Neutering Roosters

[yoopersjd]

wow, all the different comments here. To me chickens are not pets, they are food. Both Egg and meat! I want a couple of roosters for replenishing what I process and put in the freezer, buying chicks every yr gets a bit expensive, I have more than couple hundred bucks invested in chicks this yr. 90% were purchased at the local feed store (pullets) and ordered a dozen straight run hoping for a few Roos. If need be I will Caponize what I need too to fatten them up for roaster, but leave two Roos for reproduction. All ready built a small coop (20 sq ft) for 3 birds, associated run (200 sq ft) fully enclosed for breeding and brooding! I was born and raised on a farm, so I started out young when it came to plucking chickens in the fall. It turned into a whole family affair at Gramp's ranch plucking and processing. Chickens were always 1st, followed by swine then a couple of steer all in a few weeks getting ready for winter. Every thing was devided up between basically 9 families (aunts, uncles). It was a family farm and we all pitched in.

 

[Chicky313]

I'm new to this forum and a little bit late to the party...however, I just wanted to say Miss Chicken I think you are an absolutely wonderful person for rescuing these chickens. We really need more people like you in the world who see chickens as a living thing and not just for egg production and meat. I currently have a hen and 2 roosters who do not provide me with eggs anymore and haven't for 2 years but I still care for them just the same. And I am currently incubating 5 more that I received from a friend, just for the pure fact that I love them and they bring me joy whether they lay me eggs or not! They are part of my family. The eggs don't make their lives any more valuable to me. So I am so thankful that there are still some people out there who think that way too. Keep up the good work and don't let anyone tell you that what you're doing is wrong!

 

[Cheers2Ya]

I have not read through all the comments, only the first couple pages. Many, many opinions, though! My two cents: I have three roos, they have lots of room and do not fight. I have 13 hens and through some different situations, ended up with the three boys. Two are fully mature, one is still pretty young and finding his place in the flock. So, if crowing is not an issue and the main concern is aggressiveness, at my place it works. They are non- aggressive towards all people, our dogs, and the turkeys, and no major scuffles in the flock.

As far as the procedure to capon or not to capon, that's entirely up to each owner and there will ALWAYS be a difference in opinions. Take our opinions for what they are: merely opinions. And I think it's cool you are rescuing ANY animals, so YAY!

 

[member 512732]

I want to do this to save their lifes and be a responsible pet owner. I got 3 chicks as a rescue situation and two look like they are going to be males. I feel it is my ethical obligation to keep these animals and not give them away. There are too many unwanted chickens in my community as it is. I volunteer for a local chicken rescue group and absoultely don't agree with killing an animal because it doesn't suit my needs. As far as the procedure goes, my vet does not cut into the back of the bird and pull out the testicles. She is using an up to date technique and it has been very successful. I guess I don't understand the negative comments. I'm trying to be a responsible pet owner and have to the funds to do it. It's only $30-40 per bird. My dog and cat's vet visit are much higher than that and ALL pets in my family are equal.

I just love your answer. Im thinking about doing it maybe. I have three roosters that are driving me mad. Wherever did the saying start that roosters crow at dawn...what BS. I also have an Ayam Cemanti that attacks other roosters that jump on females...he rarely does it and when he did he was pretty gentle...compared to when he chases the males around. They are about seven or eight months old the ones I raised...Im not sure about a couple others. I also have a silkie and a showgirl but they dont get any actions and their crows are not too bad. So glad to see another chicken lover. Just because it doesnt suit you doesnt mean you should get rid of it. Unless its a useless boyfriend or husband of course.

 

[member 512732]

If your vet feels he can do it with minimal risk, and you can afford it (btw, would you mind finding out more about his technique, I'd like to learn more about this?)...

...and it's a choice between three other alternatives that you're not willing (or at least happy) to go for -- the stew pot, or solitary confinement, or the reasonable likelihood of them fighting among each other and overmating your hens...

...then I can't see any reason not to go for the neutering. As long as you understand it is not a guarantee of preventing crowing or fighting.

Good luck,

Pat

How would a stew pot be a solution. Thats like BBQing my dog for dinner. Sorry I cant spell BBQ....I never use the word. Barbeque would be my guess....If I ever had to get rid of my 12 dogs, 8 cats, 23 chickens and shetland pony and donkey I would shoot myself in the head because my life would not be worth living. Somebody asked me what kind of car would I get if I won the current billion dollar lottery and I told them that I would donate most of the money....90 percent to help animals...as for a car...I have one. I live for animals...not for material things that mean nothing.

