Oh no...I have a rooster and didn't want one...

[Big_Charlie]

So I just realized today that one of my 16 week old Auracanas is a rooster, not the hen I had ordered from the hatchery. The other 28 assorted chickens are all hens, exactly as ordered, but this handsome devil popped in there somehow. (Oops...)

I DO NOT WANT FERTILIZED EGGS!

What do I do? I don't have a separate pen/coop to separate him from the hens. I'm not really all that keen on turning him into fried chicken yet either - he is becoming rather handsome after all. So is there a way to keep him around without him doing his dirty deed with the ladies?

Thanks,

Big Charlie

 

[silkiechicken]

Only way to get non fertilized eggs is to have him physically seperated. However, the difference between a fertilized egg and a non fertilized egg is literally HALF a cell. Unless you incubate them for at least a few days, you won't see anything. Refrigerate them below 40F that day and use them a week or so later, and they won't have any ability to hatch

 

[pixiechic]

silkiechicken is right. Once those eggs are in the fridge, they are no longer fertilized.

There's no way I know of to keep him from trying to mate with the girls, without keeping them physically separated.

 

[ozarkjeep]

Hey this is good to know!

so we can EAT any of the eggs, as long as we put them in the fridge really soon after finding them?!

ok, that makes my life easier.

thanks for the info!

 

[Big_Charlie]

I think he's going to become fried chicken as soon as they move to the non-medicated layer feed in a few weeks. I just heard a loud rooster crow come from my coop, and my wife absolutely won't stand for that...

Big Charlie

 

[krackerhill]

My roo has been threatened to be Sunday supper for quite some time. I didnot want a rooster not to mention the meanest and most crowing one I've ever heard of. However, that being said he has done a great job of protecting the girls....he aint scared of anything. Even killed a rat in the run recently. I collect eggs and put em it fridge 2x a day
so fertilized eggs are not an issue. I still threaten him daily and give him the ole stink eye but deep down he's growing on me. Oh and thankgod my neighbor is pretty deaf. Good luck!

 

[Big_Charlie]

So my roo earned his keep today. A big stray 100lb or so dog showed up and started sniffing around the run this afternoon. I quick grabbed my gun and headed out to chase him off but before I could get there I saw my girls all running for cover in the coop while Mr. Roo stayed outside, stood as tall as he could, puffed out his chest, and stared down that big dog, giving him the stinkeye the whole time. Way to go Roo! He's loud, obnoxious, and cranky, but he seems to be doing his job.

Big C

 

[Schultz]

Hey Big C:
I am glad your little guy isn't supper yet. The roo's are great protectors, we have been told that roo's have been known to fight to the death to save their flocks. We have 2 roo's and Mr. Fancy Pants started crowing just this evening for the first time. I think it's great but I know some people have no tolerance to it. Maybe you could explain to your wife the importance of the roo and she will be more understanding OOORRR you could have her read this story on BYC that I and many other BYC members cant get enough of??? I just can't stand the thought of him being supper when I love my roo's so much! If all else fails maybe someone here needs a roo?
Best regards!
Kat Schultz
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=89516

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That's just one of the things roos are good for. As for the crowing, I really don't notice it anymore. What I do notice is the alarm sounds my roos make when something is troubling the flock. When I hear my roos raising a ruckus that's when I go check on the flock.
All our eggs are fertilized. We eat them and my egg customers know they are fertlized as well. They don't have a problem with it either.

 

[lovemychix]

I miss my roo and crow. We ate fertilized eggs with no problem either!! I'm actually hoping one of my polish are a roo and a nice one this time.

Roosters are beautiful birds and I love how they behave with the ladies but I had little kids to think about! I guess I just have to admire the rooster decor in my kitchen.