Bruce, I finally separated all the feathers last night. I can put a lot of them to good use. Thanks again.
Great! You're welcome. I am glad they will work out for you and the rooster dieing won't be a total waste.
Bruce, I'm sorry to hear this for you and the family. Good shooting on that thief. I have lost 3 chicks this year from predators, but mine are of the domestic persuasion, a cat and a dog. That must have been a horrible feeling coming home to that. Do you have any meaties right now? Are you going to caponize the New Hampshire Red roosters? Sal
Thanks, Sal. No meat birds now. Well, no live meat birds now LOL. We processed 42 in May/June so we are good. The twelve roosters are auditioning for the lead rooster role. Those that fail too pass will be eaten. We'll probably keep 3-4 through the winter and narrow it down sometime in March. I wish I knew how to caponize, or knew someone that did, but the one guy around here that was good at it is no longer with us. I don't have the nerve to "practice" on my own but would try if someone could show me how.
I didn't think I would but I think she was stopped and eating, then got bumped off by my wife going back in the woods and was coming back to the chicken when I spotted her. Lucky, for sure. I found feathers to the other missing chicken back on the railroad tracks, about .4 of a mile away. I know where they live and have probably missed at least one when fox hunting at night.
Better to be lucky than good anyday. Wasn't quite sure what "caponize" meant...so I looked it up. Looks like delicate work. http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/210041/how-to-caponize-a-rooster-warning-graphic-pics
That's good that you got the meaties done before the fox got in the yard. Good thinking on the rooster issue. I can't have them, but I never would think of doing that. Caponizing has a pretty high mortality rate, so I don't blame you.
Despite learning that Bruce hates our country, he is still a nice guy. He recently sent me the feathers from his beloved rooster that lost it's life defending the henhouse. The feathers arrived plucked and washed, which is no quick task. Above and beyond what I expected. I sorted them by size and type. As promised, I'm sending Bruce a thank you for his generosity. Thanks again, Bruce. These feathers will last me years.
You're welcome. I am glad that they will be used in such a useful, beautiful fashion. Those two look fantastic.
The fox? Yes on a number of counts. It is legal to shoot them for attacking my livestock and it is also legal to shoot them Mon-Sat 24 hrs a day in my county.
HH, I can shoot ANY animal, domestic or wild that threatens my livestock as well .... I am pretty sure it's that way most places that allow livestock .... so keep your dang dogs penned up!
You send me some feathers, and you'll get something in return. That young rooster you have already has some awesome black schlappen feathers (tail). Just sayin...
I heard the rooster is an atheist, and he thinks gun hunting is cheating. Again, just sayin... Take him down!
