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

[Joeschooks]

It does get a bit easier as it goes on. I have learned when I know I have a cockerel to start distancing myself from it. I tell myself "this bird will be meat", and that helps some. Once the head is off, it's just meat. Much easier on me at that point. The hardest thing for me is to make a live chicken a dead chicken. (Or, rather, watch my husband do it.)

Although I’ve never done it I agree the dispatching is the bit I’d struggle with. Once it’s dead, although not pleasant, I could pluck and gut without too much issue as I’m not especially squeamish. My friend with the farm is getting too many roos now so I need to have a backup plan for my next hatch, albeit not for a while yet.

 

[Beer can]

Lots of comments coming in. It does seem daft to be giving birds away then popping down the supermarket to buy one that was probably raised in crowded inhumane conditions. Maybe one day I might be able to get my head around butchering one of my own. Did anyone else struggle the first time or am I the only soppy git? Is it easier after the first time?

I've been a avid hunter since I was a kid, and have processed all sorts of birds and beasts and have never had a problem with it. When it comes to the chickens though I always have a bit of a problem getting the job done. Even though I've been putting them on the grill or in the freezer for a long time now it hasn't got any easier.
But between the $$ disappearing on feed and knowing we'll be buying chicken in the store if I don't while the $$ feed is disappearing I just put myself in the right mindset and get-r-done.
I actually raise chickens, hatch, more for the meat, they are always crapping out eggs so have plenty of them.

 

[BantyChooks]

Although I’ve never done it I agree the dispatching is the bit I’d struggle with. Once it’s dead, although not pleasant, I could pluck and gut without too much issue as I’m not especially squeamish. My friend with the farm is getting too many roos now so I need to have a backup plan for my next hatch, albeit not for a while yet.

Once they're dead, it's just dinner.

Kudos to you for starting this thread and having a backup plan

 

[BoyTheRooster]

Sell or give them away . Last lot of roosters were given to some neighbours, they butchered 3 and kept 1 for their own flock because he had a nice temperament

 

[bobbi-j]

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.

I hate butchering pullets, too. Because, eggs! I love picking eggs. It's like a treasure hunt every day!
@Joeschooks - The thing I haven't seen mentioned yet (unless I missed it) is the difference between store bought chicken and home raised chicken. Even when you butcher them at a younger age, they have so much more texture and flavor than those mushy, tasteless chickens you buy at the store. You don't know it, because you don't know the difference yet. But once you start eating your home raised birds, you won't go back to the store stuff.

 

[BantyChooks]

I hate butchering pullets, too. Because, eggs! I love picking eggs. It's like a treasure hunt every day!
@Joeschooks - The thing I haven't seen mentioned yet (unless I missed it) is the difference between store bought chicken and home raised chicken. Even when you butcher them at a younger age, they have so much more texture and flavor than those mushy, tasteless chickens you buy at the store. You don't know it, because you don't know the difference yet. But once you start eating your home raised birds, you won't go back to the store stuff.

I don't think I could possibly bring myself to butcher a pullet. Seems like such a waste of those future eggs. Plus I'm an old softie and unless the bird is causing trouble I can think of fifty million reasons to put off butchering day.
Hence why I need more coops.

 

[bobbi-j]

I don't think I could possibly bring myself to butcher a pullet. Seems like such a waste of those future eggs. Plus I'm an old softie and unless the bird is causing trouble I can think of fifty million reasons to put off butchering day.
Hence why I need more coops.

OK, I'll admit. I haven't actually done it either, but that's because... eggs! I still don't like butchering my spent hens, just in case she has one left in her!

 

[BantyChooks]

OK, I'll admit. I haven't actually done it either, but that's because... eggs! I still don't like butchering my spent hens, just in case she has one left in her!

I dread the day when I will have to butcher spent layers. They seem like old friends. Mean cockerels... not so much. And they're still hard.

See Joeschooks, we're really just a bunch of soppy ol' gits ourselves.

 

[bobbi-j]

I dread the day when I will have to butcher spent layers. They seem like old friends. Mean cockerels... not so much. And they're still hard.

See Joeschooks, we're really just a bunch of soppy ol' gits ourselves.

It is harder on me to butcher the spent layers, but I only have so much room, and my Voice of Reason (DH) reminds me that we're feeding them, whether they lay eggs or not. There has to be a line somewhere.

Yup - that's us. Soppy ol' gits!

 

[Joeschooks]

I hate butchering pullets, too. Because, eggs! I love picking eggs. It's like a treasure hunt every day!
@Joeschooks - The thing I haven't seen mentioned yet (unless I missed it) is the difference between store bought chicken and home raised chicken. Even when you butcher them at a younger age, they have so much more texture and flavor than those mushy, tasteless chickens you buy at the store. You don't know it, because you don't know the difference yet. But once you start eating your home raised birds, you won't go back to the store stuff.

Yes I imagine it’s nicer, just like store bought eggs don’t compare to our own. Though I reckon that compared to supermarket chickens that have been specifically bred for that purpose, some of the pure breeds I hatch might be quite a small boney meal lol!