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

[Chickenhappy8708]

Beautiful, so glad you were able to rescue them... That Silver Sebright is extraordinary.

 

[Flockincrazy]

If that was a test, I'd hate to see what he's like when he's serious?! I tried to stand my ground, but he kept coming at me & I have scratches on my leg! Thankfully he doesn't have spurs yet! I had to throw a bowl of grit at him & knock him into the water trough! Later that day, he tried again & I sprayed him in the face with a water hose & he backed off. He was starting to be a bully with the girls too & several had scabs on their combs where he'd bitten them. I wanted to keep him with his flock since they were all raised as chicks together, but it was too stressful dealing with his unpredictable aggressive behavior. He's in a separate pen now and can see & talk to the girls. Truthfully they seem happier & more relaxed without him.

Oh wow ya thats really sassy and to bad I guess I don't understand that much aggressive behavior I haven't ever had a roo that was that aggressive sorry about your roo but glad your girls are happier

 

[Flockincrazy]

Beautiful, so glad you were able to rescue them... That Silver Sebright is extraordinary.

Thanks he is super sweet to his brown brother on the other hand is a sassy pants and does not like to be handled

 

[AquaDuck]

I sell pullets and no one, absolutely no one wants cockerels. I like roosters, they're fun, pretty and have big personalities, so I try to keep as many of the cockerels as I can. Those with good temperament, pretty colors and general breeding potential. I keep them in a rooster-pen and 1 or 2 with the ladies.

The rest I cull fairly young, both to save feed and for space. And so I won't get attached and my rooster-collection gets too big...

 

[Sonya9]

I added chicks this year and now have four extra roosters. One is a standard roo and the other 3 are tiny OEG bantam boys hatched and raised by my bantam hen, they are by far the tamest chicks I have ever had.

Building a rooster pen for them now and will keep all of them as pets. The main flock has had the same two bantam roosters for 5 years and that won't change, though keeping the standard rooster is a nice backup in case our society collapses and I need to breed/raise some laying hens.

 

[AlleysChicks]

My 9 boys are all rescues came from different places and as I have introduced them big bird the biggest silkie walks over stands tall and nothing i have not seen on fight idk if its the way i introduced them or what and i have 8roos in my main coop and they have gotten into a couple pissing matches but there's girls involved i have more trouble out of my drakes arguing than my roos

I meant my roosters. I don't keep many. Everyone has a job or purpose or they can't stay.

 

[Folly's place]

Counting this week: Two roosters, one of whom is thinking bad thoughts and soon to be gone. twelve cockerels, and five will be staying. I like to have two for each breeding group, and with youngsters, it's too soon to really know if the five will all work out, but drama must be reduced out there, so they are going to auction, probably.
Anyone looking for a nice white Chantecler boy? Or a bantam EE?
Mary

 

[Ruthster55]

I have hatched 7 boys this year and still have 4. I was lucky to find two good homes for the other 3. Right now two boys are just learning to crow and dad seems to be putting up with them rather well so far. I'm sort of hoping to keep a second one around, in case the old man doesn't last. Faverolles roos aren't very easy to find around here. I'll make another post on BYC soon to try one last time to find them homes, then it may be time for me to put my big girl pants on....I won't give them for free on CL, even selling them has been sketchy on occasion. I'm terrified of my sweet boys being used for cockfighting, which is apparently still alive and well.

Faverolles, Barred Rock, Wyandotte, Orpington, RIR, Leghorn, Cornish, barnyard mix, etc. roosters are no good for cockfighting. Those guys that still do that old activity now illegalized in the US just laugh at normal barnyard breeds that aren’t bred specifically for that purpose.

Maybe the people who want to slaughter your roosters for chicken dinners seem to be a little sketchy. Most suburbs don’t accept the concept of a neighbor processing their own chicken. That’s more of a rural and farm thing.

I wouldn’t worry about roosters, except of very specific breeds that I don’t think you raise, going for that purpose.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

Breeds like the Sumartra, and many game breeds.

 

[Sonya9]

I have hatched 7 boys this year and still have 4. I was lucky to find two good homes for the other 3. Right now two boys are just learning to crow and dad seems to be putting up with them rather well so far. I'm sort of hoping to keep a second one around, in case the old man doesn't last. Faverolles roos aren't very easy to find around here. I'll make another post on BYC soon to try one last time to find them homes, then it may be time for me to put my big girl pants on....I won't give them for free on CL, even selling them has been sketchy on occasion. I'm terrified of my sweet boys being used for cockfighting, which is apparently still alive and well.

As others have said, I don't think cockfighting is a realistic worry. Though some will buy them to eat (and often lie about why they want them). Your other option is to set up a "boys only" rooster pen for them. Obviously if they stay with the hens fighting/trouble will ensue.