Accidently ended up with 3 new roosters...

[ThistleHill]

Hello!

We started raising a very small flock of hens a few years ago and finally added more chicks this year when we only had 2 older adult hens left. We added 7 chicks purchased at local farm supply store and had no problem with incubating and eventually integrating them, however unfortunately as the continued to grow, it turned out 3 of them were 'surprise' roosters. They were Polish Crested, so we couldn't really tell until they started Cockldoodledo'n.

We didn't want any roosters, and thought we were buying sexed chicks, but now it is what it is unfortunately.
From my reading it seems painfully obvious that 6 hens isnt 'enough' for 3 roosters. They do fight a bit, but I haven't spotted any injuries on anyone yet.

The young girls they were raised with tend to stay close to them (The flock is free range) however the 2 older girls stay fairly separate. I didnt think much of this until this past week where every night one of the older hens has bedded down outside of our door rather than returning to the coop at night. I've carried her down each time, but I'm worried the young roosters may be terrorizing the older hens.

On top of this, the younger flock raised with the roosters seems to have a fully different personality form what we are used to with our chickens. They aren't friendly at all, and the young hens seem to be mimicking the roosters in aggressively running at our dogs. We have huskies, always leashed, but that will eventually end badly.

The only answer google seems to have for "what to do with too many roosters" is "eat them". We've never killed or eaten any of our chickens and I'm not sure I can. All deaths so far have been the rare occurrence of a predator.

Any advice would be helpful.

 

[FrostRanger]

If they are outright aggressive the only real option is to soup them, if they're otherwise non aggressive then you can attempt to rehome them but it may prove difficult 'cause not many people want or need roosters so you may end up needing to cull them anyways. Easiest method to humanely cull a bird is the broomstick method but if you don't want to do it yourself you can see if there's a meat processor in your area willing to do it for you. Either way I would not keep all 3 of them, I'd keep one at the most with that number of hens

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Hello!

We started raising a very small flock of hens a few years ago and finally added more chicks this year when we only had 2 older adult hens left. We added 7 chicks purchased at local farm supply store and had no problem with incubating and eventually integrating them, however unfortunately as the continued to grow, it turned out 3 of them were 'surprise' roosters. They were Polish Crested, so we couldn't really tell until they started Cockldoodledo'n.

We didn't want any roosters, and thought we were buying sexed chicks, but now it is what it is unfortunately.
From my reading it seems painfully obvious that 6 hens isnt 'enough' for 3 roosters. They do fight a bit, but I haven't spotted any injuries on anyone yet.

The young girls they were raised with tend to stay close to them (The flock is free range) however the 2 older girls stay fairly separate. I didnt think much of this until this past week where every night one of the older hens has bedded down outside of our door rather than returning to the coop at night. I've carried her down each time, but I'm worried the young roosters may be terrorizing the older hens.

On top of this, the younger flock raised with the roosters seems to have a fully different personality form what we are used to with our chickens. They aren't friendly at all, and the young hens seem to be mimicking the roosters in aggressively running at our dogs. We have huskies, always leashed, but that will eventually end badly.

The only answer google seems to have for "what to do with too many roosters" is "eat them". We've never killed or eaten any of our chickens and I'm not sure I can. All deaths so far have been the rare occurrence of a predator.

Any advice would be helpful.

If you can find a hatchery, someone more money- oriented would probably take them for the fresh genetics. that would leave the world with more mean roosters from their bloodline, but it would be the cost of giving your guys a second chance.

 

[FrostRanger]

If you can find a hatchery, someone more money- oriented would probably take them for the fresh genetics. that would leave the world with more mean roosters from their bloodline, but it would be the cost of giving your guys a second chance.

Never rehome a human aggressive roo, especially to somewhere that will breed them as it only passes on your problem to other people and will turn something that was just your problem into something that's the problem of many people. Sure, it may make you feel good in the moment, but it's bad for the hobby as a whole. Sometimes the right thing isn't what makes you feel good

 

[McChooky]

My flock went from 7 to 22 when I added chicks a year ago.
Its better than it was but my oldest 4 still avoid them.Some take longer than others to work things out.Rehoming a few hens and an extra rooster made it much better

 

[tlcmurphy]

Never rehome a human aggressive roo, especially to somewhere that will breed them as it only passes on your problem to other people and will turn something that was just your problem into something that's the problem of many people. Sure, it may make you feel good in the moment, but it's bad for the hobby as a whole. Sometimes the right thing isn't what makes you feel good

^^ This

 

[aart]

The only answer google seems to have for "what to do with too many roosters" is "eat them". We've never killed or eaten any of our chickens and I'm not sure I can.

...and that is the most logical answer.
If you can't slaughter to eat, give them to someone who is hungry and can.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It's just basic animal husbandry, or management. Unless you purchase sex-link chickens (@aart, is that the right term?) where you can identify the sex of the chicks at hatch and thus be certain you're getting only pullets, you must have a plan for the cockerels. I'm in this position right now. I obtained 15 adorable chicks this spring and ten of them, yes TEN, have proved to be cockerels! The first four are headed to the processor in the morning - only four because that's all I can fit in the fridge for a week to "rest" before transferring to the freezer. Yes, it makes me a little sad, but ... I know they'll make lovely soup, barbecue, dumplings, sandwiches, etc.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you can find a hatchery, someone more money- oriented would probably take them for the fresh genetics.

I'd be surprised if a reputable hatchery (or a farm supplying one) would risk taking in a bird from someone's backyard flock just to save a buck.

 

[Mrs. K]

Unfortunately there is more tension in your flock than you are even aware of, you will recognize that when they are gone. Because there is rather a natural reluctance to kill our pets, often that feeling crosses over to our chickens.

Confined chickens, even in a large area. Have to be managed for the flock, not individual birds.

If you can’t cull them, find someone who can. You don’t have to eat them. Bury them and plant a rosebush. Give them to someone else.

But what you really need to do ASAP is get them out of your hens. Really, just get rid of them all.

Mrs k