Cull the Rooster My Amish neighbor asked how were my chickens doing. She was aware that I was new at this chicken thing and she was always ready to help solve problems..suggest solutions and bring over an ax if needed. I said I thought the rooster was too bossy. He chased the boys when they went into the coop to gather eggs and even the hens seemed to be running out of his way as he strutted around the yard. “ Let’s go see" she said. When you order chicks at the feed store in the spring you get a selection of little cute chicks and then one or two start growing bigger and have more tail feathers and even try to crow at the chick stage. If you want eggs that are fertile ( supposed to be healthier and allow for new chicks to hatch at home) you need a rooster that will make that happen ..have sex with all the hens. We approached the hen house with it’s penned in yard. The hens were always happy for company as it meant a treat from kitchen scraps or even a trip to the garden to eat some bugs off the broccoli. The rooster though charged the gate ..made himself fluff up to appear bigger and was about to take a bite out of my ankle before I closed the gate and looked hopefully at my Amish neighbor / chicken advisor. “Bully rooster”. Are the hens laying? “ Some..I said.” Now, I don’t know a lot about animal (chicken) psychology but I do know fear when I see and hear it. The hens were scared. When an animal is stressed it shuts down , fights back or runs. Hens were under duress. Less eggs. “ I’ll send you a young rooster tomorrow.” “What about HIM?” I asked pointing to old bossy one. “Cull” she said. ——————— Culling is the process of removing specific individuals from a group based on certain criteria. In the case of roosters, it often involves selecting those that are surplus to requirements or display undesirable traits.  ——————— She takes her index finger and slides it across her throat…”Cull” she said. Her husband comes back next day with two sacks. He opens up the chickens gate chases down the rooster hangs him upside down and ties his feet with twine..hands him to me. Opens up the other sack to let the bachelor out into the yard then asks If I want the “mean one” or should he take him home to butcher. I’m thinkin “mean one” doesn’t sound very tasty so I say “He’s all yours.” If I didn’t know better I’d have to say the hens were joyous in greeting their new BBF. ( Best Boy Friend) Eggs came back in abundance. “Cull” the mean one..for the health of the flock. Living in fear is not good for production of eggs or anything else for that matter.

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My dad was running for Mayor and I was PR

the flying Bambino's