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The mean rooster gets the ax. And do you thin down your flock before winter?

post #1 of 13
8/8/12 at 9:43pm
Thread Starter 

Well, my husband comes in and he says "that barred rock has got to go."  Actually, it wasn't the barred rock, but I knew which one he was talking about.  It was a feathered-legged cuckoo marans roo that is totally maladjusted.  I'm talking he will come at you if you make eye contact with him.  He'll ambush you if you turn your back.  He's tried it plenty of times with me and got whacked with whatever was handy. 

 

I've been meaning to put him down.

 

We chopped him and a meatbird and I breasted them out and took the legs.  Darn rooster was tough as nails and my knife could hardly skin him.  Figures he'd be difficult in death too.  

 

Around here I've noticed a lot of people start thinning their flocks and herds for winter.  I picked up a bunch of roos that way that I'm going to put in freezer camp.  I've got to thin the drakes and roos in my flock big time.  At least I'll have some meat rather than the expense.  Do any of you do that to pare down your flock tor the winter? 

www.howlingdead.com www.lachlei.com www.shadowhelm.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/skywarrior  Twitter: MH_Bonham Blog: EatingWildMontana.blogspot.com
Maggie Bonham, Check Out My Latest Articles On Chickens and Other Pets.  The more I learn about chickens, the more I'm thankful dinosaurs aren't around.
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www.howlingdead.com www.lachlei.com www.shadowhelm.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/skywarrior  Twitter: MH_Bonham Blog: EatingWildMontana.blogspot.com
Maggie Bonham, Check Out My Latest Articles On Chickens and Other Pets.  The more I learn about chickens, the more I'm thankful dinosaurs aren't around.
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post #2 of 13
8/9/12 at 11:57am

This year, for the first time, I'm going to have to pare down our flock before winter sets in hard.

 

Seems that we've been 'blessed' by hatching out nearly ALL cockerals!  Out of 12 chicks, only 2 are definate pullets (perhaps a third, she's still too small to figure out what she'll be).  So yes, this year, we're thinning our flocks by wintertime.

 

As for your rooster - did you let the meat rest prior to cooking it?  If he was older than 5mo, you really need to let the meat sit for a day or two while rigor passes.  This allows the proteins to soften and is very very tasty - try pressure cooking older roosters - or even canning the meat!  YUM!

-- Blessed are the flexible, for they will not break --

Beloved spouse of wonderful husband, Mom to two men-in-training, 6 Eastern 3-toed box turtles, 1 spoiled parrotlet, 1 pompous feline and a jealous dog.  Growing Black Java laying flock - 5 hens (hatched 4/1/11) - with 1 hen added (5/20/12)  - with 5 incubated models (2/7/13) and now 5 eggs in the bator!  Love our Java's!  Meaties on order...

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-- Blessed are the flexible, for they will not break --

Beloved spouse of wonderful husband, Mom to two men-in-training, 6 Eastern 3-toed box turtles, 1 spoiled parrotlet, 1 pompous feline and a jealous dog.  Growing Black Java laying flock - 5 hens (hatched 4/1/11) - with 1 hen added (5/20/12)  - with 5 incubated models (2/7/13) and now 5 eggs in the bator!  Love our Java's!  Meaties on order...

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post #3 of 13
8/9/12 at 2:17pm

Canned chicken is great!

Chickens off and on for 25+ years and still learning.

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Chickens off and on for 25+ years and still learning.

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post #4 of 13
8/9/12 at 3:55pm
Thread Starter 

I haven't cooked him yet.  He was tough dressing him out -- I'm freezing him for a while and then probably using him in a stew.

www.howlingdead.com www.lachlei.com www.shadowhelm.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/skywarrior  Twitter: MH_Bonham Blog: EatingWildMontana.blogspot.com
Maggie Bonham, Check Out My Latest Articles On Chickens and Other Pets.  The more I learn about chickens, the more I'm thankful dinosaurs aren't around.
Reply
www.howlingdead.com www.lachlei.com www.shadowhelm.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/skywarrior  Twitter: MH_Bonham Blog: EatingWildMontana.blogspot.com
Maggie Bonham, Check Out My Latest Articles On Chickens and Other Pets.  The more I learn about chickens, the more I'm thankful dinosaurs aren't around.
Reply
post #5 of 13
8/9/12 at 5:54pm

I'm faced with having to thin out my flock as well. One of my hens hatched out a bunch of roos and I don't want to keep them all. What kind of knife do you prefer to use? 

Nobscot Farm is located in Sudbury, MA and specializes in breeding and raising heritage turkeys and chickens. Visit our website at www.NobscotFarm.com.
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Nobscot Farm is located in Sudbury, MA and specializes in breeding and raising heritage turkeys and chickens. Visit our website at www.NobscotFarm.com.
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post #6 of 13
8/9/12 at 6:03pm

I'll be thinning some homehatched cockerals and probably a few older hens who aren't up to productivity. Feed aint getting any cheaper!

Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #7 of 13
8/9/12 at 8:53pm

I have to thin down too, and frankly have been changing my mind each time I go out. I have hens..... just way to many hens, and heartless as it sounds, my broody hen was very successful and raised up some vigorous chicks...... all of them. I started the spring with coming 3 year olds, and they all just died, one at a time, from old age I am pretty sure. So then I have the hens that really just turned a year in the spring, the Wyandotes are laying well, the Black Austrolorp, soso, but one of those was broody, so I would kind of like to keep her....ugh!

 

I really should not have gotten that many chicks, but I did not really think any of her eggs were going to hatch, 2 did, and I had already ordered a dozen pullets.

 

Some how, by October, I need to get down to 10-12 hens and my roo

 

Ugh!

MrsK

Western South Dakota Rancher
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Western South Dakota Rancher
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post #8 of 13
8/10/12 at 7:09am

Died from old age at 3? I would seriously question that. I've had hens live until 6-7, hatchery birds who were still laying. Even then, they didn't die (that I know of), I sold them. 

Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reply

Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #9 of 13
8/10/12 at 7:13am
I trim out the extra cockerel... Keep the hens.
At the very least, wipe the poop off your feet before getting in the car.

"Member of the Derperella Club-- We're just all goin' round' the rooster, here!"
Good night sweet Trousers, The Derp Club will miss you.
Treasure the love you recieve above all. It will survive long after your gold and good health have vanished. Og Mandino
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At the very least, wipe the poop off your feet before getting in the car.

"Member of the Derperella Club-- We're just all goin' round' the rooster, here!"
Good night sweet Trousers, The Derp Club will miss you.
Treasure the love you recieve above all. It will survive long after your gold and good health have vanished. Og Mandino
Reply
post #10 of 13
8/10/12 at 7:58am

Extra roosters and drakes go into the freezer along with some of the older hens.  Pets (yes even an old guy has some pets) stay forever.

Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
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Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Managing Your Flock › The mean rooster gets the ax. And do you thin down your flock before winter?