Quiet, Calm, Duke, and Pickled Eggs
January 17th, 2010We finally had a couple of days where the temperature rose above freezing, and we did not hesitate to take advantage of one of them and send nine cockerels to Freezer Camp. We are now officially extra-rooster-free for the first time since last spring. And it feels great. For everyone left on the homestead, anyway!
My poor hens have spent the past few weeks running and hiding from those extra cockerels. The girls would gobble their food as quickly as possible in the morning, if they ate at all, and then run/fly out into the woods to get into the trees. Sometimes they hung out on top of buildings.
It wasn’t the cockerels fault. They were victims of nature - specifically an over abundance of teenage testosterone. But they wreaked havoc around here. From the second they woke up until the second they went to sleep, the yard was filled with the sound of hens screaming and screeching as they attempted to escape from these cockerels, and the sound of the cockerels screeching as they fought over the hens. These cockerels were never tame and, although I never laid a hand on any of them, they would scream and run anytime I walked close by them. They also crowed non-stop. I do love to hear a rooster crow - but listening to 12 crow all day and night really pushes my enjoyment level.
And even though we were aware of the chaos surrounding these nine cockerels, we really had no idea how awful it was until they were gone! The resulting calm in the yard and the flock was immediately palatable. The quietness was a blessed relief, and by late afternoon, there were no hens in trees. For the first time in weeks, the hens were out wandering in the yard with Bobby Lee and Pico. I honestly think I saw those girls smiling……
Poor old Duke is hanging in there. He spends most of his day off to himself, with one or two hens. If I live to be 100, I will never understand why he gave up being Alpha Roo, and then withdrew from the flock for the most part. It really is heartbreaking. But even though Duke has lost his place in the pecking order of the flock, he will always have a special place in my heart.
Bobby Lee’s tail feathers came back beautifully after his molt. They seem to still be growing, and he’s got a couple that now drag the ground behind him.
Pico is a sweet rooster, and I think he’s a pretty boy.
And even though the older girls aren’t laying very well right now, the pullets are providing us with enough eggs that I used 4 1/2 dozen to put up 5 quarts of pickled eggs the other day.
Pickled eggs are great. A calm flock is even better. All living things on the homestead are very happy right now.
Tags: cockerels, freezer camp, pickled eggs
January 17th, 2010 at 11:00 am
Glad to hear things are calm on the homestead. Will you be adding any more roosters to your flock this year? Sounds like your freezer is quite full…
The pickled eggs look really good. Could you share your recipe?
January 17th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Hi Lilla - I’m sure my broodies will be hatching out more roosters this year
I’m really hoping we’ll get a few months of a break before we start this cycle again! But my first broody last year was in February…….
Here’s the pickled egg recipe http://backtobasicliving.com/blog/in-the-kitchen-and-in-the-yard/ I used a jalapeno pepper mix that had carrots and onions this last time.
January 17th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
So glad to hear Duke is hanging in there. And he still has a coulple of “Chicks” for company. The pickled eggs look delish! If my purple japalenos are a success this year, will give this recipe a try.
Been enjoying the return of Mr. Sun as well. This winter reminds me of days gone by, but I must admit, the older I get, the more layers I require!
January 17th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Well, it sounds like after a very hectic and frenzied time there on the homestead, that things are now back to a calm and peaceful pace. Thats always a nice thing. Im just sorry that you had to go through a rough day to get to it.
You know, I see people pickling eggs….I just dont know….what do they taste like? So, its a hard boiled egg and then you pickle it….yeah, I dunno about that.
January 17th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Frugalmom - Well yeah, but um, no. You’ll really have to try one and see what you think. But not those red ones you see in the store. No, no, no. Not those red ones. You need to try a REAL pickled egg. And then you’ll love them. That’s all.
January 17th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Katey - I agree! Layers are definitely required in this weather. I long for spring. It’s been a brutal winter…….
January 17th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
I don’t know about pickled eggs. I guess I’m just not adventurous enough. The reason why your chickens were so quiet was so they wouldn’t go to freezer camp too! I am very much impressed with your mad homestead skills.
