The great rooster experiment

Follow the logic here... Most self sufficient farms have chickens. We are working to be a self sufficient farm. Therefore, we need chickens. This is actually R's logic. I grew up with chickens and know the joy of fresh eggs and having them come running when you call them for feeding. I also know the... 'experience' of stepping in chicken poo in your bare feet when you do not expect it and of having them get in and eat your garden. Suffice it to say that I am not completely on board with the 'we need chickens' campain, but he feels the same way about the goats and marriage is built on compromise.

Since we have coyotes - side note - You remember Salem's mysterious disappearance a few months ago? Yes, we believe it was a coyote encounter. Back on track - since we have coyotes and laying hens cost between 3-8 dollars each, it would be foolish to buy chickens without testing the waters.

I came up with the following great idea... the feed stores occasionally miss a rooster and sell it as a hen (they are babies and all look the same) - it really is hard to tell! People that live in town can have up to 5 laying hens inside the city limits but roosters are not allowed. This time of year, the roosters grow enough that people can tell the difference and they give them away. A coyote eating a free rooster is better than a coyote eating a costly chicken. So, we get a free rooster and if it lives (i.e. doesn't get eaten by a coyote), we will buy laying hens.

About 2 weeks ago, we got a free rooster and put him in with the goats. This way he has room to run and bugs to eat but also has a safe, fenced place to live. He was fantastic. Yes, I said was... He is not longer fantastic, well in animal heaven he might still be fantastic. We got up yesterday and he was running around with the goats. We went back out at noon to unload hay and he was still running around. We went back out at feeding time and he was dead. No feathers, blood or sign of a struggle - just dropped dead. He lasted 2 weeks BUT coyotes didn't get him!

The great rooster experiment is over. I do not know if the goats took issue with the rooster, if he hit the hot wire and had a problems (which just cracks me up - I have this visual of the rooster hitting the hot wire and clutching his chest as he staggers away crying 'my heart, my heart' until he keels over with feet up in the air), if he had an issue before we got him. I have no idea. So the first great rooster experiment is over. I thought it was over but R really, really wants chickens so we are going to find another free rooster and try again.