@Baymule , could you find a breeder and get a surplus older rooster from them? I've really loved my black copper Marans roosters and my orpington roosters (the ones that weren't stupid cannibals feeding their own chicks to hens for mating points). Those breeders had been breeding for a while and ATE rather than bred all the mean ones-that is the key, because that part of temperament is largely inherited. Good luck finding a breeder raising gentle roosters with hens that LAY though, lol. Inbreeding for good temperament can cause inbreeding depression either way.
The whiting males from McMurray aren't aggressive either. They're just really high strung. You won't even know you've got a cock in the flock. Just the rare crowing and fertile easter eggs from all the hens...
People don't really breed chickens here in this state, I've realized so the breeder option is out for me. They get them from hatcheries and sell them for $20-25/pullet. That makes money, but does nothing for temperament of the breed.
I don't think I made money today (down to 3 hens, 2 of which got loose, and 2 cockerels) but I fed them nice, high protein pellet and did a lot of bedding changes because I like it neat and dry. I wasn't raising them in the mindset of a profit. I did make an embarrassing amount of cash, but I probably already spent that much raising them, so it really is just embarrassing. Sure am glad I'm not organic. Inorganic only, lol.
If it's any indicator, one of my buyers used to raise and sell pullets as a business and she was happy to pay $20 per hen and bought 17. She also says there is no money in breeding them. You just get them shipped sexed and sell them, in and out. I don't think there was enough money for her in pullets either and eggs are better.
I did something non farm related that I'd never done before. I went to the grocery store for things I don't get in our sam's order and lobsters were very steeply on sale so I impulse bought two little guys and steamed them. Kind of nice. I don't like the tails, arms, or claws, but the little legs are fun and picking/chewing the meat out of the body is good. Nice and salty. May have also eaten a tomalley-tasted like butter. Nothing numbing yet. It was probably fine. Tails and claws are for the husband. Not crunchy enough.
I am on the hay hunt again. The alfalfa I got from the hay lady of Groton is crap-all stems, and hard too. She said she'd buy it back from me. We'll see if she does. People here have not surprised me with their integrity. In the mean time, I need to visit the farmer's exchange and see what they've got and if it will tide me over until second cutting time. The loft is emptying fast.
One leghorn hen (yep, sold the others), two loose true greens, and 2 cockerels left.
New chicks come the middle of June. This is the last try. Then I'll eventually try quail or just more bantams if these two fail. The silkies are doing surprisingly well. Coturnix quail are too dumb to cause issues and will just be locked up 24/7 but while I enjoy their eggs I do not enjoy watching them. Their mouths are creepily large down the sides of their faces and they are really brick stupid. But eggs is the goal and each 8oz bird lays an egg every single day without fail until they die in a year or two, so they serve their purpose well. They also have a taste to me that is somewhere between turkey, duck, and really good heritage chickens when those extra males do have to go.
