Considering keeping our cockerel... not plan A

[SueT]

Thanks for your kind words.
Our youngest is 10 and loves the chicks the most... I think she is just like me. Henry so far, doesn't pay her any attention. He at least comes near me, but not to her. So, in our kiddos still at home, we have the above mentioned 10 year old, a 12 year old and a 15 year old. I think the only other person Henry gets close to these days is me and he will near my husband only reluctantly if my hubby enters the coop/run with me.

I think your kids are all old enough to understand what's at stake and how to behave around a young cockerel, what to look for, what to avoid, etc. Have a family conference...this is a teachable moment......
And if it doesn't work out, and you aren't vegetarian, then here's another valuable life lesson...

 

[Mrs. K]

With your children being older and therefore taller, you can risk a little more. When there are children under 5, they are an easy target. Good luck.

 

[TinyBirds]

Considering the age of the kids, I would keep them all right now and just kill any roosters that start attacking people. It's likely none if them will, since most roosters dont attack people , just each other, so in that case just keep them all or just your favorite when it comes time to decide later. I wouldn't try to decide when they're young since they change personality when the hormones come (as you might have noticed with your kids too). Enjoy your birds!

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Ha! Don't you know it!!! And we are blessed with a boy too

Considering the age of the kids, I would keep them all right now and just kill any roosters that start attacking people. It's likely none if them will, since most roosters dont attack people , just each other, so in that case just keep them all or just your favorite when it comes time to decide later. I wouldn't try to decide when they're young since they change personality when the hormones come (as you might have noticed with your kids too). Enjoy your birds!

Ha! Managing our young (hormonally challenged) man is definitely a change from his younger years, LOL!

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Here is an update:

We had a family meeting about Henry not being a "pet" as we have come to know most of our girls as. And the reality that we need to start training him, so he understands we are the kings and queens and not Henry.

We have our youngest who wants to keep him as a pet.... no, no,no
We have our middle who says "I am nervous around him anyway... I think a rooster is too much for us AND standing my ground with him will be really hard for me"... completely understandable
We have our oldest who says "he's not an egg layer and maybe raising a next-generation roo will be a better fit for us for the benefits we are looking for"... he has a point, how good of a point
We have my husband who is willing to go either way
We have me, who is willing to try giving Henry a chance

So, we have decided to re-home Henry and see what our White Silkies turn out to be and possibly keep "more of" a pet rooster and a re-populater of the silkie group from them. Or, go with Mrs. K's advice of doing a next generation roo when it's time let our broodies hatch out or adopt chicks.

Question I now have is we want to give Henry a fighting chance. Do any of you sweet chicken people know of the best way to go about re-homing him? AND thank you all for your responses and seeming to understand how hard of a decision this for us.

 

[aart]

best way to go about re-homing him?

Put an ad on craigslist and/or online poultry group(facebook),
if you don't ask any questions about his future, he'll go much faster.

 

[SueT]

Also go to BYC forum: "animals in need of free rehoming" list it there, be sure to put your location!
Good luck!!!

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Put an ad on craigslist and/or online poultry group(facebook),
if you don't ask any questions about his future, he'll go much faster.

I had a feeling it would be that way
We will pray he finds a good home and not a good dinner plate

 

[vickivw3]

Hi, new to this cockerel thing. I hatched my own chicks and currently have 12, some are showing signs of being cockerels but they are only 10 weeks so I am not sure how to tell. They all seem to be getting on very well at the moment, are you saying that I will know for certain when they are 4-6 months ? I want to keep one, my neighbour wants one and I would like to rehome the others if I can because I'm a softy. Any help with how to sex them would be helpful and at what age I am likely to start getting problems. Thanks

 

[SueT]

Hi, new to this cockerel thing. I hatched my own chicks and currently have 12, some are showing signs of being cockerels but they are only 10 weeks so I am not sure how to tell. They all seem to be getting on very well at the moment, are you saying that I will know for certain when they are 4-6 months ? I want to keep one, my neighbour wants one and I would like to rehome the others if I can because I'm a softy. Any help with how to sex them would be helpful and at what age I am likely to start getting problems. Thanks

Post pics on "What breed or gender is this?"
forum.
At 10 weeks, we can probably tell.