How to explain to kids we are culling the cockerel

[irlybird]

Our 4 month old cockerel has now scratched my son once and jumped on me yesterday. No kids are allowed in the coop in the meantime but our cockerel has to go.

We’ve told the kids we will be getting rid of him but do we tell them he will be dinner? (Neither our 5 or 7 year old eat chicken so they wouldn’t actually eat it regardless if they knew).

He is A barred rock and was supposed to be a she. So I hadn’t totally thought this part through.

My husband is a hunter so it doesn’t phase him as I’m guessing it’s no different than other birds. Grouse, turkey etc.

 

[Rose Quartz]

Our 4 month old cockerel has now scratched my son once and jumped on me yesterday. No kids are allowed in the coop in the meantime but our cockerel has to go.

We’ve told the kids we will be getting rid of him but do we tell them he will be dinner? (Neither our 5 or 7 year old eat chicken so they wouldn’t actually eat it regardless if they knew).

He is A barred rock and was supposed to be a she. So I hadn’t totally thought this part through.

My husband is a hunter so it doesn’t phase him as I’m guessing it’s no different than other birds. Grouse, turkey etc.

it kind of depends on the kid i guess. My youngest (almost 5) was informed most of our roosters would be supper before we ever got them. And all the kids were told if they were ever attacked by any rooster, even if it was one we were planning to keep it would be supper too. I cant keep agressive roosters. Even if the kid was doing something to make the roo upset. If i cant trust them around my kids i cant keep them.

 

[Kld1989]

My granddaughter named our rooster Snuggles. I don't think I could eat Snuggles. I could give him away tho.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Name your roosters Dumplings, Fricasee or Casserole.

 

[Rose Quartz]

My granddaughter named our rooster Snuggles. I don't think I could eat Snuggles. I could give him away tho.

Oh. Oh no. that may be a problem.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Idk... my kids, and now grandkids, always knew from day one... if any rooster becomes aggressive he becomes dinner.

 

[Mvan42]

IMO things are sheltered to much from kids. Death and the way of nature is two main one. If you explain it in a way that helps them understand that chickens are food for people. And sometimes when a rooster is mean he is food. I personally can’t eat a pet. I give them away but let whoever take it that he was mean. As long as I don’t know he was dinner and not my dinner it doesn’t bother me. I have always been this way. I got attached to one of our calves growing up. When he was butchered I refused to eat beef for a long time, of course cried like a baby when I found out to. I was so mad at my dad. Lol.

Any way I guess it is up to you how and depends on your Kidd’s on how or if you tell them.

 

[ChickenThunderdome]

Have you tried letting your husband catch him and walking around a good 10-15 minutes with him under his arm?

Our Houdan cockerel was not aggressive but he was very flighty/behaved badly when picked up. So we would hold him 5-10 minutes and walk around the hens basically showing him and them who was in charge. If he tried to get away or misbehave we would peck him on the neck with two fingers.

He's gotten a LOT better now. This was only after doing it 2 to 3 times. It's worth a shot, especially if the kids like them.

I thought barred rocks were supposed to be friendly/docile?

 

[ChickenThunderdome]

My granddaughter named our rooster Snuggles. I don't think I could eat Snuggles. I could give him away tho.

Somehow I don't believe the original posters rooster is named snuggles, LOL.

 

[varidgerunner]

If you act like it is some kind of major big deal, then your kids will think it is, but it's not. If you shelter them from reality, they won't grow up to be realistic people.