Roosters at the Ranch

Sundance

When we first got our Sussex chicks last spring we had roosters. To make a long story short, in one way or other the roosters “left”. Although the girls didn’t seem to miss the boys, we certainly did.

 

You see, we’re the crazy sort who absolutely loves the early morning sound of a rooster crow, the “all’s-well” greeting of each new day. More reliable than any alarm clock and much more pleasant!

A friend just so happened to have two, year-old roosters from last spring’s chick hatch who needed a new home. He offered them; we snatched at the chance, no second thoughts. And that is how Butch and Sundance came to live on the Ranch!

Contrary to their namesakes they are not outlaws at all, but very pleasant, handsome boys! Butch is a big, strapping Australorp/RIR cross, while Sundance is an Aracauna cross with beautiful colors like a sunset. He even dances around quite a lot for the hens so the name suits him perfectly! Besides, couldn’t have a “Sundance” without a “Butch”.

The hens seem quite pleased. It sure was comical to see them all stop and turn heads when the first crow sounded! A couple hens scrapped with them a bit but the boys soon told them who was in charge. Only the Yakima chicks who had been around a Roo all their lives fully accepted them right away; the Sussex girls still run away, for the time being anyway.

We look forward to our first chick hatch whenever someone decides to go broody!

Butch