Feeling awful for culling my rooster

[sbergstrom09]

Last night I made a decision to cull my first rooster. He was about 2 1/2 years old and I hatched them from eggs to start my first flock. I made the decision because he wasn’t backing down from fighting with his brother (same age) and another rooster who is just over a year old. They got along pretty well, small fights for dominance but nothing that would last or be brutal. It started with the young rooster out of nowhere fighting with him for minutes at a time last week where we had to stop the fighting. We have the young rooster separated and are planning to cull him or give him to our neighbors. Then last night his brother and him were fighting nonstop, he was getting chased by his brother and I had to grab both of them to make them stop. When putting the hens away they started up again in the coop and I had a feeling he wouldn’t make it through the morning or if he did one of the two would be gone after getting back from work. His comb was a darker red and looked off, his breathing was off too. He was a much bigger rooster, about 8-10lbs or more. I used the broomstick method, he was calm when it was in place but it was hard to tell if it worked, I know they move after but I did the method again just to make sure he wasn’t in pain. He charged a few times but infrequently, more so recently. He has spurred us so it was becoming a safety issue. His brother is going to be culled this weekend, he bites, spurs and charges on a daily basis. I just feel awful that I had to take a life and even more if he was still alive after the first try. I also feel awful that he went first when it should have been his brother who is more aggressive. His brother is the main rooster for the flock and always has been. Does this get easier? I want to have meat birds but if it’s always this hard I don’t know if I can do it.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I'm sorry. I dread the day that I've got to make these decisions. But you did what's right for your flock and your family.

 

[FrostRanger]

You did the right thing, he was causing strife in the flock and he was already on his way out, even though you botched the first attempt, you prevented him from suffering a more prolonged and painful death. You also absolutely cannot have human aggressive roosters so both he and his brother absolutely need to go. It's certainly not easy but you did what needed to be done for the good of the flock

 

[BoundlessLove]

It’s not easy anytime. Especially when you have had them for a while and grown attached.
You made the right decision.

 

[sbergstrom09]

Thank you everyone, I bawled my eyes out last night and crying as I reply. I’m sure the same will happen with his brother but I know it’s for the best. I buried him, I couldn’t bring myself to eat him and will do the same with his brother. For me they were in a sense pets because I had them so long

 

[ChickenChick46]

Thank you everyone, I bawled my eyes out last night and crying as I reply. I’m sure the same will happen with his brother but I know it’s for the best. I buried him, I couldn’t bring myself to eat him and will do the same with his brother. For me they were in a sense pets because I had them so long

I know I would feel the same. We want meat birds, but they'll be in a separate coop/run and my husband will be the one tending to them and culling them. I know I just couldn't.

 

[sbergstrom09]

I know I would feel the same. We want meat birds, but they'll be in a separate coop/run and my husband will be the one tending to them and culling them. I know I just couldn't.

That’s the plan for next year, I have 4 roosters planned for meat birds this year. I think they’ll be easier we don’t really spend time with them

 

[ChickenChick46]

That’s the plan for next year, I have 4 roosters planned for meat birds this year. I think they’ll be easier we don’t really spend time with them

I bet it will be easier that way.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I’ll add to all the above that I’d bet that you gave him a great life, well fed, and room to chicken, right up to the very end. That’s a lot more than most chickens ever get. for loving your birds and caring about making their lives good.