Howdy! Long-time BYC reader and first-time member ;)

[nicolemiller]

Hey there!

I'm excited to be a member here now after relying on y'all's amazing advice over the past two years of having my own backyard flock.

We live in Portland, Oregon, with 14 hens, 4 roosters and 4 ducks (and a dog and 4-month old baby!).

We have an assortment of Ameraucanas, Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Wyondottes, Black Sex Link, Barred Rocks, Welsummer, Golden Sex Links and four mixed breeds that we hatched out last year. On the duck side, we have two Black Indian Runners and two Khaki Campbells

While I haven't blogged in (yikes, over a year!) here, there are some photos if you're interested: http://www.nicolemillerbooks.com/miller-homestead/

Excited to connect and talk all things chickens!

** I'm particularly interested in getting some advice on how you find the best homes for unwanted roosters. Right now we have four, who are a bit hard on the poor hens and one rooster (a beautiful Blue Copper Maran) is aggressive towards us humans and I'm not too keen to have that around. I don't want him going to slaughter necessarily and I listed him for free on Craigslist and didn't get a good sense from those who responded (I really don't want him going to an abusive or cock-fighting home...)... I'm willing to perhaps make him his own pen, but that doesn't seem like the happiest existence for him, either... Well, would love advice! ***

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Excess roosters can be a real problem. They can be difficult to give away let alone sell. Realistically unless a rooster is a good breed specimen or someone needs a flock rooster their only use is as food. Even buying sexed chicks can result in a 10 % being roosters. Sex link chicks are the only way of assuring 100 % pullets.

 

[drumstick diva]

There is a glut of roosters looking for homes and not likely to find anything but invitations to dinner

 

[theoldchick]

I have a man take and process my roosters. That way I make sure they don't end up as bait for a game rooster.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - glad that you have joined us after all this time.

To be honest, even giving away a human aggressive rooster is not particularly ethical - unless you tell the potential owner that in advance (if they seem fine, then its likely he is headed for the chopping board). Its a difficult situation if you are not prepared to put him in the crockpot I would imagine.

Hope all works out.

Best wishes
CT