Baby roosters, how young is too old?

[gimmie birdies]

I had some CC maran roosters, their dad was quiet and so were they. I made some good 4 rooster soup recently. I will keep my barred bantam roo, and a maran roo that was hatched from a blue egg CCM/EE mix. Yes you can eat roosters. No I don't think this is mean. What I do think is mean is ordering from a hatchery pullets. "but then I don't have to deal with roosters." for every pullet ordered there is a rooster some one had to deal with. 50/50. I hatch babies if I need hens, and let the roos grow till they crow. They have a good life. The roosters I keep I pen in a sleepy box (with air holes) but they have to lie down at night. and cannot stretch their necks to crow till I am ready to be up
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[SmColorInDaPan]

Thanks, guys, Fred, for the input.. I have 2 Plymouth layers from last spring, 2012, a Sexlink and Leghorn bought mid April this year and now came across 2 Bantam roos, freebies.
I AM concerned how long b4 the Roos become mature enough to service my Plymouths. The Roos lived with only a sister before, so maybe a culture shock, letting them out to free feed and surrounded by my girls & Ladies... In 3 chickens hutch now.... You've helped a great deal.
I'm with you, Fred, Fed our ancestors then, cheaper & feeding me NOW!

 

[DuginMT]

My Buff Orpington roo is now 16 weeks old and has been mating for about a week now, about as soon as he started crowing!

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Here are my new 'boys'. Not sure their age but comparing to my sexlink and Leghorn, born early to mid April, think they are a bit younger. They run free and are having a time getting used to it, fun to watch the 'Now, What is That?' body language.
Dugin, Boys will be boys.
One of my Plymouths is off her laying or discovered, again, another place to lay. Anyone note any differing behaviors when boys came in the pix? Kind of a Der, but you get my meaning....