4 week old roos- how long to keep?

[Edgar'sHomesteadFarm]

My husband ordered straight run chicks for me instead of pullets-- so now I am going to have an excess of roosters. Right now they are 4 weeks old. By what age should I either give/sell them-- or prepare to butcher them? They are Buff Minorcas and Silver Grey Dorkings. Possibly one Silver Spangled Hamburg. Will I likely have problems with fighting before they go?

 

[Cats Critters]

I have heard to butcher them at 13 weeks.....

 

[Becky_H]

You're probably not going to have too many problems any time soon -- 4-6 months or so, give or take, from what I understand.

 

[pbrian]

If you know they're roos, and you know you're going to kill them, why not do it now? Or by butcher do you mean you're going to eat them as well?

 

[Wynette]

13 weeks is a bit young for butchering to eat; I sell my extras (or give away if I can't find a buyer) and I've had trouble selling or giving them away at any less than 15-16 weeks. And these are quite large breeds.

You may consider keeping one, though - it's great to have a flock roo to guard the girls, and use later, if you want, for fertile hatching eggs!

 

[Judy]

I have a similar situation and planned to eat most of the roos. We butchered the first group at 13 weeks. They were around 2.5 to 3 lbs, tender and delicious. I have read to butcher between 12-16 weeks if you want them tender and not gamey tasting from the male hormones. They are not full size at that age, though. Mine started squabbling some around 10 or 11 weeks, but it has not gotten serious, no blood, just dominance conversations, even though I still have around 20 roos with 20 hens at over 14 weeks. Maybe I've just been lucky -- but if someone turns mean, I can always have an unscheduled freezer camp day.