I am very picky on where my breeding stock comes from.  After the acquisition, they undergo a trial period where their behavior during breeding and producing offspring is assessed.  Undesirable behaviors such as overbreeding of one specific hen (in the case of the poultry) are corrected.  If all attempts at correcting the undesired behavior fail, they are removed from my breeding program.  If the offense is high enough, like a rooster that attacks people, the animal is humanely dispatched.  I don’t believe in making my problem someone else’s by rehoming an animal with aggressive tendencies.  That would only perpetuate future occurrences if it were allowed to reproduce and pass its bad genetics to its offspring. 

I have a “majority rules” mindset.  If an animal is 100% what I look for in breeding stock, yet the other animals don’t accept it for whatever reason, I rule in favor of the masses and find a more appropriately suitable home for the newcomer.  I rely on my animals to tell me when they aren’t happy or when something is off.  Then I adjust whatever the issue is to restore the peace. 

I think the main thing to be remembered is that we are a hobby farm.  I do not do what I do to make money, I do it because it makes me happy.  Unfortunately, because happiness doesn’t pay for the animals upkeep, I find ways to have our livestock pets “pull their own weight”, so to speak.  It’s a bonus that the animals that appeal to us also appeal to others.  It enables us to allow the animals to do what comes naturally for them, offer other like-minded folks the offspring when they arrive, and still enjoy every minute of it.  We prefer to keep things small and manageable.  The day that I ever lose sight of that is the day I will hang up my pitchfork for good.