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

[JacinLarkwell]

I wish we had farm swaps within a reasonable distance. Closest I can find is in Wyoming

 

[Ursuline Chick]

In the past, when I have hatched, I have gone to great pains to make sure the cockerels had good homes before they started to crow.
Now, I think I have used up all my good will and will have to send them to freezer camp, when they come of freezer camp age.

 

[cmom]

I started our farm swap 11 years ago. Prior we had them here on our farm but DH was concerned about if someone should get hurt. We looked for event insurance but had no luck. I had a friend who worked at the local TSC and asked her if she could put me in touch with her manager. His original response was we would give it a try and see how it would go. It was a huge success. Originally we had the swaps once a month but this past year started having them twice a month.

 

[cmom]

In the past, when I have hatched, I have gone to great pains to make sure the cockerels had good homes before they started to crow.
Now, I think I have used up all my good will and will have to send them to freezer camp, when they come of freezer camp age.

We have sent some of our males to freezer camp. Now I sell them. We processed way to many. Some found their way to the bottom of the freezer. At least selling them helps with the feed bill. By selling some, I don't have to feed them anymore and recoup some of the money spent feeding them for several months. I grow out all of my birds and then choose who to keep as future breeders.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Being in a city, I wonder if I could donate dressed cockerels to a homeless shelter. At the beginning of hunting season the shelters ask for any unused meat from last season.

 

[BDutch]

Being in a city, I wonder if I could donate dressed cockerels to a homeless shelter. At the beginning of hunting season the shelters ask for any unused meat from last season.

I dont have an answer. But you make me wonder. What is a dressed cockerel? A cockerel with a jacket? T-shirt? Boots? A hat?

 

[aart]

Being in a city, I wonder if I could donate dressed cockerels to a homeless shelter. At the beginning of hunting season the shelters ask for any unused meat from last season.

Stuff in the freezer?
I would be curious to know if animals needed to be processed in USDA facility?

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

I personally do not hatch unless I can deal with the roosters (preferably Keep them, we hatch the best boys ) but if I had to offload some I’d sell them at a show.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Being in a city, I wonder if I could donate dressed cockerels to a homeless shelter. At the beginning of hunting season the shelters ask for any unused meat from last season.

That is a great idea, for people who have too many!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I dont have an answer. But you make me wonder. What is a dressed cockerel? A cockerel with a jacket? T-shirt? Boots? A hat?

Black tie and a dinner jacket.