Culling the beasts

[aesch]

I have to cull the first of four roosters and am having trouble steeling myself to do this. I would love to keep him but he's extremely aggressive with the ladies and they all run whenever they see him coming. And he's wearing out my 1-1/2 year old experienced rooster from having to keep him in line all the time! Still, it goes against my natural nurturing instincts as I imagine it does with all of us. For those of you who have gone through the rhythm and cycles of the chicken world, how did you handle the first couple of times? Any advice for me? Thank you in advance.

 

[WhiteWyan]

This is how I handled it. I had someone else do it...

 

[RUNuts]

To prepare mentally, imagine how you want your flock to look and behave. Then prune accordingly.

How to prepare is a personal thing. Some toast the animal. Some say a word of thanks. Some go through the motions in their mind and do them without thinking too long.

Best wishes

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I wouldn't cull him as he can have his attitude changed. Just a thought

 

[FarmerGirl101]

So here is the link if you want to check it out: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-definite-guide-to-roosters.49193/

 

[Saaniya]

I wouldn't call him life is precious ..
When we are aggressive in childhood our parents didn't throw us out from home .maybe some time away from flock away from.ladies
Being an avian behaviorist I won't advise culling

 

[WVduckchick]

I have to cull the first of four roosters and am having trouble steeling myself to do this. I would love to keep him but he's extremely aggressive with the ladies and they all run whenever they see him coming. And he's wearing out my 1-1/2 year old experienced rooster from having to keep him in line all the time! Still, it goes against my natural nurturing instincts as I imagine it does with all of us. For those of you who have gone through the rhythm and cycles of the chicken world, how did you handle the first couple of times? Any advice for me? Thank you in advance.

I feel your pain, but the best I can offer you is my support. I'm in a similar boat right now. I normally don't have trouble selling or giving away excess roosters, but I'm at a point now that I can't get rid of them all. I have way too many and I have to do something. I hate it for them... its not their fault they turned out male and I don't need them, and no one else wants them. But such is life.

 

[50-45-1]

Every year i have broody hens that hatch eggs and half of those chicks are roosters.
Now i already have a nice rooster an since roosters dont lay eggs for me i refuse to keep more than one for my dozen hens. My egg fertility is good with only one. So yes i have roosters every year to get rid of.
The nice roosters i will attemp to find homes for on craigslist
The not so nice roosters i also craigslist for anyone looking for birds to butcher, i give them away.
if my craigslist adds go unanswered, i will dress them myself, or my husband will dipatch them and use them for coyote bait.
To many roosters lead to your hens looking bedragled due to overbreeding, alot of sparring and fighting amongst themselves and a general loss of peacefullness in the chicken yard. Not to mention if you get one that is so aggressive he attacks you or your children or grandchildren.
Good luck!

 

[ame087192]

I know how you feel, but I offer my mindset: this rooster would not have made it past day 1 in a hatchery. He’s been lucky to live as long as he has in a great environment that you provided. Make him into a meal for yourself or a dog and he has not gone to waste.
Good luck

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Chasing girls is normal....... I do it all the time when I was younger. Eventually you grow to learn that some are trouble and so choose wisely. Give him time, he might change once he grows out of the hormonal stage.