January 18th, 2010 at 9:09 am
Sending you Cedric so you dont miss your cockerals LOL
We LOVE pickled eggs in this house, loverly in the summer with a nice ploughmans lunch
x
January 18th, 2010 at 10:03 am
It is just a shame that you had so many roos. I am totally not sure of what I am going to do with my 3 extra roos. they are very nice to me but just like you they put a lot headache in the daily routine of my girls. I am so tired of 3 on 1 girl. I can kick them off all day long but they keep going back and doing the same thing. One day I plan on getting rid of them the next I am afraid that Jack is not enough for all of my girls. He is definitely not much of a fighter, at least with those darn boys.
Oh and btw, my Jack charged at my son and couple days later he came at me. This is definitley not what I want, but if he was doing his job and protecting his girls then we wouldn’t have to get involved.
I am glad Duke is hanging in there, at least he has a few loyal girls that are faithful to him.
I can honestly say that pickeled eggs are not very appealing, but my daughter and husband would love them for sure. but kudos to you.
take care and glad things are once again running smoother on the Homestead. I wish that for our ladies as well.
take care
xoxoxo
lisa
January 18th, 2010 at 11:49 am
I love your posts and like you have been enjoying the return of the sun and have been letting my little chickens out on nice days. I too have 2 too many roosters and am waiting for them to fill out a bit more before I send them to ‘freezer camp’ ( i like that one) The only problem with that is we have the kind that have black skin and boy o boy is that ever hard to eat - tastes good but looks kind of funny!
Thank you for sharing your pickled egg recipe… I plan on giving it a try. I have a dear lady who buys eggs from me and pickles quite a few for her family. I can’t wait to try my own. I do enjoy sharing in your days on your farm…. keep farmn’ :o)
O ya, I have a sweet little hen that looks just like your little hen who is standing behind Pico. She is my favorite. When the time comes I might be asking you questions on how to hatch chicks…. that is my next experiment. :o)
Keep warm,
Karry Ann
January 18th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Nicole - Ha! And you are probably right - it’s upsetting to the whole pecking order when Freezer Day happens. Everyone is a little nervous and anxious and they have some things to work out. And, even so, the amazing relief for my hens was evident in their little faces! And the fact that they got down out of trees and foraged in the yard for a change!
Marmy - As beautiful as Cedric is….. um….. no thanks
I am SO over roosters right about now! Well, a bunch of them anyway. And before too long I’ll be over run with them again I’m sure!
Lisa - Duke was aggressive with me when he was in charge - but he was a VERY good rooster and took such good care of the girls, that I just dealt with him day to day. One thing I learned with him - I will never coddle a cockerel again. Roosters are ALL about pecking order. Fussing over them typically makes them feel they are higher in the pecking order than you are. And that is not good. Duke is the only one I spoiled as a baby, and I paid the price for it. The other two roosters keep their distance from me. I’m not mean to them, but I do NOT fuss over them. We have a MUCH better relationship because of it
Karry Ann - thank you for dropping by! Do you have Silkies? I’ve never eaten black chicken meat, but I can surely see how it would turn a person off on eating it! I’m pretty sure I’d be making casseroles to disguise it! As for hatching eggs - I let my hens do it! And then I fuss over the babies and lay awake at night worrying over them
January 18th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Hmmm.. Pickled eggs? Safe to assume you hard boil.. Any tips on boiling fresh eggs?
EVERY time I try and boil any fresh from our girls, the shells stick so bad that I end up peeling part of the egg away, too.
Rather frustrating and the ONLY reason I still buy eggs from the store, however rare that is.
January 19th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Hi Scott - fresh eggs can be VERY difficult to peel when hard boiled, but yes, I do have a tip. I dump salt in with the eggs after I put the water in the pot. I don’t measure, I just shake some out of the box. If I had to guess, I’d say that for boiling a dozen eggs, I use about a tablespoon? IT WORKS! I’ve read that some add vinegar, baking soda, and a few other things, but salt works for me every single time. Let me know if you try it and what you think of it!
January 20th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
I hey after I bring mine eggs to a boil I cut them off and put a lid on them and forget them for 1/2 an hour, works great for me. I add the salt to my water too.