Minnesota!

[jbenson]

so I recently bought some chicks from a breeder that said they were 98 percent female or something like that.  What do you supposed she did with the males?  Also, I've noticed some people on craigslist are looking for roosters only, is that just because they want to breed?

If that is me, the males are either sold wholesale as male (I know they become dinner) and maybe some kept to grow out for potential breeding. Since at least 50% of chicks are male and there simply is not the demand for them, it is very common for them to end up in "freezer camp". I stopped growing out my own and decided to wholesale them because of space constraints. That and my DH did not want to help with plucking.

 

[jbenson]

Some people looking for roosters only are from some of the Asian communities in the Cities that do prefer the purebreed birds or range raised birds as opposed to the CRXs.  I sell most of my cull roosters to them, sometimes 100 or more at a time.  However, I have started culling them as chicks due to the space I have and time and feed costs to raise them to a size where someone would buy them for eating.  I know to some that sounds terrible.  I have gone the way of keeping them all, and it is not practical.  I do humanely euthanize them, and I believe you will find more breeders who are hatching for more than just themselves do the same.  That is what the big hatcheries do as well with their excess cockerels.  When the demand is for pullets/hens only for most people, and you can only have so many roosters in a flock and not have problems from them, what else is there to do with them?

Minnie, I also sell them to the Asian community here in the cities. From what I have gathered it has a bit to do with what breeds are part of their ethnic heritage and many of those are small like bantams. And they better utilize all the parts of the chicken so having something smaller isn't really a problem. I appreciate that they will cone to me for a bulk buy on my extra cockerels when space gets tight and I am able to clear out all my extras in a hurry. They don't make me much money, but it but it beats culling them myself.

 

[AmericanKraut]

I'm so proud of my broody Cochin bantam!! She is almost done with this batch 1 week till hatch day!! I know lots can happen in th e last week but I am hoping for the best!!

Also I might have some hatching eggs for sale. They r super pretty eggs and out of super pretty hens and roo. They r barnyard mix out of EES, BR, BA, BO and NHRs and the roo is a Welsummer I might just hatch them and sell chicks but I am running out of room!!

My broody!!

Pretty eggs! Proud mama hen, too.

 

[AmericanKraut]

At least you have an avatar. I am on an iPhone and the avatar upload and change button doesn't exist!! "I don't need no stinking Avatar!!" Wait...Yes, yes I do need an avatar!! Someone fix this for me LOL!!

LOL!! Try going into your profile. I'm not sure if you're on the full site, mobile site, or app, but if you can find your photos section, you can upload a photo from your phone. You have to select a file and try to scroll around the screen to find the upload box, etc depending if you're on the mobile site or not. I did my avatar on my iPhone. It was a bit clunky but finally worked. I couldn't do it from the app, though.

One way: from Safari on an iPhone, use the full site. On the home page www.backyardchickens.com click the "My Profile" button in the upper right.

Now you're in your profile. Don't click the "Replace Avatar" text, for some reason that route just doesn't work via mobile, just click the image above it.

Now you're in your photos and can click the Add Photos button. It's the one on the far right.

That'll bring you here to select a photo from your iPhone:

I hope that helps!

 

[AmericanKraut]

I hope those images aren't too small, I'm posting from my phone and they're screenshots of my own screen.

 

[Cearbhael]

W

My male is in the shallow end of the gene pool, I think.  We used to call him Spigolli, after the burn-out surfer dude on Fast Times at Ridgemont High played by Sean Penn.  He is a sweet boy, but he just cannot kill enough birds.  The older female was very sneaky and while we were working on building the brooder house (our originally intended coop for layers until I went chicken crazy), she swiped a hen and dragger her into the corn field and began de-feathering her.  That was the last straw with her.  I used an old-fashioned method that cured her and she wants nothing to do with the chickens any more.  The pup (almost 3) likes eating poop more than Ralphie's dog.  She heads to the compost pile if she wanders outside of their perimeter.  They are very smart dogs, and one of the reasons I got them was because my research said they do well with other animals.  Well, after two flocks and a cat, and several squirrels, either the research was wrong or I got a batch that just didn't know that was supposed to be their behavior.  I love them, and the current set-up works for us.  I miss seeing the chickens roam, but they have ample space to pasture.  I hear coyotes some nights running in the fields, had a fox before the fence got done and lost about 8 a few years ago from that.  I have owls who swoop in at night and take their dinner to-go if the birds forget to go in.  Until recently, the only thing I had ever lost to weasels were some rabbits we had in a hutch in the double corn crib.  Now, I have to make more traps to try to get that bugger before I can let any of this year's hatches outside.  I have already lost a few birds to that nasty thing or things.

