Inadvertently hatched out 5 roos

[Barry42001]

I have 5 roosters that I hatched out inadvertently two separate batches about 20 days apart the parent rooster of all those hasn't paid them any mind really except to adjust their attitude about chicken etiquette reminding them that there is a peck order LOL.
Because they are related even as they go through chicken puberty will they fight and can I keep him around long enough at least to raise them to become meat birds right now they're a little smallish

 

[flowerbug]

It all depends I can't really tell you they will always fight to tees tabling the pecking order as the baby cocks turn into teenagers so just try it as see what happens if thy fight till they bleed than seperating them

 

[flowerbug]

Oops I meant Re Establish

 

[aart]

Because they are related even as they go through chicken puberty will they fight

Probably, tho they may have already established and accepted a pecking order that may reduce fighting. Many variables tho, space being the most important...the more space they have the easier for the subordinates to stay out of the way.

You can eat a chicken at any age, most layer breeds are not that meaty even when full grown. I slaughter my extra cockerels by 16 weeks, before they start causing trouble by fighting or harassing the pullets...and still tender enough to put on the grill for that crispy skinned deliciousness, the grilled bones make great stock.

If you want to grow them out larger, best to put them all together in a 'bachelor' coop/run away from the females.

 

[lomine]

I just did some boys that were starting to fight. They were 13 weeks so not huge but enough for a meal. It was a better option for me than keeping them around longer.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I just put some cockerels 23 weeks old in the freezer today. They were part of a hatch that was 12 cockerels and 4 pullets. I still have three of those cockerels to go, hopefully Monday. That hatch was raised by a broody hen with the flock. She weaned them at three weeks and they've made their way with the flock since then.

As Aart said, there are many variables, space being most important. A few were fighting a bit among themselves, but not seriously. Just minor scrimmages. They were not bothering the pullets or older hens much at all. The dominant rooster pretty much ignored then. All in all it's been about the easiest batch I've ever raised.

Notice that ratio, 12 cockerels and four pullets. I have had batches that were so rowdy I locked the cockerels in a separate bachelor pen until they got to butcher size. Some of those batches had several more pullets than cockerels.

So I agree with Flowerbug, try it and see what happens, but have a plan B.

 

[Mrs. K]

sometimes you can get away with this for a long time, the trick is to have a plan B ready to go. Sometimes when it goes south, it can in a hurry, other times, it really never goes south. As stated above, space is crucial.

 

[lazy gardener]

IMO, the cockerels fighting among themselves is the least of your worries. The bigger issue: As they reach puberty, they turn into hormonal jerks. They will be incessant with their rough treatment of all of the females in your flock. I hope you are set up to give them their own bachelor pad. Agreed with Mrs. K. You need a plan B available at all times. I would not try to raise cockerels out for meat without a bachelor pen.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

They will figure it out with each other usually. I've raised groups of cocks as spoiled pets and aside from very occasionally needing to discipline Boss for getting carried away they sorted things.

 

[Alecia Davidshofer]

I got 7 out of 10 are roos. Beautiful light brahamas. I cant keep them all...anyone wanting a really nice brahama roo? If no takers soup next month.