Getting rid of male chicks?

[Schaafty]

What is a humane way to get rid of male chicks? I don't want to waste money on feed for roosters.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

What is a humane way to get rid of male chicks? I don't want to waste money on feed for roosters.

Have you tried to give them away. Put them on craigslist? Are you in an Amish/Minnonite area. (My last ones went to the Amish.)

 

[kuchchicks]

If you are hatching eggs then you have to realize that you have a 50% chance on each egg of getting roosters. If you absolutely want straight females you may want to look into buying chicks from a hatchery. I don't want to start an argument and I know that there will be those out there who disagree with me and that's fine, you are entitled to your opinion. BUT IMO I think it is selfish to hatch eggs for the fun of it or for whatever reason you have and the to cull chicks just because they are male. I know that there are hatcheries out there that do it and I do not subscribe to that or use those hatcheries. And yes I do eat meat, and do not have a problem with people raising animals for food. But I think it is a waste of a life to just snuff it out without cause.

If you are hatching, or buying chicks straight run and end up with roosters there are other options out there. I hatch every month from February to September so I get my fair share of roosters. I sell the majority of my chicks locally and always give people the option to return the roos if they do not want/cannot keep roosters. I personally do not keep the roos that people return to me if I do not have the room. I post them for free on Craigslist and have NEVER had a problem placing the roos. There are plenty of people out there looking for roos for one reason or another. And I am not blind to the fact that these roos may still end up on a dinner table somewhere. BUT I also think that I am at least giving them the best chance out there.

Again, I am not looking to "ruffle anyone's feathers". You are entitled to your opinion so please do not attack mine. But please think about what it is that you are setting out to do. If you are hatching, maybe hatching is not for you. If you are purchasing chicks there are plenty of hatcheries out there that will sell sexed chicks. And if you can only buy chicks straight run, then you CAN find homes for them (it has never taken me more than a couple of weeks to place the roos).

 

[AmyLM]

Take them to your local auction house. I make decent money selling chicks especially in spring.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

If you are hatching eggs then you have to realize that you have a 50% chance on each egg of getting roosters. If you absolutely want straight females you may want to look into buying chicks from a hatchery. I don't want to start an argument and I know that there will be those out there who disagree with me and that's fine, you are entitled to your opinion. BUT IMO I think it is selfish to hatch eggs for the fun of it or for whatever reason you have and the to cull chicks just because they are male. I know that there are hatcheries out there that do it and I do not subscribe to that or use those hatcheries. And yes I do eat meat, and do not have a problem with people raising animals for food. But I think it is a waste of a life to just snuff it out without cause.

If you are hatching, or buying chicks straight run and end up with roosters there are other options out there. I hatch every month from February to September so I get my fair share of roosters. I sell the majority of my chicks locally and always give people the option to return the roos if they do not want/cannot keep roosters. I personally do not keep the roos that people return to me if I do not have the room. I post them for free on Craigslist and have NEVER had a problem placing the roos. There are plenty of people out there looking for roos for one reason or another. And I am not blind to the fact that these roos may still end up on a dinner table somewhere. BUT I also think that I am at least giving them the best chance out there.

Again, I am not looking to "ruffle anyone's feathers". You are entitled to your opinion so please do not attack mine. But please think about what it is that you are setting out to do. If you are hatching, maybe hatching is not for you. If you are purchasing chicks there are plenty of hatcheries out there that will sell sexed chicks. And if you can only buy chicks straight run, then you CAN find homes for them (it has never taken me more than a couple of weeks to place the roos).

I don't have a problem early spring to early summer finding takers for my roos. This last bunch, I couldn't even get takers from Craigslist for free!!!! However, I live in Amish country so I managed to find a great source that is willing to take the extra roos. Granted they will raise them and fatten them up no doubt for supper later on, but at least I'm not killing off chicks.

 

[kuchchicks]

AmyLynn I agree. Like I said I have no problem raising animals for food. But I do believe that if ANY life is taken, it should be done respectfully AND with a purpose. Simply killing out of convenience or because it is just easier, whether it be a human life or the smallest of creatures, I think is inhumane in its purpose. We humans are stewards of the Earth and it is our responsibility to act morally and ethically. The universe is vast and you never know...there may come a time when WE are an inconvenience.

 

[kuchchicks]

And maybe I am wrong to assume that the original post was talking about destroying the male chicks. If I was then there are options. You just have look.

 

[Mutt Farm]

That's a loaded question. If you're hatching your own and don't want males...??? Possibly just order the $1.99 pullets instead. Or learn how to cull. If you mean cull them, here's 2 links. If you plan to eat them, http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-humane-method-of-killing-a-chicken-for-food
If you just want them off the feed bill,

Some folks give them away on Craigs list and such, fantasize that they live happily ever after and let someone else process them. A nice roo every now and again can find a home.

 

[keesmom]

You can cull them early on if you have sex links, list them on craigslist for free, take them to a local auction or raise them for food. All extra cockerels and pullets are butchered for the freezer around here. They make outstanding chicken stock.

 

[Hholly]

If you are hatching eggs then you have to realize that you have a 50% chance on each egg of getting roosters. If you absolutely want straight females you may want to look into buying chicks from a hatchery. I don't want to start an argument and I know that there will be those out there who disagree with me and that's fine, you are entitled to your opinion. BUT IMO I think it is selfish to hatch eggs for the fun of it or for whatever reason you have and the to cull chicks just because they are male. I know that there are hatcheries out there that do it and I do not subscribe to that or use those hatcheries. And yes I do eat meat, and do not have a problem with people raising animals for food. But I think it is a waste of a life to just snuff it out without cause.

If you are hatching, or buying chicks straight run and end up with roosters there are other options out there. I hatch every month from February to September so I get my fair share of roosters. I sell the majority of my chicks locally and always give people the option to return the roos if they do not want/cannot keep roosters. I personally do not keep the roos that people return to me if I do not have the room. I post them for free on Craigslist and have NEVER had a problem placing the roos. There are plenty of people out there looking for roos for one reason or another. And I am not blind to the fact that these roos may still end up on a dinner table somewhere. BUT I also think that I am at least giving them the best chance out there.

Again, I am not looking to "ruffle anyone's feathers". You are entitled to your opinion so please do not attack mine. But please think about what it is that you are setting out to do. If you are hatching, maybe hatching is not for you. If you are purchasing chicks there are plenty of hatcheries out there that will sell sexed chicks. And if you can only buy chicks straight run, then you CAN find homes for them (it has never taken me more than a couple of weeks to place the roos).

I have to point out that at hatcheries, they sex the day old chicks and either throw the roos in a grinder or in a trash bag to be slowly suffocated. How is that more humane than someone hatching their own and humanely culling? Not trying to be argumentative here. But there is a misconception that picking all females from a hatchery is kinder.