Excess Polish roosters

[Mburrows6653]

I have a question. What do breeder people do with excess Polish roosters they can’t/don’t sell? People say they aren’t worth the time to cull and process, so do they just cull and throw away? I’m curious bc I’m looking into a small breeding business, but worry about the extra boys I hatch out. Thanks in advance!

 

[Geena]

I have a question. What do breeder people do with excess Polish roosters they can’t/don’t sell? People say they aren’t worth the time to cull and process, so do they just cull and throw away? I’m curious bc I’m looking into a small breeding business, but worry about the extra boys I hatch out. Thanks in advance!

Any extra birds are worth processing, no matter how small. Don't waste them.
Here's two Cream Legbar cockerels I butchered, they were small but delicious!

 

[Tonyroo]

I agree don't waste them, whether there young, old, or small. You can use them for dogfood or human consumption.
I'm breeding SFH each year but just as a hobby.

 

[Mburrows6653]

Any extra birds are worth processing, no matter how small. Don't waste them.
Here's two Cream Legbar cockerels I butchered, they were small but delicious!
View attachment 3235389

They look beautiful! Great job! How much did they weigh post process? I’m guessing I’ll cull Polish cockerels around 4-5 months. I also only plan to breed large Fowl, not bantams. Thanks for your reply!

 

[Mburrows6653]

I agree don't waste them, whether there young, old, or small. You can use them for dogfood or human consumption.
I'm breeding SFH each year but just as a hobby.

What is SFH? Do you process your excess? This is a hobby for me as well. I’m trying some stuff out to learn more about the genetics! But I know I’ll end up with extras boys no one will want.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What do breeder people do with excess Polish roosters they can’t/don’t sell?

Different breeders do different things. Some of that may depend on their goals. Not all breeders are breeding for show. You said yours are large fowl.

Some do kill them and compost them or otherwise dispose of the bodies. Different situation but I knew someone that sent them to somebody that made and sold organic compost. I don't know their business arrangements, may have just been a way to get rid of the bodies.

Some people eat quail. A large fowl cockerel will be bigger than that.

You might give them to a zoo or a wildlife rehab facility to feed their animals.

That's all I can think of off of the top of my head.

 

[Tonyroo]

What is SFH? Do you process your excess? This is a hobby for me as well. I’m trying some stuff out to learn more about the genetics! But I know I’ll end up with extras boys no one will want.

Swedish flower hen.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

It's always worth processing. Even at a young age they can still make amazing broth. Then pull off the meat for chicken pot pie or soup. These recipes really stretch out a small amount of meat.

 

[Mburrows6653]

It's always worth processing. Even at a young age they can still make amazing broth. Then pull off the meat for chicken pot pie or soup. These recipes really stretch out a small amount of meat.

Thank you!

 

[Geena]

They look beautiful! Great job! How much did they weigh post process? I’m guessing I’ll cull Polish cockerels around 4-5 months. I also only plan to breed large Fowl, not bantams. Thanks for your reply!

I usually processes any layer cockerels at 14 - 16 weeks and they are normally 2.5 to 3.5 lbs.