His days are numbered

Well. I think it is time. The following is information for those interested, but more importantly is my self talk so that I may see that it is, indeed, time to invite the poor chap to dinner.

Up until the other day, it was just a quick flog of the back of a leg and off he ran. Like a coward's attack. He had done this to me a few times, to my husband and then to my young daughter. We started talking about doing him in, but I guess our hearts weren't really in it because he was still around to attack me the other day.

Ever since Penny hatched the chicks, he has been getting progressively worse. He is definitely protecting them. It is when I approach them that he comes at me. I understand and I appreciate his efforts. He is a good protector of his little flock. Honestly, though, this has never been a really great family rooster. This rooster was hand raised, but even as a tiny chick, was always flighty, and avoided human contact. He has NEVER been a lovable chicken. He has always been impossible to catch.

Many folks who have chickens have told me that they have wonderful friendly, sweet roosters. So, it seems that they are not all like this bird. Also, we have a hen of the same breed who is just nasty. She bites! The kids would love to get rid of her, but she lays a LOT of eggs. If she wasn't such a great layer, I would gladly give her away. Maybe when the babies start laying...

Our backyard is a sanctuary where the chickens add to the tranquility. Visitors love to come out to visit our chickens and enjoy "nature's Prozac" with us. Kids love to feed treats to and hold our chickens. The rooster has added to that with his crowing. He has a fairly quiet crow and we have grown to love the sound.

Lately, I have been more and more afraid of that rooster. I have taken to carrying a small rake around with me when I go out. I often fend him off with it, but the other day, he caught me without it...

I had gone out to put them all back in the coop and carried a metal steaming pan in which I had kitchen scraps to lure them into the coop. I tossed the scraps in and started my call, "chick, chick, chick, chick" and here he came. He came close and started quietly pecking and clucking nervously. This behavior always precedes an attack. I prepared myself with the metal pan in my hand. Sure enough, he came at me. As he lunged, I smacked him with the pan and away he rolled. He jumped up and came at me again. I wolluped him again and again and again with the metal pan. Each time, he continued to come at me.

I was unable to get away from him and unable to get out of this struggle that I found myself in. I wanted to call for help, but the only people that were home were my two kids. I certainly didn't want to call them into this situation. I was hating this rooster at this point. The struggle went on for several minutes. I didn't know how I was going to get out of it. I did know that if one of my blows knocked him down for good, I was okay with that. Eventually I was able to put a bush between me and him, he came around the bush at me. Then I moved to another bush. Eventually, my distance from the babies satisfied him (though that was not what I was going for) and he backed off. At this point I was late getting off to where I was going, so I just left. I was shaken up and angry!

Now I understand cock fighting. This guy was in it to the death if he had to be. I was whacking him with a metal pan!!! The foolish bird!

The next morning, I let the chickens out. I was sitting here in my family room where I can look out over my lovely back yard. I was noticing that the chickens were up on my patio. They are not allowed up there, and I usually go out and shoo them off gently when they come up. Now, I was afraid to. This was the moment that I realized he has to go. My tranquil sanctuary has been turned into a yard of harassment. I didn't want to go out there! That bird is messing with my sanity. He is a menace.

While I respect his determination and appreciate his protection of the flock, I don't think it is worth it to keep him. I have 5 more little roosters (7 weeks old) and perhaps there will be a sweet roo that will grow from that bunch. I had really wanted to see one of them take him out of power but I don't think I have the patience to wait for that. The kids and I started raising chickens for fun. General Cotton, as he is called, is spoiling the fun. That, alone, is reason enough to rid our flock of him. We just don't need or want the headache.

We don't have the time or inclination to "rehabilitate" what amounts to a wild animal. I don't believe such a thing can really be done. The advice I have read about rehabilitating an unruly rooster indicate that it would need to be done again and again. I have children. I'd be a fool. So, have I convinced myself???