I think i have a rooster!!!

[strawkleberry48]

I'm a newby. and I have 5-12 week old hens. Or so I thought! My hubby heard one of them crow this morning!! I'm not sure which one, but have an idea. So what do I do now? I didn't want a rooster. HELP!!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! If it's illegal to have males you need to find him another place. Most cockrels end up in the freezer, but a handsome polite cockrel might be wanted in another flock. Craigs list, your state's thread here, or the right breed thread here, are possibles. Also signs with photos at the local feed store, or a nearby livestock auction that includes poultry. I like having roosters in my flock; could you keep him? Mary

 

[donrae]

Sell him or give him away. Mary covered the best places to advertise.

 

[strawkleberry48]

Hi! I'd love to keep him/her but I wanted laying hens. Wouldn't having a rooster mean I'd have fertilized eggs all the time?

 

[junebuggena]

Yes, you will have fertilized eggs. But that does not mean that you will crack an egg, and a partially developed will fall out. They have to be incubated for a chick to form. You will not have eggs hatching if they are kept on your counter. You can use them just like you would infertile eggs.

 

[Free Feather]

Yes, you will have fertilized eggs. But that does not mean that you will crack an egg, and a partially developed will fall out. They have to be incubated for a chick to form. You will not have eggs hatching if they are kept on your counter. You can use them just like you would infertile eggs.

I have to explain this to my little brother every time he gets eggs for me. He hesitates before handing them to me and gets a disgusted expression, "These are not fertile, right?".

If they have not been set by a hen, there is no baby in them. The egg has the "sperm" in it, but no baby will form until incubation has occurred for about 24 hours, I think. They will have a slightly shorter shelf life, but they are fine for eating.

 

[junebuggena]

I have to explain this to my little brother every time he gets eggs for me. He hesitates before handing them to me and gets a disgusted expression, "These are not fertile, right?".

If they have not been set by a hen, there is no baby in them. The egg has the "sperm" in it, but no baby will form until incubation has occurred for about 24 hours, I think. They will have a slightly shorter shelf life, but they are fine for eating.

It needs to be kept at a constant 100 degrees for at least 48 hours. And even then, it will only be slightly veined.

 

[strawkleberry48]

Ohhhh! Duh! I didn"t know that. Here I thought I"d have to get rid of him!! He"s my fav. Well, that takes a load off my mind! Thank you for the info! I kinda like the crowing too...

 

[torilovessmiles]

Ohhhh! Duh! I didn"t know that. Here I thought I"d have to get rid of him!! He"s my fav. Well, that takes a load off my mind! Thank you for the info! I kinda like the crowing too...

I love my rooster's crow!
A lot of people are concerned about eating fertile eggs. It is one of the common misconceptions, similar to the "hens need a rooster to lay eggs" myth.
Have fun with your rooster!

 

[strawkleberry48]

My rooster just started crowing and it sounds like somebody is trying to strangle him!! LOL! its so funny! thank you!