Fat Rooster Questions

My sister is raising chickens for the first time. She thought she was buying all female chicks, but as they have grown, one definitely appears to be a rooster. She thinks this is okay. But he seems to be getting super fat. She says he just hangs out by the food and chows down while all the others are roaming around. He can barely walk!
1. Will having a rooster around be an issue? For example, won't he try to mate with all the hens?
2. Is his weight a concern? Is there any way to cut back his food? He is with the whole flock, so he has access as long as all the others do.

Welcome to BYC.

countrydog54 said:

My sister is raising chickens for the first time. She thought she was buying all female chicks, but as they have grown, one definitely appears to be a rooster. She thinks this is okay. But he seems to be getting super fat. She says he just hangs out by the food and chows down while all the others are roaming around. He can barely walk!
1. Will having a rooster around be an issue? For example, won't he try to mate with all the hens?
2. Is his weight a concern? Is there any way to cut back his food? He is with the whole flock, so he has access as long as all the others do.

Click to expand...

Can you post photos?
Do you know what breed the rooster is?
How old is he?
I will go out on a limb here...by your description it sounds as if you possibly have a "meat bird" on your hands, something like a Cornish Cross? If this is the case then he will gain weight incredibly fast compared to say dual purpose breeds. Meat birds are generally raised for a short period of time 8-10wks and then butchered for meat.
Weight is a concern, some people do have some success in rationing meat birds food to extend their lifespan, but sometimes heart or other health problems can arise.
A healthy cockerel/rooster will indeed mate with the hens, that is part of their job among other things.

I agree, it sounds like the male is some type of meat bird. Post pics if you can and we'll confirm.

It's possible to keep meat birds as pets, but even the best managed birds usually die at around a year or so. They're really not bred to live long and happy lives, they're bred to literally eat themselves to death.

x3. Pictures will help, but it sounds like the poor guy is a Cornishx, doomed to a very short life. Mary

Thanks for the quick answers--even though I know my sister will not be happy with the news. She just wants to try raising chickens to get eggs. She did not sign on to butcher anybody! I have asked her for a picture, and I will post that as soon as she can send one.

If she does have a rooster and he does his rooster job, I am guessing that would mean the hens would all be laying fertilized eggs. Is there any way to prevent that? Or is the only solution to "re-home" the rooster?

countrydog54 said:

Thanks for the quick answers--even though I know my sister will not be happy with the news. She just wants to try raising chickens to get eggs. She did not sign on to butcher anybody! I have asked her for a picture, and I will post that as soon as she can send one.

If she does have a rooster and he does his rooster job, I am guessing that would mean the hens would all be laying fertilized eggs. Is there any way to prevent that? Or is the only solution to "re-home" the rooster?

Click to expand...

Would love to see a picture of him
If he is a meat bird you could always see if someone will take him off your hands. Place an ad on craigslist, etc. But keep in mind whoever takes him will most likely butcher him. But that may be better than watching him continue to gain more weight and possibly have complications and suffer.
Yes, if the rooster mates with the hens the eggs will be fertilized. The only way to prevent that would be keep him in a separate pen or to re-home him. Fertilized eggs are safe to eat and you won't have any "babies" running around unless you incubate them or let a broody hen sit on and hatch the eggs.
Roosters are not for everyone, I do enjoy mine, but if she only wants hens, then re-homing him will be the kindest and best solution.

This is a picture of the rooster with 2 of his siblings. He is almost exactly 2 months old. Thoughts?

Also, is there some way to neuter a rooster? My sister is already really attached to him.

He's a Cornishx meat bird, and caponizing will make him grow BIGGER, if he could survive the surgery. Sorry, Mary

Bummer. Thanks for the info. I know my sister will be really torn because she's already given him a name. I gather he will mate with the hens, although it sounds like that wouldn't necessarily produce more chicks. Can you eat the eggs if they're fertilized?

Sorry if this sounds lame. I know dogs, cats, & rabbits. Even know a little about cows. But chickens is all new to me.

Actually, I just saw that someone said you can eat the fertilized eggs. But do they have tiny chicks in them?