overrun with roosters!!

[gimmie birdies]

Mom was a pink/purple egg layer, dad had green egg gene, she lays gray.

Mom's egg

 

[gimmie birdies]

Here was dad.

 

[Farmgal101]

Here was dad.View attachment 1289771

he looks like a big fluff of feathers

 

[gimmie birdies]

I just got a SFH rooster, 3 days ago. I just saw him mounting my leghorn hen, and then a NN hen went up to him and was selling her case as to why she should be next.

 

[bobbi-j]

My thinking is this: After spending time, effort and money to raise them up, I'd rather process them myself than give them away or sell them for next to nothing. Frankly, they have already cost you more than $2 each to raise. Do you eat chicken? Do you buy it from the store? If so, you're still not making money on your roosters. You put all that into raising them, sell them for next to nothing than buy chicken. Money behind.

I realize that processing isn't for everyone, and that's totally your choice. I would strongly suggest that you not let your birds hatch out again until you have a solid exit plan in place for your extra males. Your chickens must free range totally if you didn't notice a hen or hens disappearing for 3 weeks, and a drop in your egg production. You might want to figure out how to keep better track of them, because there is a strong chance they will go broody again this year. Maybe watch them if you let them out of the coop at night (are they cooped at night?) to see if some make a beeline for a certain place. Or, better yet - count them when you lock them up at night to make sure everyone is in.

 

[Farmgal101]

I realize that processing isn't for everyone, and that's totally your choice. I would strongly suggest that you not let your birds hatch out again until you have a solid exit plan in place for your extra males. Your chickens must free range totally if you didn't notice a hen or hens disappearing for 3 weeks, and a drop in your egg production. You might want to figure out how to keep better track of them, because there is a strong chance they will go broody again this year. Maybe watch them if you let them out of the coop at night (are they cooped at night?) to see if some make a beeline for a certain place. Or, better yet - count them when you lock them up at night to make sure everyone is in.[/QUOTE]

I think im going to keep a flock of roosters like someone suggested and introduce the hens to a new flock that i have...i will then have a total of three flocks.I have to say i only eat meat if its organic and i haven't raised these chicks organic...gives me something to think about doing if i change there feed though.i did not plan on hatching this year due to the overrun of roosters was not expecting so many to be roosters so i will be keeping a eye on my hens...I have been collecting the eggs every morning.thx for the advice.

 

[keesmom]

I think im going to keep a flock of roosters like someone suggested and introduce the hens to a new flock that i have...i will then have a total of three flocks.I have to say i only eat meat if its organic and i haven't raised these chicks organic...gives me something to think about doing if i change there feed though.i did not plan on hatching this year due to the overrun of roosters was not expecting so many to be roosters so i will be keeping a eye on my hens...I have been collecting the eggs every morning.thx for the advice.

I would prefer to eat home raised birds over commercially raised organic ones, but to each his/her own. If you don't mind feeding the extra 15 crowers then go for it.

 

[Farmgal101]

I would prefer to eat home raised birds over commercially raised organic ones, but to each his/her own. If you don't mind feeding the extra 15 crowers then go for it.

tbh i dont know,the only reason i eat organic meat is because it is suppose to be better for you,and i have seen some pretty bad documentary on how chickens are raised in factories...I would probably cull some off,it would just be hard for me to choose bc they have all there pretty feathers and there all sweet.I might consider doing it myself if i started them up on organic feed.

 

[bobbi-j]

tbh i dont know,the only reason i eat organic meat is because it is suppose to be better for you,and i have seen some pretty bad documentary on how chickens are raised in factories...I would probably cull some off,it would just be hard for me to choose bc they have all there pretty feathers and there all sweet.I might consider doing it myself if i started them up on organic feed.

I had a hard time processing the pretty ones at first, too. Then I realized that if I wanted to continue keeping laying chickens, I had to do something. So now we process our excess roosters. Like Keesmom, I'd also rather eat chickens I have raised, organic or not. I know what they've been fed, I know how they were cared for. I know they weren't commercially raised (I wonder if the "organic" chickens are also raised that way) and they taste oh, so much better than anything you could buy in a store.

I haven't done much research on "organic", but I have read that it really doesn't mean what most people think it does. I should really look into that further... I don't know that it will change my mind, but right now I'm of the opinion that it's a marketing ploy, just like so many other food labels. Not trying to start a debate here, so please let's not hijack the thread with the organinc/not organic thing. Just stating my opinion.

OP, you are the only one who can decide if you want to feed 15 non productive birds, and if you have the space and financial resources to do so.

 

[Farmgal101]

I had a hard time processing the pretty ones at first, too. Then I realized that if I wanted to continue keeping laying chickens, I had to do something. So now we process our excess roosters. Like Keesmom, I'd also rather eat chickens I have raised, organic or not. I know what they've been fed, I know how they were cared for. I know they weren't commercially raised (I wonder if the "organic" chickens are also raised that way) and they taste oh, so much better than anything you could buy in a store.

I haven't done much research on "organic", but I have read that it really doesn't mean what most people think it does. I should really look into that further... I don't know that it will change my mind, but right now I'm of the opinion that it's a marketing ploy, just like so many other food labels. Not trying to start a debate here, so please let's not hijack the thread with the organinc/not organic thing. Just stating my opinion.

OP, you are the only one who can decide if you want to feed 15 non productive birds, and if you have the space and financial resources to do so.

Thanks for your input...I have actually went through the process of culling a rooster on somebody else farm that raised there chickens right ...it was my first time and i didnt eat the meat bc i felt bad.I might do it myself with just one and see how it goes and see if i notice a taste difference between organic or home raised.