I am very new to this and very freaked out!

[macdonaldfamily]

We have 17 chicks and we think 7 of them are roos! We just started our flock this spring and raised them from 48-hours old. They are part of the family now. They are heritage breed: 2 lavender orps., 1 black ameracauna, 1 french maran, 2 coukoo marans and 1 blue copper maran. Would a breeder be interested in them for breeding? They are super sweet and very socialized. Everyone we have talked to about finding them homes says we should just eat them! Ok, that is NOT happening! I can't sleep and could just burst into tears about the thought...Help!

 

[Judy]

If you got them from a hatchery, then no, a breeder is very unlikely to be interested. There is a lot of difference between "breeder quality" and "hatchery quality" chickens. Just look over our "animals in need of free rehoming" section and you will see there are a lot of roos available. Sometimes with advertising you can find a home for a few, but it is difficult. Lots of times, people will take free roos in order to eat them. It's just something you have to deal with if you keep chickens. If people do want roosters, they usually only want about one for 10 hens, but half the chicks that hatch are male. The stew pot at the hand of an experienced processor is really a better fate than what hatcheries do with excess roos, and at least they get some good chicken life.