s looking like one of our supposed sexed pullets might actually be anther rooster (that would make 3!) – if that’s the case we’ll be making coq au vin later this summer…
Laura, you rock. Thank you.
We’ve decided that if one of our seven is a rooster, we would do the deed. It would be a first for us, however, as you’re aware it’s likely to happen wherever the rooster goes. Don’t laugh, but at least we’d know the death was quick rather than some other sad way to go….a neighborhood dog or botched butchering.
Michaela, I agree about it being at least a fast death. And they would have had a great life.
A friend suggested I “let it go” somewhere, but to me that’s even more cruel since their death is still inevitable, but really drawn out and probably pretty miserable.
I don’t think letting it go is fair to the bird at all. Even if he makes it he’d be alone and they’re very social birds. If you’re hesitating about eating him, you can always see if someone wants an Ameraucana rooster first, but I’ve had a lot of trouble getting rid of them n the past. Hence the fact that we’re eating this one (I’m 90% sure it’s a cockerel).
Laura, I agree. I work with our local humane society and feel the same way about pets that get abandoned. People will sometimes abandon a pet thinking it will “find it’s way”, but it’s really just a way for them to feel okay forgetting about it. The animal usually dies in a much sadder state.
I am okay mustering the guts to do it. It just feels weird being a city girl and butchering a chicken in my backyard 🙂
When our “Ruby” became “Rudy” we posted him on Craigslist for a hen in return. (Sidenote: I am a wimp and could not kill Rudy—besides my daughter who raised him in class would have been heartbroken—please note, as well, that I am NOT passing judgment here—you are obviously a caring person!)
We met a family in Washington that had many hens and wanted a Rooster to produce fertile eggs. So, it can work out for everyone and no one sees the “AXE”.
Good luck with your choice—
Have you seen this article? It’s been making the rounds. http://www.slate.com/id/2192934/
If you’re comfortable with the process (personally, I’d have a harder time with the cleaning than the killing itself), then I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.
I am happy to read that someone who clearly cares about their chickens as much as you do isn’t so deluded by this to see the practicality of eating one. Unless folks out there are strict vegans I have a tough time seeing where any judgment could come from. Having said that, I have participated in helping to kill a turkey and a chicken in the past and I will say it is A LOT of work. The cleaning is definitely the tougher part…once you do the deed. But I kinda believe anyone who eats meat should do it if they have the opportunity.
Good luck and I really enjoy your blog.
We’ll have to do this someday, too…
I’m kind of glad it’s not an easy decision; it shouldn’t be something anyone takes lightly. I think everyone who picks up a package of chicken at the store should be so detached from it that it’s a substance rather than a food that came from a responsibly-raised animal.
We’ll raise them for eggs and to eat…and some will become pets. Others will be chicken and dumplings, and we’ll never take that dish for granted again, at that point, I wager 🙂
oops correction to that last comment…it meant to read “i DONT think anyone who pickes up the package of chicken at the store should be detached from the farm to table connection” etc
OOPS 🙂
Totally agree with your other commenters — it may be a real “ulp!” moment, but unless you do get someone wanting to put him out to stud (!?), this is the wisest choice.
Might be a good idea to have a farm-raised or otherwise experienced hand with you at the time, though, in case you need help – it WOULD be bad if unfamiliarity with the procedure led to an un-brief, unpleasant experience for Ed.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Stella was a roo also. Barred rock roos are lighter in color than the hens/pullets. Something to do with the Barred gene, I think it’s X-linked, so the roos have one black gene and the hens have two, and the roos are pretty evenly black/white and the hens are black/black/white.
Long story short, don’t be surprised if you hear another crow.