 

[Rhonda Floyd]

I want to do this to save their lifes and be a responsible pet owner. I got 3 chicks as a rescue situation and two look like they are going to be males. I feel it is my ethical obligation to keep these animals and not give them away. There are too many unwanted chickens in my community as it is. I volunteer for a local chicken rescue group and absoultely don't agree with killing an animal because it doesn't suit my needs. As far as the procedure goes, my vet does not cut into the back of the bird and pull out the testicles. She is using an up to date technique and it has been very successful. I guess I don't understand the negative comments. I'm trying to be a responsible pet owner and have to the funds to do it. It's only $30-40 per bird. My dog and cat's vet visit are much higher than that and ALL pets in my family are equal.

I too want to have my roosters castrated forthe same reason! I refuse to get rid of them just because they are males. Ihave 8 roosters, and just don't want themto keep raping my girls. Thank you!

 

[Mobleymoon]

Hi, This was posted back in 2007 and came up when i googled the same question. I, to am instrested in this . I have 6 babies 2 for sure boys and 4 girls (maybe a tweener??) And their mom. Its a simple safe back yard deal. I so love these klds! 21 yrs. ago we did chickens bought from TS, brew light and the whole dance. I didn't know then to care if its a stright run or not. I had become exstreemly attached to Mascara. When he was a baby he had black "mascara" around his eyes. All grew up fine. We had way too meny for our yard so we called a farmer to take some. He came husband was here and took 10 girls and mascara, before i got home. I cried so much, am now, husband called the next day to see if we could get him back and he was already dead. I will never do anything remotly close to that again. I am starting my surch on this topic now ANY & ALL HELP will be a blessing.

 

[Mtjtc4]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this or not. I'm considering neutering my two young roosters. A local vet has done many and only charges $30-40 per bird. I've heard it will prevent aggressive behavior and crowing. Mine are only 5 weeks old and she will do them starting at 6 weeks of age. Has anyone neutered their roosters?

Did you end up finding someone to do this for you? I am looking for someone, where are you from

 

[Mobleymoon]

I want to do this to save their lifes and be a responsible pet owner. I got 3 chicks as a rescue situation and two look like they are going to be males. I feel it is my ethical obligation to keep these animals and not give them away. There are too many unwanted chickens in my community as it is. I volunteer for a local chicken rescue group and absoultely don't agree with killing an animal because it doesn't suit my needs. As far as the procedure goes, my vet does not cut into the back of the bird and pull out the testicles. She is using an up to date technique and it has been very successful. I guess I don't understand the negative comments. I'm trying to be a responsible pet owner and have to the funds to do it. It's only $30-40 per bird. My dog and cat's vet visit are much higher than that and ALL pets in my family are equal.

ME TOO, ME TOO, Me too!!.. so many negative comments. Sometimes I wonder if this IS the place to talk about my "kids". We live deep in the woods and down here in the holler, our 2 big boys carry on great long conversations with the Bantom Boys up the way. Last year (Sept/Oct) we hatched 6 eggs, thank you broody mom! 4 hens, 2 roos. Everyone knows their place and play their parts well, so far. This year one of those girls got the broody bug so she sat and gave us 4 newbies this year, 2 hens, 2 roos. I would pay twice the price to save their lives. We now have a total of 4 Roos, 6 hens...(grandma passed sometime last night, 7 yrs old leaving us with 10 total feathered extended family).
If I could find a vet within 100 miles around here I would certainly go and be proud and glad for it. We, too, have dogs and a cat and 13 squirrels, hand raised from infancy to adulthood over the past 3 yrs. I could NOT/ would not just get rid of a life form for convenience. Keeping chickens, in the winter, healthy, warm, and dry is NOT convenient. It's a deliberate act of the heart, my heart. I am sorry if that tilts some sideways. We love our choices. We keep our promises to Man and Beast ALIKE!

 

[Tworavensranch]

I want to do this to save their lifes and be a responsible pet owner. I got 3 chicks as a rescue situation and two look like they are going to be males. I feel it is my ethical obligation to keep these animals and not give them away. There are too many unwanted chickens in my community as it is. I volunteer for a local chicken rescue group and absoultely don't agree with killing an animal because it doesn't suit my needs. As far as the procedure goes, my vet does not cut into the back of the bird and pull out the testicles. She is using an up to date technique and it has been very successful. I guess I don't understand the negative comments. I'm trying to be a responsible pet owner and have to the funds to do it. It's only $30-40 per bird. My dog and cat's vet visit are much higher than that and ALL pets in my family are equal.

I totally understand and support you in this. I only keep a few hens and already have lovely older accidental rooster. Another rooster will mean battles over the already scarce hens and possible injury to all the flock. So the choice keeping him as a rooster would be isolating him and giving him a lonely life. If he is castrated, he can remain with his flock mates and will be no different than another" retired" hen. And my older gentleman will not need to fight him.