Culls: to eat or not to eat?

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Hi, everyone. I have Marans as you can probably tell, and have found several than I would never want to hatch chicks from. Problem is, I have a small flock. I have names for these things. But I need the space for my next batch of chicks. When I hatched them, I told myself we were going to eat the culls, but now... ugh.

I know if I had 100+ chickens this wouldn't be a problem, but I don't. What do you guys do with your culls?

 

[Poultrybreeder]

I usually give them to people who just want them as pets, meat or eggs

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I usually give them to people who just want them as pets, meat or eggs

Giving them away is a good idea. You can usually get rid of free stuff, I've noticed. But what about the roosters? You can't hardly pay people to take a roo anymore. No matter how pretty or docile.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

Those I usually take to fairs, and put them in cages with signs that say free. Between them being on display, and the large amount of people, by the next day or two, the rooster's are usually gone

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Those I usually take to fairs, and put them in cages witg signs that say free. Between them being on display, and the large amount of people, by the next day or two, the rooster's are usually gone

Awesome! I'll have to try that. Thanks a lot

 

[Poultrybreeder]

You're welcome! Good luck!

 

[The Moonshiner]

I take a lot of mine to auction.
At auction they don't bring much but everything sells and sells that day so not much hassle with trying to find homes.
Roosters sell as well as hens for the most part.
Have any "sale barns" around there? The two close to us do small animal sales once a month.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I take a lot of mine to auction.
At auction they don't bring much but everything sells and sells that day so not much hassle with trying to find homes.
Roosters sell as well as hens for the most part.
Have any "sale barns" around there? The two close to us do small animal sales once a month.

We do, but most of the animals end up dinner, and I would kind of like to avoid that. Ugh. You're not supposed to get attached to roosters. I think the shows would be a better place to sell them, at least to give me peace of mind. They're not aggressive. I think they would make someone a nice roo. Plus, they can still be used to make olive eggers.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I agree. I know its kinda a given that the boys will be eaten. But I need to move more cockerels out then I can find homes for one at a time.
I've come to terms with that. Sometimes I use CL if its a cockerel that I think is a really good one. Its always a lot of work if you worry about them going to a pet or breeder home.
I do know if you worry about forever homes AND making much or anything off them it gets almost impossible.
I never consider eating one of ours but I know if I'm realistic that if I don't keep them all that's about the only choice.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I agree. I know its kinda a given that the boys will be eaten. But I need to move more cockerels out then I can find homes for one at a time.
I've come to terms with that. Sometimes I use CL if its a cockerel that I think is a really good one. Its always a lot of work if you worry about them going to a pet or breeder home.
I do know if you worry about forever homes AND making much or anything off them it gets almost impossible.
I never consider eating one of ours but I know if I'm realistic that if I don't keep them all that's about the only choice.

Well, see my Nana bought a roo one time with the biggest spurs on him. The were so proud of that old thing! They'd point out his spurs and say how he'd never attacked them.
That's kind of a nice thing, you know? Letting people know that there are good roosters out there.