Lots of cockerels 🐓

[Panicbuttongb]

A high percentage of cockerels hatched. Last year I rehomed but this year I can’t find a home for them all.
They are over 8 weeks old now. Think I may have to cull witch is sad.
What is the most humane way to do it?
Any advice would be appreciated. Quite like the little fellas but we can’t keep 6 of them .
Pekin Bantams

 

[LizzzyJo]

Do you plan to eat them or just dispatch?

 

[HappyClucker7]

A high percentage of cockerels hatched. Last year I rehomed but this year I can’t find a home for them all.
They are over 8 weeks old now. Think I may have to cull witch is sad.
What is the most humane way to do it?
Any advice would be appreciated. Quite like the little fellas but we can’t keep 6 of them .
Pekin Bantams

Is there a local shelter or farm sanctuary you could bring them to? Or maybe a hatchery looking to maybe breed them?

 

[alwaystj9]

My local feed store has let me put a cage of sale birds there on a Saturday morning, I usually price them pretty low. I have also put them on Craig's list, also for a low price.

 

[Panicbuttongb]

Do you plan to eat them or just dispatch?

I think dispatch, eating feels more respectful but lots of neighbours and two of them have strayed crowing already. I can have one roo crowing but lots would be to much I think.
Dispatch I think

 

[Panicbuttongb]

There more like 10 or 11 weeks old this bunch of chickens.

 

[Panicbuttongb]

My local feed store has let me put a cage of sale birds there on a Saturday morning, I usually price them pretty low. I have also put them on Craig's list, also for a low price.

In UK and have advertised on Preloved for free to good home. No luck though. There is a breeder near by and they let you pay them they quarantine them for a period then they go to a sanctuary. Happy to pay but since Covid he has had lots of Roos. Lots of us have hatched chicks in lockdown I guess. He is full and cannot take more.

I’ve tried local farms wouldn’t be offended if well looked after then they end up on plate. Think lots of us have hatched in lockdown so lots of cockerels around now.

 

[Kabootar]

How about caponizing them? Caponization is the best solution to the cockerel problem. As long as we hatch chicks, we can certainly expect some cockerels. If we are going to feed them atleast we should try to the flock more peaceful. If we decide to harvest them, then they should be atleast worth the effort.

 

[Panicbuttongb]

How about caponizing them? Caponization is the best solution to the cockerel problem. As long as we hatch chicks, we can certainly expect some cockerels. If we are going to feed them atleast we should try to the flock more peaceful. If we decide to harvest them, then they should be atleast worth the effort.

Oh what is caponizing?

 

[Kabootar]

Oh what is caponizing?

Caponization is the process of castrating a cockerel. A capon is to chickens what a steer is to cattles or a hog is to pigs. I have shared with you a link to the caponization thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/graphic-pics-of-my-day-learning-to-caponize.675898/