Rent a rooster.

[agnespenn]

Hello everyone. I live in NE PA in an out of the way place, perfect for chickens and roosters. We just didn't know we'd get 7 chickens and 12 roosters. They're 8 mons old now and of different heritage varieties. We had planned on eating them, but can't. They all have names and personalities. So, we thought of renting out the roosters, but have no idea what to charge or where to start. Any ideas? I've got roosters that already weigh 11 lbs. and would be great for making more big chickens!
I've been able to id 2 Andalucians, 2 Ameraucanas and 1 Golden Polish. The rest are a mystery to me. Here are two I don't know:

 

[kelseygirl707]

Just want to point out one thing, you may want to have a quarentine plan in place each time you get a rooster back, as you don't know what illnesses other people flock may contain, and you don't want to risk your flock..... Just a thought...

 

[theoldchick]

The risk of disease is too great. And your birds should be of superior quality to 'stud' out. Since you originally planned to eat them, have you tried to sell them? If you're attached to them, create a bachelor coop and keep them. Or follow the rules of chicken math and buy more hens!

 

[agnespenn]

I thought about this. I have natural antibiotics - yarrow tea - that works well and I planned on separating the returned rooster for a time.
I just don't want to get rid of them. They behave as a group and have scared away many predators! I want to take out of them, also the time I've put into them A $5 price for each not only is not their value (can't sell for more around here), but I want them to have a purpose to be here.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Just my personal experience, but antibiotics, and especially teas, have absolutely nothing to do with and have no effect on many of the different diseases the roosters could potentially bring back home.

And as one poster mentioned why would anyone want to rent a rooster that wasn't a top quality purebred breeding specimen anyway?

The other problem you run across is that even though they all get along now taking one out of the flock and reintroducing it a month later will completely change the flock dynamics and pecking order. Chickens have a short memory and would treat the returning roo as a "newcomer".

I think the risk is too great. In your situation, I would do what I have done here on my property. I just built a separate coop and "bachelor run" for the boys that I am not keeping in with the flock. They behave very well together since there are no females in the pen, and I alternate days of them free-ranging with the other flocks.

Hope this helps a little bit!

 

[cmfarm]

There are many devestating diseases out there that antiobiotics will not cure, and they will be carriers for life. Please read up on MS, MG and related illnesses.

 

[satay]

Like others said i would not do it either,. Chance of one of your rooster coming back with a disease would be too high and you may loose all your flock.

 

[The Breaker]

Renting them out just isn't realistic but they do have a reason they can scare away predators and make you're hens feel safe if I were you I would get at least 5 more hens that way the don't ware your hens out one rooster can service up to seven hens.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

Personally I would seperate them into individual pens and put a few hens of the same breed with them. You'd probably make more selling hatching eggs then trying to stud them out. They are pretty guys.

 

[agnespenn]

Thanks everyone. So much for renting roosters. Back to the drawing board.