Ethical Issues With Roosters

[max13077]

Well, here I am, staring into the pen at the roosters I planned on BBQ’ing when they reached an appropriate age. Two barred rocks, two partridge chanteclers, and a white giant stand there and staring back at me like they know what I’m thinking. What they don’t know is I really don’t know if I can do it. If they were nasty or mean, maybe it would be easy.

OK, lets say I couldn’t go through with it. Is it OK to have 5 roosters living with 24 hens? Is it too many?

 

[greyfields]

It's not the best ratio and I would expect the hens to lose feathers. But if you like them, and can feed them, there is nothing wrong with roosters. The hens love them.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

That's too many. You will have bare backed hens. Better to either sell, slaughter or build a bachelor pen.

 

[KLH2010]

Seems likely that they would fight with each other alot and pester the hens badly but maybe some people have better luck than I do. It's never easy to kill them but they sure taste good after!

 

[rooster-red]

Fighting would be the major drawback.
If these guys are already in the pen with the hens and aren't fighting amongst themselves there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yep, too many. Maybe two, but if you get the "wrong" two, one may end up really beating on the other and their favorites will probably go bald on the backs. Unless you have separate sleeping areas and lots of free range space, I personally don't recommend it. Just give them the best lives you can and know that you raised them more ethically for meat than any store bought bird you could get.

 

[BeckyLa]

Well, the rule of thumb is 1 roo to about a dozen hens. Otherwise they will over breed the hens. However, several folks on BYC have bachelor pens just for their pet roos.

 

[Mahonri]

There have to be friends or neighbors in the Fingerlakes of NY that would be happy to have one or two of your roosters at the table.

One rooster is plenty for your flock of hens. Pick your favorite, the most handsome one and keep him. Find other "homes" or harvest the other 4.

 

[summerwindsfarm]

I can understand this feeling all too well! Ive butchered my roosters a couple of times but i always dread it. I had three roosters yesterday that were scheduled to be butchered this weekend. I got an email last night from someone wanting to purchase some roosters to butcher for this weekend..oh yes..you bet..how does $3 each sound? LOL these were free range ready eat roosters and i practically gave them away just so that *I* wasnt gonna be the one doing the deed! And i LOVE the way they taste versus grocery store chickens.

I have no problems raising them for meat. I have no problems raising the lambs and the calf for meat. But darned..when it comes time to do the deed myself..then it gets hard! At least the lambs go off to the butcher and come back in white packages. Wish we had a chicken processor around here sigh.

 

[max13077]

Well, I was affraid it was going to be like this. I will probably end up seeing if anybody wants them. I really don't think I can kill them.