How hard is it to get rid of roosters?

[AlexKilpatrick]

I am planning to hatch some eggs in the near future, and I have a couple of questions about roosters, which I really can't keep once they start crowing.

1) I understand it is hard to tell a rooster from a hen until they are almost full grown. Will it be easy to tell at that point? About how long until I can tell which ones are roosters?
2) How hard is it to get rid of roosters? If I just put a "free" ad in Craigslist or freecycle, will it be easy to get rid of them?

Thanks!

 

[susannemw]

Its probably pretty easy - and baked chicken is really yummy too, if you get no takers.

 

[wekiva bird]

Some breeds are hard to tell the sex .If you hatch sexlinks you can tell when they dry. iIcan keep my best roosters for breeding and cook the others.

 

[andalusn]

Craigs list is a way to sell unwanted roosters. If they are really maturing into nice looking roosters, I decide when they become interested hens and are causing issues. Usually close to 5 months of age. As I was saying, if they are really nice looking roosters either mixed or purebred I will post an add and ask between 15.00 & $20.00. People willing to pay more than meat prices use them in their own flock usually. For my sexlink roos that don't really have a purpose once mature other than eating I offer them for maybe a few dollars or package them with a pullet purchase.

On occasion I take roosters that I want gone quickly to my local feed store that resells them. These are nice roosters and not usually intended for meat. I am giving them to the store who in turn sells them and keeps the money. They have hundreds of walk in traffic that see the birds and I don't have to stay home for a whole weekend for a single sale of a rooster for under $20.00. Just check your local options and decide what works best for you.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

I have no problem in KCMO and I use Craigslist unless some loser flagger has nothing better to do besides flag my post but I often give them away when they are too young to eat. I sell 4 to 6 month olds for about $5 each. If you can stomach it, process them yourself and you have a GREAT meat product to use for your family. Me personally, I ain't that hungry yet but I know a lot of folks who do.

 

[midget_farms]

Someone is always willing to take your roosters - if you don't mind them being eaten.

If that is not good - it will take a bit longer.

You can tell the sex when they get older - I used to think it was the spur bud on the ankle but have since learned that's not a good way to tell. Mine are at 6 weeks or so & you can tell some are roosters, but its too early to be 100% on all of them.

 

[nivtup]

Don't give them away, sell them.

There is a growing community that prefers flavorful meat.


We can sell all we have to part with within a couple of days.

 

[Mahonri]

Oh, goodness, we had one for Sunday dinner today. He was delish. And no more waking me up in the morning.

 

[Fred's Hens]

This is sooooooo dependent upon local conditions. In many areas, you could get buck or two for one. In other places, like here, no way.
Folks, not many, but a few will indeed come get them for eating. Which is just fine. Go to your local shopping center and take an informal poll and ask 100 people if they've ever processed a chicken. I can assure you that it won't be many.

 

[AlexKilpatrick]

Well, it would be a little hypocritical of me to eat chicken and not be willing to eat one of MY chickens. I guess I may have to just man up and figure out how to slaughter them.