We've been overrun by roos and despite my best efforts, I couldn't get anyone to take them. DH got a friend of his to take butcher them in exchange for most of the meet. Early this morning, he showed up and I handed him 7 of my excess roos to take to his place. I expected him to come back next week for the last 10. We went to run errands and when we returned, the coop was empty and two coolers were waiting for us with 6 butchered roos. I called the friend and he told me one of the roos has escaped. Meanwhile, several of my girls had gotten out of their coop and were running around the yard. That wouldn't have been a problem except I was going to be gone for several hours. When I got home, there was no sign of the missing roo. I grabbed a flashlight to make sure my runaway girls had made their way back home. I had two surprises waiting for me. Instead of 14 chickens in the coop, I had 15. And my sixth egg for the day was in the next box. But now I'll have to pull him out for a second time. It's hard, because anything with that strong a will to live shouldn't get killed. But I don't need 3 roos in with my 12 girls. It's so frustrating.
Well good luck. We rehomed two roos and are hoping to rehome at least one more. That will leave us with four roos. Too many but we'll wait to see how well they do with fertility come January. It's a never ending thing. First hatch last year we got 5 roos out of 12. Second hatch we got 4 roos out of 12. Not bad I'd say.
I have a seperate pen my roos stay in. I only put them with my girls when I want chicks. I feel horrible every year when the extras have got to go. Last year I hung on to 3 extra roos (for a full year) until I finally broke down & gave them away. Right now I have an extra 7 roos & although they are in the bachelor pen they are a waste of feed since I don't need them. I've known for the last 2 months they need to go but I am just not ready yet
I had all my excess roos in a bachelor pad, but attempting to feed 50+ chickens got a bit expensive. Plus, DH and I are going away for a week at the end of the month and asking someone else to take care of chickens in 5 separate pens was going to be a bit much. This guy made his way back home and into my laying pen. Needless to mention, Travis (my dominant roo) is not too happy with the invader. RJ (my EE roo) is just happy not to be on the bottom of the pecking order for a change. Denise
I'd be inclined to keep the determined little fella. If you live near me, southern California, I'd take him off your hands.
I had 9 hens and 8 Roos together there for awhile they all got along. I would keep him. Build a little tractor for him!
WE keep our ectra roos in a seperate pen as well and when someone comes to buy hens, I give them a roo of whatever breed they want for free. Well we had 26 extra roos and feeding them was costing me more than they were worth, so after several attempts to get rid of them I finally broke down and gave them to an old couple down the road. This old man and woman keep a good one or two to have in the yard, then the rest are processed. My DH said they brought us a nice, fat, dressed bird yesterday. This is the FIRST chicken that I have raised that we will have ever eaten.
I gave some away for free too! I own a rabbitry and this woman came to buy rabbits....when she left I sent her with 3 guineas & a frizzled roo! She was just as tickled as me! Now me and DH joke and say the roos are added bonuses for anyone that comes out here to buy rabbits!
