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

[bobbi-j]

If you want layers for many eggs it is wise to buy breeds that are known for good laying like Leghorns, Barnevelders, or laying hybrids for the industry if you don’t care about the looks or a long life.

You can check what breeds lay many eggs and are known to be unfit as a broody before you buy them.

This is true. Or, if you have chickens and decide for whatever reason they’re not working out in your flock, it’s OK to eat them. My goals for my flock are always changing. If I try a breed and decide that it’s not what I want, into the freezer they go.

FWIW, I’ve had several hatchery BOs, hoping for them to go broody. One bird, one time. I don’t think the hatchery birds get the memo as to how they’re “supposed to” behave.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I keep the ones I need for breeding, sell the ones I can, give them away only when asked and eat the rest.

If I give them out for free without being asked first I worry someone will pick them up to "rescue" them. They're my responsibility. I do not want them "rescued". So I always charge a nominal fee ($5-10) if I don't 100% know someone actually wants them 'cause they want a rooster and if they sell they sell and if they don't they don't and I eat the rest.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

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!

 

[TomDooley]

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?

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.

 

[chickinlittles]

I had an accidental Roo in my last batch of chicks. He’s a WFBS And he is quite magnificent. He’s been my buddy since he was a day old and remains so now at 5.5 mos. we’re not really suppose to have roosters but I’m in the mountains of San Diego with 2.5 acres , roosters all around our community . We do have a no crow collar on him as he loves to crow. He’s doing well with it. I check it every couple days to make sure it doesn’t get too tight as he is still growing. Our neighbors all say they don’t mind the noise and sure love the eggs we give them. Anyway I love love love this guy and his girls love him too. I just couldn’t imagine having to give him up. Im a painter and find doing his portrait lots of fun. I would never eat him or any of my critters, just not my thing. I have a WFBS hen and want to try to hatch out some of this breed and give them away because their numbers have dwindled and they are on the endangered list. If we get Roos I’ll give those away! If anyone in SD area interested in any let me know and if we are lucky maybe we’ll be able to spread this really cool breed around.

 

[bobbi-j]

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.

I name all my roosters “Stew”

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Certain ones get sold with a hen or two of the same breed, singles I give away and some I set aside as well as those I can't give away get veaten. But I also keep any I like, so I have 8 now that will grow old here

 

[frostic]

i would answer your question but you would ban me for a rotten mind


but eh I'm not allowed to have a rooster in the city.

 

[Shadrach]

I try to keep as many roosters as I can afford to house and feed. I like to let the hens sit and hatch whenever possible and of course some of the chicks are going to be male.
I have never bought, or sold a living creature and have no intention of ever doing so.
I have given away pairs and trios. I won't give away a single hen or rooster.
I have a view regarding the killing of animals to eat; if you can't kill them then don't eat meat.
I kill the occasional rooster and hen here. I use neck dislocation now, but I've used an axe and a cone in the past. I haven't got used to it and each one hurts. Sometimes it has to be done. It's part of responsible chicken keeping. I can't stress enough the importance of learning how to take a chickens life as quickly and painlessly as possible. It's not quite so important for the provision of food. When it is vital is to end the suffering of a sick or injured chicken as quickly as possible. I read so many post here about people trying to keep chickens alive when all they are doing is increasing the poor creatures pain and suffering.
I try to minimize the number I will have to kill each year by flock management. I limit the number of eggs each hen sits on and limit how often they can sit and hatch. So far this has worked reasonably well. Predators take some chicks from each hatch usually which I don't object to and over a year I'm left with maybe half a dozen I must find homes for, or eat.
I try to ensure that each hen that wants to sit and hatch has that opportunity at least once. Sometimes they have to wait a while.

 

[Trish1974]

I have four main cockbirds I breed with, and keep their best son each year as back up. Come spring or summer I sell who I don't need. I raise a rare breed and have never had a problem selling cocks or cockerels. On several occasions I have had people come from an hour to an hour and half away just for my culls. Some have gone to 4-H homes but the majority go for easter and olive egger projects, some just for eye candy.

I personally cannot eat a bird I have raised, but I don't mind if someone else does. I can euthanize when necessary but could not consume a chick from an egg I fretted over for 21 days, then fretted over for months, and watch grow up. If worse came to worse my back up plan is to give any extra, unsellable cock/cockerels to my neighbor who is a butcher and has a family of 6 to feed.