Keeping a rooster?

[wendamus]

I have some 24 week old Cornish crosses. I have fed them once a day and free ranged them, so they're big, but have muscular legs.

Two are roosters. I have two barred rock hens, and I'm considering keeping one of the roosters. There are several reasons, I need advice on whether its a good idea.

1: They're too old to make great meat.
2: They're nice. They don't mess with me, hurt the hens or attack my daughter.
3: They're quiet. City ordinances allow roosters, but the white leghorn I have that crows all day starting at 4:30 AM has to go. I actually like my neighbors and want to keep them happy.
4. I am hoping if I get a broody hen to sit on the barred rock eggs, I'll be able to raise my own meat birds year round. The local feed store only has chicks in the spring and summer.
5: They're healthy. I think they've made it through the first few challenging times in chicken-life, I'm hoping to avoid that again.

So, is this crazy? I know they're not bred to be hardy, but they doing so well... I'd rather keep them, with their fast growth rate to pass on, than take a chance next spring on a roo that might not be all the things above.

 

[sourland]

Give it a try. Most likely their genetics will catch up to them and you will lose them, but it may be worth a try. I would try to hatch eggs sooner rather than later. Good luck.

 

[wendamus]

That's practical! Thanks! I did away with the leghorn today after another less subtle hint from my neighbor. I didn't know to refrigerate him for a couple of days, so he was tough, but tasty.

 

[donrae]

I know folks have done it. I think they have problems breeding sometimes due to their size, but we've had chicks on the "what breed or gender" board that could have only been from a cornish cross sire.

You might want to start incubating eggs as soon as you can, just cause they're not known for their long and healthy lives.