everyone warned me about roosters . . .

[shuizar209]

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Well said!

 

[The Lisser]

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He will be willing to mess with anything.

So you are still considering keeping him, in spite of the threat to a child, and all the opinions on here? What about the day your back is turned, and she decides she wants to play with him again, just one more time?
.

Actually it's my daughter who is begging me not to get rid of him. I was thinking about confining him when she's around (although that will probably turn out to be more trouble than it's worth). I am thinking about how to "break it" to her and so he's still around for now. She is still trying to cope with the loss of a beloved family dog, I don't want to add more grief right now if I can help it. She knows that we eat animals for food, we just haven't eaten any of our own animals (so far).

 

[abhaya]

For her sakeIwould pen him! If freezer camp is not an option I know it can be hard with kids. If you want her to have a "pet" chicken I would get het a silkie they are great very friendly. It can be her chicken and teach her that the other chickens are food so she will get to know what to expect but she can alwasys have her special chicken. That is what I did with the little ones around the farm the silkies are to play with the big ones are food.

 

[Keara]

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The best thing about her being young is that she will get over it quickly. My son was sad when we got rid of his rooster, for the same reasons. But his saddness turned to interest in learning about where chicken soup came from. Trust me when I say ths is more tramatic for you than it is for your child. Do the right thing before your little girl gets hurt. She should have the freedom to run around the yard without being attacked....not your rooster.

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

We have rehomed 7 roos and I felt extremely sad for about an hour. Having a mean rooster is not worth the worry.

 

[The Lisser]

Thanks everyone for your advice.

By saying that confining the rooster would be more trouble than it's worth, I meant it wouldn't work as a long term solution. That wouldn't be very happy for him or for us - he's not really breeding quality, and if she can't be around him, he's not a good pet! Of course I'm going to keep him away from my daughter.

I had a talk with her and she understands that the roosters could hurt her eyes, and that means she would have to go to the hospital (this is something she can understand!) I also told her that she can't have friends over to play as long as the roosters are around. I told her that we will have to get rid of the roosters but the hens get to stay.

I COULD give them away, but we've put the time into them . . . I have read several of the threads on here about how to process. Is a 9 month old rooster worth roasting? If I soak him in brine water would he be tender enough to roast? Or is he only stew-quality?

 

[karimw]

I've got a lovely Free range EE rooster that does such a nice job with the flock I hate cull him even though he isn't very trustworthy. If I had small children I wouldn't keep him. He can't help but do what nature intended.The other day I was trying to get a particulary noisy hen into the coop and he let me know he was concerned by pulling my pant leg. I told him to stop and he did, but honestly I think that's an appropriate reaction on his part because he is supposed to take care of them. I don't have children, and my DH can take care of himself but when my nieces and nephews come to visit I pick him up and carry him when they are in the coop. He likes that

 

[Keara]

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I would still consider roasting him. THe big thing to do is let him age in the fridge for several days. This will make the meat more tender.

 

[Mervin]

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I know where you're coming from. I was recently put in the same spot. My kids didn't want me to get rid of the roosters, but it was them that I was trying to protect foremost. Your little girl will probably be more understanding than you think. I sat the kids down and explained to them that it was my job to protect them first. Sure, they cried when the deed was done but I know I did the right thing. Maybe it's a bit callous, but I feel that there was an important message about trust as well. We simply couldn't trust the roo anymore and to be trustworthy myself, I had to make the hard decision.

 

[Mervin]

Mine haven't been quite nine months, but I did let them sit in the fridge for 4-5 days and also brined them. If you're concerned throw him in a crock pot. I do that, pick it off, strain the broth and make chicken and dumplings. Mean Rooster and Dumplings, um um good!