I’m worried I may have a male?!

[EggWalrus]

No crow collars don’t completely stop them from crowing. They still do but it’s dampened a bit. Keep in mind with and without the collar, roosters are still roosters. They will bite. They will scratch. They will attack. These collars do not take away the testosterone

You'll have to caponize him if you want to make a steer out of him.

 

[coltgrizzz]

You'll have to caponize him if you want to make a steer out of him.

I wouldn’t recommend that though, i looked into it a while back it’s 1. Many vets won’t do it and 2. It’s risky

 

[EggWalrus]

That's a shame you can't keep him. Roosters are a great addition to flocks and all these people just talking about aggression is sadly not the case. Sure they can be aggressive but you can teach them, but it takes a lot of time. But none of my roosters from day one have been aggressive towards me, pets, strangers, or even the other chickens. NONE. And I had eighteen at one time. (11 have since been rehomed.) So everyone is screaming aggression, but he could be different, only time will tell. But I'm awful sorry he's a roo. TSC did the same thing with one of my Cuckoo Marans. Pullet bin, sweet cockerel boy. And I really hope that isn't the case with my EE's.
Best of luck!

I got a doz EEs from there back in the spring and all but 2 turned out to be roos.

 

[EggWalrus]

I wouldn’t recommend that though, i looked into it a while back it’s 1. Many vets won’t do it and 2. It’s risky

If you screw up the first time or two you just have chicken and dumplings those nights. You'll get it right eventually, and either way your rooster problem is gone.

 

[bobbi-j]

But then he can live with the girls??

He can stay with the pullets until you find a home for him. (Which would be better sooner, rather than later in my opinion.)

But he can stay with the girls for now?
They are all so attached to each other. I can’t imagine separating them

Your pullets will adjust. Once he hits breeding age and starts trying to mount them, they'll be much more relaxed once he's gone. Cockerels reach sexual maturity sooner than pullets, so it get's a little chaotic for a while until everyone figures it out.

They are free in the yard all day and put up at night but I am very inexperienced and can’t have him crowing in my neighborhood. I am very attached though. I spend a lot of time with them. They come when I call them. I know they are just chickens but........

Others have already addressed the issue of females sometimes being louder than males. I'll just let you digest all of that without more input.

I feel you and it’s a lot like how I started out a few years ago.

Someone wrote on a post recently “toughen up buttercup” and you’ve got to to have chickens. You can love them like pets and feathered family, but you have to do what’s right for the flock and for the birds. You have to be prepared for the good and bad.

While you are attached to this bird, keeping him around isn’t really an option. He could injure you, your family or friends or your other birds. He very very very likely will not remain cuddly and sweet. His crows could put your entire flock in jeopardy and then you’ll be broken hearted having to rehome them ALL of you get caught.

While on the subject, though, I’m curious about what your rules are. If roosters aren’t allowed, that’s one thing, but, it is not uncommon at all for hens to be just as loud and you need to be prepared for that. (Sorry to derail the thread...) I have several hens that are LOUD after laying an egg. While it isn’t as frequent as a rooster, it is absolutely noticeable to those nearby. If you are “hiding” your chickens you will need a backup plan.

I don't think it's a bad thing to bring up. OP has to consider all possibilities.

Omg! No I don’t want him slaughtered!! I got them from the local feed store. I will call them.

The thing to remember is, once he leaves your yard, he's no longer your responsibility and what happens to him is no longer your business. You can try putting a higher price on him, but you will likely have a harder time getting rid of him since he's not a show quality, rare breed bird. Extra cockerels are a dime a dozen around here, because no one needs "that many" of them. Most are sold or given away to become someone's meal.

 

[Melissacoop]

If you screw up the first time or two you just have chicken and dumplings those nights. You'll get it right eventually, and either way your rooster problem is gone.

Oh no!!!

 

[LavvyTaffy]

I got a doz EEs from there back in the spring and all but 2 turned out to be roos.

Lovely. One roo would be fine and I wouldn't really mind (I'm starting an Olive Egger breeding program next year). But I would not be able keep them all if they were all roos.

 

[Melissacoop]

So we’re all pretty sure Louise is now Louis. Here’s my other “girls” for examination!! Lol
Thank you all for your friendly advice too!

 

[MROO]

That’s good, they might know people who need a rooster or are interested in rescuing them

Don't return them to the feed store unless you are okay not knowing where they'y;ll go. Most will pass along returned cockerels to anyone who will take them ... and unless they are something really special (to everyone, not just to you) those generally end up in Freezer Camp. You may. however. be able to get a refund.

 

[bobbi-j]

Don't return them to the feed store unless you are okay not knowing where they'y;ll go. Most will pass along returned cockerels to anyone who will take them ... and unless they are something really special (to everyone, not just to you) those generally end up in Freezer Camp. You may. however. be able to get a refund.

You know, that's really not a terrible thing... I'd much rather eat a home grown cockerel that has at least experienced life than a mushy, tasteless chicken from the grocery store. Those things are killed before they even know how to cluck! I will eat them if I don't have any chicken of my own, but I prefer not to. I figure if a cockerel has had a good life and one bad moment, it's a blessing for him.