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

[0wen]

Do I understand you plan to eat these culled birds? I know nothing about your proposed method. Is it safe to eat after such exposure? I'd like to know more, and some safey info.

100% safe. The oxygen deprivation is relatively rapid and a small amount of gas. I can't imagine anything making it into the actual meat of the bird. However, even if it were to do so - the gases are harmless. This isn't 'gassing' with say, carbon monoxide (which becomes toxic in high concentrations (5% +) that poisons the animal, but essentially displacing oxygen with an inert gas (nitrogen, helium) to lose consciousness and asphyxiate.

In a perfect world, this causes little to no unnecessary distress to the bird, or at the very least, completes a relatively unpleasant task as humanely as possible. Either way, as long as you aren't poisoning your birds, they won't poison you on the table. I hope that offers some clarity (but if it rambles on - it's almost 1 am) then feel free to follow-up.

 

[Cryss]

Thank you

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

My plan for dealing with excess cockerels and roosters is as follows: any cockerel or rooster that shows aggression to people will be butchered, excess cockerels that weren't rehomed or sold will be butchered along with culled cockerels that weren’t rehomed or sold from my breeding pens. I’m a sucker for cockerels and roosters so I know I’ll end up with a couple that will be kept purely for their looks or temperament. I haven’t butchered any birds yet but I would like to raise 4 cockerels to 18 weeks of age and then butcher them this summer.

 

[Joeschooks]

My plan for dealing with excess cockerels and roosters is as follows: any cockerel or rooster that shows aggression to people will be butchered, excess cockerels that weren't rehomed or sold will be butchered along with culled cockerels that weren’t rehomed or sold from my breeding pens. I’m a sucker for cockerels and roosters so I know I’ll end up with a couple that will be kept purely for their looks or temperament. I haven’t butchered any birds yet but I would like to raise 4 cockerels to 18 weeks of age and then butcher them this summer.

Sounds like a good plan. Can’t say fairer than that. They are to a certain extent in control of their own fate if they are aggressive.

 

[Daniel-ir-74]

I can't kill my chicken either....I will sell them to a friend or to a local shop

 

[CCUK]

Extra cockerels are butchered here. They make outstanding soups and stews! Unfortunately extra pullets are as well. I don't mind doing the cockerels so much, as they are usually hitting the PITA stage. It's tough to do pullets but there is little interest in non-hatchery Faverolles around here. Especially the bantams no matter how rare.

That's a shame. I really like the faverolle and the cockerals are stunning. I would love to have a couple for my flock.

 

[CCUK]

I

I couldn’t ever butcher one of my layers either...They are my pets and I wouldn’t eat my cat lol. I can see my garden turning into one giant coop!

It won't be long! The little buggers take over they do! I still have some garden that is Mine but they do occasionally do sneak attacks on my strawberry patch and plant pots!

 

[theoldchick]

Take pictures of them.

 

[CCUK]

Take pictures of them.

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Then eat them! Lovely birds though!

 

[Joeschooks]

Take pictures of them.

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Impressive birds! Thank you for sharing with us. Looks like the one in the second pic has a little frostbite?