How to decide which Roo to keep (and which to dispatch).

[Happy Novogens]

My youngest Roo is now 5 months old. He's starting to mount the gals he hatched with (6 of them). My older Roo isn't having that. He has his 5 gals. But all 13 chickens are housed together in a run.

From what I've been reading, I'll have to decide which Roo to keep and which to eat.

So two questions...

1. Will removing the older Roo be traumatic for the hens (particularly the older hens that are used to him).

2. The older Roo will be 3 years old in 3 months. Is that "old?" Would he still be edible?

If it matters, the older Roo is a Bielefelder. The younger Roo, and the rest of that hatch, are a mix of that Bielefelder and ISA Browns.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Good animal husbandry dictates that you remove the older male and replace with the younger one. Killing the younger bird isn't good practice. That being said, I would choose the bird that is the best match for the flock dynamic. Yes, removing the older one will create a change in structure, but I doubt there will be "trauma". Birds are resilient. And yes, 3 years old might be on the tough side. I recommend pressure cooking or slow cooking all day for older birds. Best wishes with whatever you choose!

 

[Happy Novogens]

Thank you for your reply. That is helpful!

 

[Perris]

From what I've been reading, I'll have to decide which Roo to keep and which to eat.

you could read more. I have 7 roos and ? cockerels in a flock of 36 (24 adults, 12 chicks, currently). It depends on your keeping conditions. Mine free range dawn till dusk. But all the males share 4 coops between them at night.

 

[EggzactlyRight]

I always have a hard time deciding which rooster to keep because they can absolutely live together without any issues if there are enough resources and hens (and space), but I really don't enjoy having to listen to 3-4 roosters going at it at sunrise, and I don't think the neighbors appreciate it either.

Removing the older rooster almost certainly won't be bad for the hens in any serious way. They tend to adjust fairly quickly, especially if another rooster steps in and takes over the “protector” role. That said, the older hens might act a little off for a day or two if they were really used to him, but they’ll likely follow the new flock dynamics just fine. Hens are mostly concerned with safety, pecking order, and access to food and space. If the young rooster keeps peace and order, the hens will move on and be happy with him.

Three isn’t young, but it’s not ancient either. He's mature, for sure. Roosters don't have a lot of meat compared to hens or broilers, and older birds tend to be tough if you try to cook them like a young fryer. But yes, he is very much edible. The key is in how you cook him. Slow and low is your friend. ​