I wouldn't trade my Standards for anything, but they sure haven't worked out as farm dogs.

Well, we were not sure when he was a pup, he killed squirrels and rabbits. Sometimes he just pulled the leash from my hands, once dragged me along. My oldest male cat left a fresh killed red squirrel by our back door. My dog swallowed it whole before I could take it away, he also chased the cats and mouthed my new baby Siamese but I rescued her and he got sharply scolded... He took himself to his crate (yeah he knew to go into the corner when bad LOL) he didn't come out until I called him and told him he was my special boy. He never touched her again. When we got the Bengal, we discovered the kitty was instigating the tussling so stopped reprimanding and let them wrestle. He never tried it with any other cat. To the rest he is quiet and respectful. He catches on very fast. We used to breed Arab horses so he was farm introduced early on. Never seemed much interested in the free ranging chickens there. I suppose ignoring them is fine.

 

[rainin22]

Minnie, I also sell them to the Asian community here in the cities. From what I have gathered it has a bit to do with what breeds are part of their ethnic heritage and many of those are small like bantams. And they better utilize all the parts of the chicken so having something smaller isn't really a problem. I appreciate that they will cone to me for a bulk buy on my extra cockerels when space gets tight and I am able to clear out all my extras in a hurry. They don't make me much money, but it but it beats culling them myself.

Wow that is so good to know, I would prefer to go that route. (selling extras off so I don't have to deal with it.) I was just about to question how much meat could really be on these tiny guys ! I mean when they're full grown, they're still just cute babies right now. lol

 

[Cearbhael]

I

Thanks for being so honest Minnie.  Just curious, why are asian communities interested in purebreed birds? It must be a cultural preference?  I have 20 chicks so far, but I have a feeling I will have 5 of them be roosters.  I was planning on seeing if anyone wanted them, if not, culling them, but since I'm new to it all and the fiance would have to do the culling part- we will see what actually happens because I'm just a little too squeamish to do it myself.

understand the squeamish part but my Gran told me as a toddler that you have to be able to look your next meal in the eyes and thank it for its sacrifice. It is nourishing you so you can survive. As long as you gave it a good life and good food, you should have a clear mind. The important thing is to always respect their sacrifice. I believe we have become too separated from our food, and the animals behind it. Easy to do with the way food is packaged. Behind every bite of chicken, beef, and Turkey was a live animal. Unfortunately most of them didn't get a fine life or any respect. Whatever you do with your roo, thank it. Never take your meat for granted.

 

[Cearbhael]

Bu

LOL!! Try going into your profile. I'm not sure if you're on the full site, mobile site, or app, but if you can find your photos section, you can upload a photo from your phone. You have to select a file and try to scroll around the screen to find the upload box, etc depending if you're on the mobile site or not. I did my avatar on my iPhone. It was a bit clunky but finally worked. I couldn't do it from the app, though.

One way: from Safari on an iPhone, use the full site. On the home page www.backyardchickens.com click the "My Profile" button in the upper right.

Now you're in your profile. Don't click the "Replace Avatar" text, for some reason that route just doesn't work via mobile, just click the image above it.

Now you're in your photos and can click the Add Photos button. It's the one on the far right.

That'll bring you here to select a photo from your iPhone:

I hope that helps!

Ok. I tried that but when it goes into profile it automatically pops into mobile mode and there is no change avatar button...how do I keep it in web mode??

 

[Cearbhael]

Never Mind! I found a desk top/mobile button. Pushed that, then went through a lot of hoops but eventually got it. Decided to use my prize mare, Majiid. She is my heart horse. I had to place her and her daughter with a breeder in Arizona. Her contract forbids her being sold in my lifetime and I can chose to take her back for the same price I sold her for. Unfortunately, unless I win the lottery, that won't happen. She is expecting a new foal soon. Very excited. She is out of old world famous bloodlines. Actually they are legendary. People fought and scrambled to get their hands on her and her daughter Aja. I gave her to a lady who's breeding program matched my own ideals, and who would accept my terms on Majiid. Sigh... So now I turn to chickens... Much cheaper, than world famous Egyptian Arabians. We had spent over 5,000 on Aja before she was even born! She was one very expensive filly. Her world famous daddy was 25 years old when she was conceived and he died the following Valentines day before she was even born, so she was very precious. His owner now has 2 foals out of frozen sperm by Aja's Daddy's full brother. (They were conceived many years after he died...had to find the perfect mom) there were actual 6 full brothers, one full sister. All became world famous and the only one still living belongs to the King of Jordan.
Very treasured bloodlines.