I wasn't sure where to post this question, so apologies if it's not appropriate here. My "problem" is that I've really enjoyed keeping chickens so far and I'm interested in expanding to new breeds and/or species. Trouble is, if I order only females from a hatchery then I suspect the excess males will be gassed or incinerated or whatever on hatching (which I don't think is OK), and if I breed my own chickens then I'll end up with more roosters than I know what to do with. I tend to get really attached to my birds, so I'm having trouble with the idea of killing them myself. As far as I can tell, the options are (1) stick with my current chickens until they die of old age, (2) learn to deal with culling birds, (3) find a market for the boys, or (4) raise a species - geese? - that pairs up to mate, so the cocks don't fight and the 50:50 sex ratio isn't a problem.
Any advice about option 4? I have 5 acres in the tropics, can let the flock free range all year, and could provide a pond for waterfowl. I'd be open to various species for their eggs, personalities, and help in the garden. Have others had experience with options 2 and 3? It's not that I think it's morally wrong to humanely kill birds that have had a good life, I'm just not sure I personally could do it. Thanks!
Any advice about option 4? I have 5 acres in the tropics, can let the flock free range all year, and could provide a pond for waterfowl. I'd be open to various species for their eggs, personalities, and help in the garden. Have others had experience with options 2 and 3? It's not that I think it's morally wrong to humanely kill birds that have had a good life, I'm just not sure I personally could do it. Thanks!