How many is too many?

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

We started our flock this April and we didn't buy sexed chicks. Unfortunately, we ended up with 13 roosters out of 20 chicks. We had to cull one several weeks ago so we're down to a dozen.
Our plan was to butcher all but 2 of them, but they're bugging my poor hens and I'm afraid they're going to hurt them or worse. Currently, they're only about 18-19 weeks old and they don't feel very "meaty" when you pick them up. I want to protect my hens, but I don't want to "waste" my roosters. I have 2 separate coops and pens where I can segregate, but I also let them all free range in the yard. I hate to keep anyone penned all the time, but even more, I hate to have my hens abused.

Thoughts or suggestions? At what age do you normally butcher roos?

Thanks!
M

 

[sourland]

If they were mine, I would separate the hens from the roosters until the roosters were butchered. You could always alternate free ranging between the hen and rooster flocks.

 

[Lots A Cluckin]

12 is WAY to many roosters for 7 hens to handle with the amount of hens you have know you only need 1 rooster...you need to separate them ASAP them them free range but do it at 2 different times...let all of the hens out in the morning and if it makes you feel safer to have a rooster out with the hens let ONE rooster out until about 12-1 pm then put the hens up and let all of the roosters out...I know that is hard to do but unless you want hen with bare backs and bleeding (possible to death) then that is what you have to do.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Put all of the roosters except the 2 you like, in the seperate pen. They may fight a little but w/o hens they'll be less agressive, at least for me.

Pick out the ones who are meatiest,& butcher how ever many you want/can now, thats what I'd do

 

[lahowardjr]

I agree. Segregate all the roosters you are going to butcher from the rest. One rooster for up to ten hens is a good ratio. Butcher the roos when thier about 5 or 6 pounds (about five months). They will butcher out nice and two roos will feed a family of four.

 

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

Thanks all for the input. I just needed confirmation. I knew the answer.........

We'll get them segregated and alternate the free ranging time.
Thanks again!
M

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Sad, huh? We will have to face this issue, too, when our hens start brooding their own eggs. It is nice to have roosters, but not too many.

 

[bobbi-j]

Depending on the breeds, your roosters may not ever get "meaty". You can still butcher them and not waste them. One thing you could do, if you don't think they have enough meat on them is skin them, gut them, and cook them in the crockpot until the meat is good and tender and falls off the bones. You can then freeze the meat, and the broth - either together or separately. Put some seasoning in the pot with them if you wish. Or, you can freeze them whole, or cut up and just know that you may need to take out more than one. The longer you wait to butcher them, the tougher they'll be. I also need to get my extra roosters butchered. I'm waiting, too, until they have a little more meat on them. We may freeze some whole for roasting, and I'm hoping to can some.

 

[humphrey farms]

Depending on the breeds, your roosters may not ever get "meaty". You can still butcher them and not waste them. One thing you could do, if you don't think they have enough meat on them is skin them, gut them, and cook them in the crockpot until the meat is good and tender and falls off the bones. You can then freeze the meat, and the broth - either together or separately. Put some seasoning in the pot with them if you wish. Or, you can freeze them whole, or cut up and just know that you may need to take out more than one. The longer you wait to butcher them, the tougher they'll be. I also need to get my extra roosters butchered. I'm waiting, too, until they have a little more meat on them. We may freeze some whole for roasting, and I'm hoping to can some.

This is what we did last week with 5 of our more agressive young cockerals (mixed flock of breeds). We canned our meat & broth. We are down to 4 cockerals right now and I just seperated them from the pullets. We plan to free range the pullets one day. Then the cockerals. They are cochins and 1 wyandotte cockeral so i hope as they get older they will still get along. Is this possible?They are 15 wks today.

 

[Tigertrea]

I just culled a 18week old. He has very little breast meat but, the legs are looking quite yummy lol.

I am not cooking him until tomorrow so I guess I'll see then if he was "worth" roasting or I should have stewed him.