Silence at the crack of dawn

So our rooster is no longer with us. It was decided that his crowing would only continue to annoy and disrupt the peace of the neighbourhood and therefore we had to find him a new home.  He had a peaceful departure last week and was taken into my work and handed over to one of my colleagues. Originally he was destined for my colleagues brothers farm where he breeds hundreds of chickens. Instead though, he ended up going to a lady with a smaller farm who had just purchased a flock of chooks and was looking for a rooster for the ladies.   No doubt he is happier with an extended choice of hens to fluff about with during the days…

Of course, he was the only one out of the original 7 chicks that I managed to become somewhat attached to. Trying to avoid this for the very reason that there was a high chance some of the chicks would not be around long-term seemed easier than it actually was. Early on, when the chicks had only just been put in the outside coop, the temperature dropped significantly and they were hit with an abrupt windy and wet weather change while I was at work. I came home to find one of the chicks belly up, trapped behind their boxed shelter, cold and almost dead.  Bringing the chick inside for the night and exposing it to the heat lamp, I didn’t expect it would survive the night. I was shocked and surprised to find the next morning that this chick was well and truly alive and had even managed to escape its enclosure and was sitting casually on top of the wire roof. Always the runt of the flock, I grew fond throughout its development as I was always reminded of the lucky escape this chook had. This chick later developed into the fully mature rooster that I recently said goodbye too.

Contrary to some people’s beliefs, a Rooster does not have to be present for chickens to lay their eggs. An egg is simply a result of a hen cycling once they reach sexual maturity and unless the eggs are to be fertilised, hens will happily lay with or without a rooster around.

Now I would be lying if I said that I hadn’t considered eating the rooster. It crossed my mind constantly and we did come close to arranging for this to happen. It’s obvious that I am a big believer in having a connection to the food we eat rather than blocking the entire food chain out of our minds and turning a blind eye. Plus I also choose to eat meat. So it makes sense that I would question my own preaching and consider eating something that I raised in my own backyard if only to further develop my appreciation and understanding to the role livestock plays in our lives.  The decision wasn’t easy, especially when the one I had grown attached was in question.

Time got away and before long the rooster had become too old to consider eating. Roosters themselves are quite a tough meat but the older a rooster becomes, the tougher their meat is. So I decided against this option as it seemed pointless to end his life for eating if the satisfaction of the meal would be compromised. After all, where is the justice in that?

So as I continue to eat my free range chicken from the supermarket shelves, I rest easy knowing that the Rooster I raised and saved for a second chance at life, is now living out his days with all the hens he could possibly want to lay. Pardon the pun.

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