…to see that everything’s in its place, and one of the two remaining Araucana cocks has finally discovered that their enclosure isn’t really intended to hold them in. 
Remains to be seen what he’ll do about it. I may start opening their door during the day, or I may just put them both in the freezer. Haven’t quite decided: There’s a part of me that never quite got over being a control freak. I’ve relaxed a lot, but I have a hard time letting go of the things I’m supposed to be protecting. As chickens, the Aras have value only for their meat, which is marginal roast-quality: Much better than a worn-out layer. I don’t get that much meat.
On the other hand, we’ve wanted to know for some time whether it would be at all feasible to pasture birds, if they’ll return to their coop at night. Ghost makes that problematic, but this is right in the yard. He might go along with the joke, unlike last time. I guess we’ll see. This one may be making the decision for me, and the other will likely follow. If they suffer the price of freedom, well, they’re sort of expendable.
Any idea if *any* of the 4 turned out to be female? We’ve already eaten Smithers and the loud-mouth (let’s call him Nelson). Are the remaining two both male, or is there still a chance one is a hen?
Nope, all male. You really hit the jackpot with this particular bunch.
I named them #1, #2 and #3 after the order in which I intend to eat them. It has everything to do with decibel level.
Wow. Whoever is doing your chicken sexing when you buy newly hatched chicks isn’t doing a very good job. It really would herlp your egg production goals if you learned to sex chickens. (What a story for your book…) And it would save you a lot of time, work, water and chicken food that doesn’t produce eggs. But then, a man has to eat.
It’s a learning process, Zelda.