To Keep or Not to Keep

The chicks  are no longer chicks, but full-fledged roos and pullets and the roos are headed for the butcher block.

I ended up with 6 roos and 4 pullets and I sold one of these handsome Black Copper Marans roosters, so I have 5 left. When I finally separated them and put the roos into a coop by themselves, one of them got out. He’s a nice rooster…and I’m wondering if I should keep him…

He’s been hanging out with the older hens and is already watching out for them…

One hen is broody. Let me say these Marans get broody often, but she is not laying on any eggs. Just biding her time in the nesting box…

Then I have 4 new Black Copper Marans pullets that will start laying any time now… This one looks like the most mature one…

And this one appears to be the least mature…

And here are the butcher block buddies…I hate this part of it all…

So, to keep or not to keep…that is the question…