Official BYC Poll: What do you do with your roosters?

[Three Little Bunnies]

I have had two accidental Roos. They both went to good homes. I miss them still, but I am glad I did not have to eat them. They were from a straight run bin, but I was really hoping they were girls, so they had already been named and everything.

 

[3KillerBs]

I am not at the point yet where I can eat my chickens. I mean, logically, I get it, I would just have to get over that hurdle.
It’s silly because I eat chicken, hello!

I found that once I got them undressed they didn't affect me any more than the grocery store chickens in the freezer.

Best way for me to get over butchering them is to name them. Names I have include: Fried chicken, chicken sandwich, chicken salad, BBQ, oh and this sweet little one we call Honey Glazed. Naming them after food reminds us what their purpose is.

*nods*

My current batch is Omelet, Dumpling, Cordon, Teriyaki, Chipotle, Popcorn, and Piccatta (Spicy at about 4 days old, probably a victim of shipping stress), The previous chickens were Noodle, Dumpling, Kiev, Barbie(BBQ), Sesame, Nugget, and "the red boys" -- Vinnie, Parm, Fry, Fric, and Stew.

Even for the laying hens it is a reminder that chickens are, ultimately, food -- livestock, not pets.

 

[aart]

I found that once I got them undressed they didn't affect me any more than the grocery store chickens

Yeppers!
I just parted out a grocery chicken to grill up,
when pulling out the innards I thought, much different than gutting a warm bird.
But, yeah, not that much different.

 

[Mimi13]

Since I have been very unlucky with the gender ratio in my hatched chicks, I have way too many cockerels running around... until they reach butchering age (or earlier if they’re little turds.) The actual dispatching of the bird isn’t the most pleasant thing, but the processing part is not that bad. (And I agree with @aart about reaching into a warm carcass.) I have never given away cockerels. As a matter of fact, I have been the recipient of unwanted ones, that I promptly processed once they reached butchering age. I have sold several cockerels, that I knew were gonna be butchered. I am not a fan of giving them away for fear they will possibly be used for fighting and I want no part of that.

My current rooster is one out of my hatched chicks that made “the cut” and I kept him. I have another little 15 week old cockerel that I plan on keeping as a backup to my main man, Rusty...the Roo! But that leaves me with seven little cockle-doodle-doers that I must take care of. I have no one asking for any birds this year so I will be slaughtering a few along for a few weeks (staggered hatches).

The way I view slaughtering is it is part (my duty) of being a responsible chicken keeper.

 

[SLOChick]

We all know the importance of having a "rooster plan" when raising chicks. My first option is to sell mine. If I cannot sell I give them away and if I'm really stuck I have the option for them to go live on my friends farm.

I do eat chicken but personally I would find it difficult to butcher a chick I've raised. Fortunately I've never had to do it. I'm really interested to know what you all do with your boys...

I have had to give away and also dispatch roosters. Unfortunately, neither my neighbors or me need a 4:30 am outdoor alarm clock.
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[City Farmer Jim]

We at Snowflake Farm get our chicks sexed as we only have room for ten GIRLS. We do not want to have a rooster as we are just looking for egg consumption. We had a plan to eat our hens as they become non productive BUT they have turned into a semi pet flock so they will live out their natural life here and we will bury them on the property in a nice shady place when the time comes.

 

[Wetmorechick]

Yep! Eat em up!

 

[Persony Person]

I usually keep as many as possible until the social order between my chickens starts to break down and/or when the hens are having a horrible time because of them and then cull the primary troublemakers. Last had to do it in 2018 when we had 4 roosters between 14 hens when the Alpha and his enforcer rooster was very aggressive towards everybody else. Some of the hens had bareskin and he had a bloodlust, determined to try and kill the previous Alpha. Hate having to do it, but it is necessary for the flock's overall health. Not many people have chickens around here, so we unfortunately can't sell them.

Currently we have 5 roosters between 12 hens. One of the youngest 2 roosters is currently the Alpha and managed to be so before his 1st birthday, which is very impressive. He is very good at being it, keeping the peace, distributing the food/treats and is rather gentle with the hens, but asserts his superiority over the other roosters if they do something they shouldn't. He also protects his brother who is inferior in the pecking order as they were the only 2 chicks together raised last year, but is also not afraid to also put him in line if he tries to cross it. His head, comb and face is also adorable, which is a nice bonus. The social order is stable and everybody is having a great time.

 

[Flockincrazy]

I try to give them away first. But I’ve culled a few also.

If you ever need to get rid of any more let me know i have a batchler coop for rescueing it will hold 50roos i currently have 9roo residents so plenty of room i will come to you only in Ohio

 

[Flockincrazy]

I keep mine i currently have 17roos i have 8 in my main coop no im not crazy yes they have pissing matches every blue moon but mostly everyone agrees King Rooroo is King and that is the end of it and in my batchler pad there's 9roos that are all rescues and because there are no babes to fight over they all hangout eat,crap, and fart and are very happy