Meet Big Red

Big Red is our head rooster. We have three roosters right now. Red watches carefully over all the hens. He warns them of danger, and when he finds food he calls to them with a beautiful clucking call. I love to watch him. He doesn't share his hens with the other roosters, and if they try to get too close to the hens he chases them off. There have been some scuffles when the white rooster tries to challenge him, but he has won every battle so far. If you are going to have laying hens I highly recommend one rooster, and no more for your hens. If you have a large number, say over 20 then you may want two of them. Choose your breed carefully especially if you have small children. Right now we have three roosters. The Silver Laced Wyandotte had gone after me and my four year old, so he will be turned into chicken soup soon.

I am almost positive that Big Red is a New Hampshire Red. I didn't order him, I just bought him at the local Farm and Garden store. If something happens to him, I will definitely consider buying another one. So far he is very friendly even with my daughter. She has spent a lot of time with him because he is her chicken. She loves to hold him, and he does very well.

Here are some great sites. Some have information about breeds, and some sell chickens too.

http://www.mypetchicken.com/default.aspx

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html

http://www.cacklehatchery.com/default.html

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/AS/AS-518.pdf

Well, that should keep you busy for a while! I don't think that I will blog again until after the holidays so MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's Never Too Early

I have started to pull out some old seed catalogs while I wait for the new ones to arrive in time for Christmas. I got an e-mail from Baker Creek today informing me that their 2008 catalog has been sent to the printers. Check it out at http://www.rareseeds.com/ There is nothing more exciting for the gardener than the arrival of colorful catalogs in the dead of winter when all is devoid of color and bare. I have great plans already. I have fallen in love with roses for some reason. Right now I have 4 rose plants. I think that I am going to learn how to propagate them so I can have more. Propagation is something I am fascinated with! The thought of cutting off a bit of a plant I love and growing it into another whole plant is so exciting! I dream of trellises filled with roses, and roses climbing onto the porch filling the house with sweet smells. I am also dreaming of pumpkin patches and lots of tomatoes and yummy lemon cucumbers for my plate. A winter without dreams is like a gardener without a bit of soil. Well, I am off to do some more dreaming. What are your plans for next year?