Fixin' to kill some roos

[choopes]

I have been raising a crop of new birds every year. The new hens do great laying eggs for me. In the past I used the roosters as target practice, but had a change of heart this year. My plan was to let the 4 roos run the yard, thinking they would get off in the woods and run into a predictor. One did. The other 3 crow every morning and other times too. But they are making a general nuisance of themselves. Getting up on my cars. Going into the garage, and other places they don't need to go. But when the one got into my garage and pooped on my corvette, I am changing my mind.They are too old and tough to eat. Besides, even with a clean head shot they still flop around. I consider myself humane. I don't want to see them suffer. What do you do with your surplus roos?

 

[BantyChooks]

I have been raising a crop of new birds every year. The new hens do great laying eggs for me. In the past I used the roosters as target practice, but had a change of heart this year. My plan was to let the 4 roos run the yard, thinking they would get off in the woods and run into a predictor. One did. The other 3 crow every morning and other times too. But they are making a general nuisance of themselves. Getting up on my cars. Going into the garage, and other places they don't need to go. But when the one got into my garage and pooped on my corvette, I am changing my mind.They are too old and tough to eat. Besides, even with a clean head shot they still flop around. I consider myself humane. I don't want to see them suffer. What do you do with your surplus roos?

Letting them go with the intention of them being eaten by predators is not humane nor responsible.

There will be flopping no matter the kill method due to nerve impulses---head shots are a perfectly acceptable way of doing it, maybe better than most IMO. I have sold extra males in the past but will be moving to processing them all for food. I decapitate with pipe cutters or use cervical dislocation.

There is no such thing as too old to eat. Stick them in the crock pot or pressure cooker, then make chili.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Chickens have a primitive nervous system closer to a snake's or an alligator's brain than a humans. You can wring their necks, or as Brer Bear said in Song of the South, "Knock their blocks clean off" and their nervous system will still send messages to their muscles making them flop around or even runaround for a short period of time like my granny said "like a chicken with its head cut off" Sort of like fresh dressed and skinned frogs' legs which twitch, hop, and jump in a skillet full of hot grease. Get yourself a good pressure cooker and you can even make geriatric roosters tasty.

 

[bobbi-j]

We eat our excess roos. As Banty said, there is no such thing as too old or tough to cook. You just need to rethink your cooking methods.

Letting them loose hoping they'll run into a predator is cruel. A quick, humane death is the kindest, most responsible thing you can do for your birds.

 

[Robert G]

I'm about to run into the same problem. My hen has 11 chicks which are now at the point where I can tell there are 5 hens and 6 roos. I already have 3 roosters that get along fine but 6 more isn' going to work. So was thinking of listing them on Craigslist and give them away. Has anyone had success this way?

 

[BantyChooks]

I'm about to run into the same problem. My hen has 11 chicks which are now at the point where I can tell there are 5 hens and 6 roos. I already have 3 roosters that get along fine but 6 more isn' going to work. So was thinking of listing them on Craigslist and give them away. Has anyone had success this way?

I've done similar. It's worked okay.

 

[Harmony Fowl]

I'm about to run into the same problem. My hen has 11 chicks which are now at the point where I can tell there are 5 hens and 6 roos. I already have 3 roosters that get along fine but 6 more isn' going to work. So was thinking of listing them on Craigslist and give them away. Has anyone had success this way?

I’ve had really good luck with Craigslist. Most were gone within 48 hours. The longest took a week.

 

[Robert G]

Thanks for your feedback. Will definitely try it. Hopefully they will go to a good home.

 

[Grub Digger]

I agree with BantyChooks. We have been breeding for a meatier dual purpose and raise out new chicks a couple of times a year. Just let the meat rest before you cook it so that it's not still in rigor.