Do I have 4 roosters??????

BigShirleyRocks

In the Brooder
6 Years
May 12, 2013
24
0
22
Berlin, New Jersey
Hi all!
I just joined BYC today since I have been enjoying all of the older threads in my search chicken answers! We are the proud parents of 10! 10 week old chicks, raised from day olds we purchased at TSC. We had a custom amish coop made for the, built a lovely run and now....I think we have 4 roosters in the bunch. I suspected Big Shirley wasn't a girl from like maybe week 2, but the other three, Nene, Dottie and Knock-Knock are mean and big and if they are roosters they must go!
Can anyone tell me if they suspect what I do? Not sure of the breeds, think White Rock and Leghorn?
Thanks!


 
I can say 2 are defo cockerels

the 2nd pic

the one in front and one directly behind him with head just peaking up

the one next to head peaking up white look like pullet and so does the brown
 
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Thanks! that would be Dottie and Nene! those 2 are so nasty and aggressive! I knew it, I knew it......now any suggestions on what to do with them? Noting inhumane....no way on earth our daughter will consider them for dinner....but I would! LOL
 
Processing a chicken does not have to be inhumane. A quick, painless execution is how most prefer to do so. Mean roos can be serious trouble. You may be able to rehome them, but I will be honest. If they are nasty natured then they will likely be on someone else's dinner table if you do.
 
Thanks! that would be Dottie and Nene! those 2 are so nasty and aggressive! I knew it, I knew it......now any suggestions on what to do with them? Noting inhumane....no way on earth our daughter will consider them for dinner....but I would! LOL

Processing chickens isn't inhumane. Stuffing a hen in a tiny cage with 3 more hens,being forced to lay eggs without a nesting box,and not ever being able to see the light of day is inhumane. If the chicken is nurtured while alive in exchange for nurturing a human with their meat is humane. A quick method,like twisting the head and breaking the neck will not hurt the chicken...and it seems like the best way to go with the processing to me. You can rehome the cocks, but if they are nasty like you said, they'll most likely be on someone else's dinner plate.
 
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Thanks for your replies! I have 4 that look exactly like the birds in the second photo. Bigger, redder wattles and combs and seem to stay close to the hens like they have "claimed them"? Is that rooster behavior? No crowing yet..... But of all 4 big Shirley is the calmest and seems to just have a presence among them all... No need to bully.... She is just there and they all know it! Love big Shirley! She is definitely a keeper.
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Do you know if it is normal for the hens to be aggressive with White Rocks? i'm really not enjoying being attacked everytime I enter the pen....I dread the day I have to retrieve an egg! I might lose a finger in the process
barnie.gif
Do you know if they develop their wattles and combs much earlier than other breeds of hens? These 4 'girls' have had them from week 5.....the rest have little tiny pink nothings of combs and are very calm and nice. The only exception to the 4 is Big Shirley. She will let me hold her without trying to peck my eyes out...the others fight me like dogs!
Thanks!
 

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