In strict permaculture terms keeping chickens and worms are considered livestock but ask any backyard chicken lover and they’ll tell you their chickens are part of the family. Chickens are clever and quirky and each has its own personality. Some are timid and some are brave, some are silly and others are loving.
Most backyard chickens live in luxurious quarters, have names and are pampered and fussed over as much as the family dog.
There is joke among chicken lovers that once you get chickens regardless of the number you start with multiply tenfold. Apparently it’s simple chicken math.I started with four pullets, lovely girls who followed me everywhere, demanding snacks and helping with the garden.
[photo of the girls gardening]
I currently have a flock of nine. It’s seems like a good number. I had to get a new coop to cope with the increased members but hey, that’s what you do right?! But here’s the rub one of my chicks has grown up to be a rooster. Charcoal is the most handsome boy you’ve ever seen. A jet black, beardless Polish. He’s a pint-sized thing of beauty.
He was part of our first batch of chicks, named after Antipasto by my daughter as their mother is called Olive. Seven chicks were born and duly named: Twiggy, Bocconcini, Ash (Brie), Charcoal (cracker), Pistachio, Artichoke and Cornichon.
He and Pablo (formally Pistachio) are the only two surviving chicks. You can read more about their story in this post [link to Raising Chicks].
[photo of Charcoal and Pablo]
Even though only one rooster is needed to service 10-15 hens half of all chicks born are male. If you source live chicks many come with guarantee they are female but when raising chicks the old-fashioned way you take your chances.
Charcoal is now 14 weeks old and the time has come to make the tough decision to find him a new home. He’s the tamest of all the flock, running to stand on my foot the minute I step outside.
I’ll miss him terribly and so will his sister. Maybe I can swap him for a hen the same age to keep her company…
