How do you choose and stick to it?

Think of all that feed those excess roosters are consuming, and how tasty they would be in the pot. The feed bill is what did it for me...

 

I choose what traits I want carried over into my flock....meaty build, hardy in all weathers, good forager, good disposition, smart about evading predators.

Then you just do what you have to do with the rest. That is one inevitable fact when you raise chickens...that they eventually die and, if you intend to eat them, you will be the one doing the killing.

 

How do you choose who goes to the freezer?

I have certain goals for my flock and what I want from the offspring and the rooster. I keep the rooster I think will bring me closer to my goals. Your goals my be eggs, looks, behavior, ptotection, or something else. I have no idea. If you know what your goals are it is easier. Not necessarily easy, but easier. If you are not sure what you want, it is real hard to choose. If it helps any, I do sometimes change my mind on which rooster I keep. I'm trying to decide between two right now.

And how do you stick with the plan?

I can't help you with this one. Either you do or you don't. I do.

 

You could be sad to have to dispatch such handsome birds, or be glad that your meat comes wrapped in such attractive packages!

I know, it can be difficult to do away with birds you've raised, enjoyed & admired. But it helps to think of them ALL as candidates for the chopping block, and then you can decide to spare a certain few who show exceptional qualities.

 

Compromise with yourself, keep one or two and eat the rest. Remember too many roos will lead to fighting, which may lead to injuries or even death (better to eat them now as oppose to bury them later).

 

How do you choose who goes to the freezer? And how do you stick with the plan?

The real question here is "What is the plan?"

Once you established that, and your reasons/goals for holding anybody back then you evaluate your birds and see who fits those reasons/goals and that's who's held back. The rest are unnecessary for breeding and are culled from the flock. Or you don't hold anybody back so your not judging and process everybody. That might help ease your mind as your not having to make a decision on who's better.​

 

I know how hard it is to cull out Roos, but as some of the folks have mentioned, how many do you need ? One, to be honest; two will often try to fight the other to the death to be the only one; three will work, but do you want to feed three?

If you've never ate something you've raised before, here's the advice of a one time non-farm girl who has now been on the farm for 25 years.

1.) Decide with your head, not your heart, how many roos you want to keep, bearing in mind some of those little ones will be full grown soon.

2.) Take a good hard look at the roos, look for temperament (a biggie for me, as I have a young grandchild), predator watching (another biggie for me) and conformation to those qualities you want to have in offspring.

3.) If you've never butchered before, or watched birds butchered, find someone who will do it for you the first time. Have them cut the birds up, so they look less like what you raised and more like the stuff from the store. Put the birds in the freezer for a few weeks before you get out a package.

4.) If you've never butchered before, but think you can watch, find someone who can help you and let them do it the first time or two. Be the person who totes the water, bags the feathers and soaks the birds. I had a dear friend who helped me at first. If you think you can learn, have the friend do the killing and then have them show you how to do the rest. Don't think you have to do it all yourself the first time, or the second time...

It's never easy for me to take a life, even after all these years - but I can, and even appreciate the meat afterwards. Remember, any animal you've raised yourself is going to have had a far better life than anything you got from the store. I figure that if I've given them a good life, and a quick death, I've honored the animal and done my best. Good luck.

 

shauns advice is very good. If I might add this to it as well, once your pulletts hit laying age the roos are going to begin breeding them. Not only will the roos begin to fight amongs themselves but too many will wear out your hens and you have a good chance of them getting hurt, then you have the possibility of dispatching a good laying hen as well. - definately not worth it.
also when you cull all the way back down to one roo they really step up into their roll as "flock daddy" and are usually quite pleasant to be around.