Hard time letting go ...

[DoodleRoo]

Hi guys,

I have a rooster, his name is 'Big Guy', who I picked to manage a small flock of hens that I kept separate from the others. He was a good roo with the girls and tame and easy for me to handle. Flash forward about two years and this small flock of hens is incorporated with my big one. My alpha rooster 'Roo' has battered Big Guy to the point where he doesn't even have his spurs anymore. I feel like I should cull Big Guy, since his time has passed, but (plz don't laugh) I feel pretty guilty about it. When I first chose him for my small flock I thought I was picking out a rooster that'd live a full life, and yes I got a little attached. Yet I feel like the responsible thing to do is to go ahead and cull him, but the guilt is real. I may be way too soft-hearted with my chickens, especially roosters.

Any advice for me how to deal with this?

TLDR; I became attached to a rooster that is no longer top roo and probably needs to be culled due to the abuse he endures from the alpha rooster. I'm having a hard time going through with this.

 

[Abriana]

Create a rooster flock. No hens to fight about, no fights. @RoostersAreAwesome
Or you could make runs, one for every rooster, buy a couple more hens, and split them among the roosters. This is probably not feasible but it’s an idea, if you REALLY want to keep the roos.

 

[red horse ranch]

I usually take out the aggressive rooster...not the victim! Think about keeping the one you like and take out the alpha instead.

 

[DoodleRoo]

I usually take out the aggressive rooster...not the victim!

I'd be even less likely to do that. Roo is one of my tamest roosters and very good at protecting the flock of 30+ hens. He's also the son of my favorite hen. He's not going anywhere.

I'm attached to Big Guy but he's no good for protecting the flock anymore. His spurs are gone. I assumed it was due to a rooster fight with Roo but I could be wrong. Everything out here wants to kill my chickens. We have cougars, bobcats, coyotes, pit vipers, raccoons, opossums, the works.

@Abriana I like your idea. We don't have the resources to implement it right away, as all the small pens are taken up, but it's a great idea though. I'll give it some thought, ty.

 

[Folly's place]

Can you rehome him! Or set up a separate area for him, planning on having two flocks in spring. I find it VERY hard to kill nice roosters! You could try asking on your state thread here, or local ads, realizing that an actual home is hard to find.
Mary

 

[DoodleRoo]

Can you rehome him! Or set up a separate area for him, planning on having two flocks in spring. I find it VERY hard to kill nice roosters! You could try asking on your state thread here, or local ads, realizing that an actual home is hard to find.
Mary

Me too, that's why I made this thread. :/ I guess I'm not alone in this. I currently have four roosters in my main flock, but Big Guy is the one that is having the hardest time. I've considered asking around, but it's hard to find someone that wants a rooster.

 

[aart]

Get rid of the other cockbirds, keep the one you want.
Probably should have done this before younger cockerels became 'active'.
Subtraction is the hardest function in chicken math, but it must be done.

Hatching or buying more chicks will present you with the dilemma of too many males.
Knowing more about your goals for keeping chickens,
your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),
your coop(size in feet by feet with pics),
and what and how exactly you are feeding,
might offer clues to help you make a decision.