Do you keep livestock? Having any problems? Want to talk about it, whether it be sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, bees or llamas, here is your place to discuss.
I have just had to dispatch my first breeder cockerel.
He had developed a nasty habit of attacking anyone who wasn't my husband including children so he's for the pot.
It's a shame in one way because he was the biggest and best of last years light sussex cockerels and I had planned to hatch lots of lovely chicks from him but on the other hand, attacking people isn't a trait I want to pass on to the next generation.
I dont think I'll feel guilty eating this one.
We've had them in the past too (no longer poultry keeping here, sadly) - one we dispatched and turned into chicken curry, but the other one we took for a car ride up the valley, and turned loose to terrorize the local fox population! He only got that way after my son (about 8 at the time) made cockerel noises up in the copse by the old milpond. Grotty-cock went out to do battle, and for ever after, was convinced my son was a rival cockerel in disguise, and he took to laying in wait for the school taxi . . . That was bad enough, but he would also land on your back when you were egg-collecting, so we decided as there wasn't much of him to eat, we would give him his freedom elsewhere. I agree with you though Hepsibah - no need to put up with a bad-un spreading his genes and nasty nature, especially when there are plenty of nice-natured ones to take his place.
All goes back to the earth, and so I do not desire pride of excess or power, but the contentments made by men who have had little. Wendell Berry.
