Roo's Used As Packing Material???

[frizzlemom]

I ordered a dozen frizzle chicks from Ideal last week, I didn't really want 25, so they put some male chicks in the order to make a full box so they'd stay warm. I never knew they did this, and what do people do with the roo's used as styrofoam peanuts?? I will keep them and raise them along with my frizzles, but I'm sure not everyone can/will do this. I feel sorry for the poor, unwanted, discarded little guys. Some of them look like Ameracaunas and some are big white chicks.

My husband said, "great, now you'll want to start a chicken rescue for the "Packing Material Roo's". Hmmm, that might just be an idea!

Becky

 

[MissPrissy]

At 10 - 12 weeks you can harvest them for your table. They make excellent fryers.

 

[michellelei1]

I don't think they should do that because some people are'nt allowed to keep roosters in there city or town but also i think they have to because not a lot of people order roos and then what are the going to do with them

 

[columbiacritter]

Put a free rooster ad on Craigslist and they'll be gone in a day or two especially if you keep them to the point of being mostly feathered out.

 

[Chicken Woman]

I didn't now that anyone was shipping chicks this time of year? Everyone I contacted said they are done until spring.

 

[farmgirlie1031]

I hope they put a ton in my box. I ordered chicks for the 1st time and they were shipped yesterday but not here yet I'm hoping they put extras in there to keep the 30 I ordered warm. I am so scared for my chicks and I know I never should have ordered them in the winter.

 

[chickencoop31320]

I just ordered from Ideal too, I purposely ordered 26 chicks to avoid getting "packing roos". On their ordering policies page it states that if you order less than a certain amount, they will add extra male chicks for warmth. It also states that if you do not want them added you can purchase insurance for your order instead.

http://www.ideal-poultry.com/policy.asp

Missprissy is right too... Fried chicken sure is yummy...
I'm sure there are worse things done with "unwanted/unordered" male chicks.
Good luck

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
The problem with that is that the hatchery doesn't know your areas laws and ordinances. Using the roosters as "packing peanuts" is good because it puts them to good use, instead of being thrown out to die and starve like some hatcheries do that only sell female chickens for factory egg production. So be thankful that these guys get a chance at life.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

I don't understand why they don't just accomodate the number, and hand out smaller boxes you know? The hatchery we got our chicks from here in Canada uses order # appropriate boxes, the minimum order is like 10, and we ordered 15, and they came in a teeny weeny box, and were all very happy and snuggly warm.

 

[Akane]

Because if they don't put so many in a box the chicks will freeze. A smaller box wouldn't really help. Less chicks=colder temps in the box=cold chicks. The point of the roos is to help keep the others warm. The colder the weather you ship in the more important it is and the more roos you're likely to get. You could argue for heat packs though. When I ordered live fish and aquatics online they just put in hand warmers. The other thing is if they don't send you the roos they kill them off themselves. If they send them out a few people might keep them and many more will live for at least awhile before they are turned into dinner. Whatever you do with them they have a better fate than if the hatchery had to deal with them.