Letting roosters run free?

[tacothechicken]

Ok guys so currently we have 8 hens & 3 roosters. We only intended on 1 roo but due to it being a year of roosters for everyone in our county, NO ONE NEEDS ROOSTERS! So we have 2 extra roos who I'm planning on moving into our spare coop. Unfortunately it's not been kept up to par predator proofing due to one of our goats wrecking it, but the roosters aren't really needed and the coop will serve its purpose sleep wise. Its just the roos could come and go at any point :/ anyone else let their extra roos roam constantly? The coop is around 70 feet from the house whith our goats so unless thier reeaally wandering or jumping fences they should be safe(we have a polish who sleeps above our spare coop in a tree 14ft up since she refuses to coop at night.) Would you guys say its fine to let them just free run constantly? Any huge issues caused by free roaming roosters you guys experience? They're not aggressive at all so no need to worry about attacks on unsuspecting niebors or kids and they have 2 acres of property so they have no real reason to fence jump anyways :/ Rudy, Blizzard, and coop in question below

 

[The Moonshiner]

Does no one in your county eat meat?
I don't see it causing any issues but there's a chance that sooner or later they could be taken by a predator.
That might not be an issue since you don't seem to really need them but I'd rather feed a family then a predator.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd also rather feed a family! A quick humane death beats a predator attack any day, so do right by the all the birds you have, it's part of good animal husbandry.
Mary

 

[JedJackson]

So long as they don't stray into neighbor's yards or annoy them with their crowing, and so long as you are okay with the risk of losing them to predators, I see no problem with letting them roam around. However, if you live in an area with cold winters, it wouldn't be right to just leave them out in the elements during stormy weather, and they should be fed and supplied with clean water, too.

 

[tacothechicken]

Lol lots of people eat meet but literally everyone ended up whith roosters this year as in 3-4 extra for anyone who bought 6 or more birds it was kinda insane I know a breeder who had 20+ legbar cockerals to sell this year and that was only one of 3 breeds she raises most in town households also had at least one to two roos in their batches. So basically anyone whos everyone loaded up on meat and now the subject of meatbirds for sale gets crickets... I'm betting it'll be another few months to get rid of them but I'm just wondering if they re fine to play at wild bachelors freeroaming for now. Their coop shuts but the boards on one bottom corner are loose enough that the boys slip out the moment they wake up at 5 am although there's also a tarp on top to hide the coop/birds/break the wind(coyote and dogs cant reach them but a coon may if it really tried and wanted to risk our dog pack catching it)it would be impossible to be quiet. Obviously though they are basically my grandchickens and do and will continue to get clean food and water just the same as the rest of the flock but they'll just be a bit more loose leashed attendance wise.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sounds like that should be fine for your situation. Yes there's a chance you'll lose them to predators, but as long as their basic needs are met and they don't wander off an cause problems for others, I don't see any issue with it.

 

[centrarchid]

I am speaking for all roosters everywhere; "we prefer risk of death by predator (even if the event is very painful) to the absolute certainty of death for use as table fair by uppity apes." That said I eat the roosters, but do not consider it to be merciful, rather it supplies a need I have. They are treated well until I have the need.

 

[RoosterML]

I am speaking for all roosters everywhere; "we prefer risk of death by predator (even if the event is very painful) to the absolute certainty of death for use as table fair by uppity apes." That said I eat the roosters, but do not consider it to be merciful, rather is supplies a need I have. They are treated well until I have the need.

Now that's funny.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I am speaking for all roosters everywhere; "we prefer risk of death by predator (even if the event is very painful) to the absolute certainty of death for use as table fair by uppity apes." That said I eat the roosters, but do not consider it to be merciful, rather it supplies a need I have. They are treated well until I have the need.

No rooster is treat better in life than a gamecock.

Then at 2 or 3 years old he is asked to fight for his right to continue living and does it gladly.

.

 

[The Moonshiner]

No rooster is treat better in life than a gamecock.

Then at 2 or 3 years old he is asked to fight for his right to continue living and does it gladly.

.

Its the owner that dictates treatment not the breed.
Lots of gamecocks out there don't have a very good life while others do. Same with other breeds.

Asking a rooster to fight for his life and having it do so gladly or not doesn't sound like the ideal life to me.