Rooster or Hen? Thoughts on de-sexing?

[Holdthechicken]

I’m a vegetarian and I used to eat fertilized eggs when I had roosters. If you don’t want to kill your cockerel and can’t find him a home, I would separate him with a few hens and just avoid eating eggs from that flock.

This was going to be my suggestion. Separate him and a few hens and allow them to be chickens and keep those eggs separate from your eating eggs. Either sell them or feed back to the birds.

 

[Sussex19]

This is my take on eating fertile eggs.
The egg itself is the reproductive product of the female bird. The sperm is the reproductive product of the male bird.
There is no difference between them ethically speaking. And they won't grow, unless you provide heat.
So if you are ok eating the females product, then the males aren't any different??
But maybe I'm missing something??

 

[ChirpyBrooke]

This is my take on eating fertile eggs.
The egg itself is the reproductive product of the female bird. The sperm is the reproductive product of the male bird.
There is no difference between them ethically speaking. And they won't grow, unless you provide heat.
So if you are ok eating the females product, then the males aren't any different??
But maybe I'm missing something??

Hi Sussex

I was just looking for help with my Roo. Each to their own on what they chose to eat. I have made my decision and now just want to take care of my little guy. I will continue to look for a home for him.

Thank you

 

[loyalcrowlist]

I would definitely suggest rehoming him. I think to do anything else would be cruel.

 

[Holdthechicken]

This is my take on eating fertile eggs.
The egg itself is the reproductive product of the female bird. The sperm is the reproductive product of the male bird.
There is no difference between them ethically speaking. And they won't grow, unless you provide heat.
So if you are ok eating the females product, then the males aren't any different??
But maybe I'm missing something??

I’ve practiced being a vegetarian a few times, so maybe I’m not fully dedicated enough.. but I think it’s not about the male vs female product. It’s about the fact that they are now together and could in fact result in a baby chick. If you had an unfertilized egg no matter how much time/heat/etc. it will never be a baby so you’re not taking away an opportunity for potential life.

If we could consume the roosters product without the egg maybe the argument would stand that eating them separately isn’t an issue cause it wouldn’t be a baby chick without an egg ..but I feel like that conversation could turn weird quickly lol.

However, I do in fact eat fertilized eggs and always have cause I figured if I was pulling eggs daily regardless. I am not currently vegetarian so those with stronger beliefs may feel otherwise.

Also, hope I’m not starting any arguments or anything. This topic is just something I’ve personally spent a lot of time and energy thinking about
for my personal self so I’m just sharing that perspective.

 

[Sussex19]

Hi Sussex

I was just looking for help with my Roo. Each to their own on what they chose to eat. I have made my decision and now just want to take care of my little guy. I will continue to look for a home for him.

Thank you

I'm sorry if I overstepped the mark.
I hope you find the best home for the little guy, and have fun with your chickens!

 

[Sussex19]

I’ve practiced being a vegetarian a few times, so maybe I’m not fully dedicated enough.. but I think it’s not about the male vs female product. It’s about the fact that they are now together and could in fact result in a baby chick. If you had an unfertilized egg no matter how much time/heat/etc. it will never be a baby so you’re not taking away an opportunity for potential life.

If we could consume the roosters product without the egg maybe the argument would stand that eating them separately isn’t an issue cause it wouldn’t be a baby chick without an egg ..but I feel like that conversation could turn weird quickly lol.

Thank you!
Like I said, I was missing something, so I really do apologize @ChirpyBrooke

 

[theoldchick]

This is a perfect reason to start a bachelor coop where all the cockerels can go live and still be a rooster. Trust me, having a bachelor pad is the way to go especially if you don't like the process of processing. Though a bachelor pad can be a bit noisy, it is an option to keep in mind. That way you can add a rooster to the hens if you ever decide you want to raise your own birds or sell hatching eggs.

 

[ChirpyBrooke]

This is a perfect reason to start a bachelor coop where all the cockerels can go live and still be a rooster. Trust me, having a bachelor pad is the way to go especially if you don't like the process of processing. Though a bachelor pad can be a bit noisy, it is an option to keep in mind. That way you can add a rooster to the hens if you ever decide you want to raise your own birds or sell hatching eggs.

This is a great idea! Thank you theoldchick!

 

[My Three Chicks]

Hi @ChirpyBrooke . I can relate to you. I'm a vegetarian and very much an animal lover...including all chickens. My 6 girls are like my children.
When I first got my 3 sexed chicks one turned out to be male. You can see him on my profile pic (on my head!). Sweetest Mottled Java ever. I was pretty desperate because the thought of him ending up as someone's meal was just not something I was ok accepting and like you know, there are more roosters out there than people want to keep as pets.
Living in LA, we have several avian specialist vets and I took my baby Velvet to one at around 7 weeks to confirm the sex. I was in denial although he had quite developed comb and wattles and was already starting to crow...I mean you hear of hens crowing all the time after all right?! We had a DNA test done to confirm his sex. Male indeed. We also discussed hormonal implants and castrating ('caponizing') him. Here is what the dr told me:

• Cost of surgery: probably between $3000-4000.
• Chemical hormonal implants in chickens are illegal, so that is not a possibility for Velvet. Chickens, even pet chickens, are considered food animals by the USDA - even though I know Velvet will never be eaten! Placing chemical hormonal implants are a safety issue for humans in food animals in case the animal is ever eaten.
• We do not perform de-crowing surgery - it is not a medically necessary procedure and is similar to de-barking a dog which is not in the best interest of the pet. <I know you are not concerned about crowing>
• As we discussed the other day, the surgery itself does have very high risk (50-80%) of fatal bleeding (hemorrhage) and it doesn't guarantee stopping the crowing behavior. Because of this, some veterinarians will not perform the procedure as an elective procedure. Unfortunately, I do not have statistics or percentages on how many roosters stop crowing after the procedure.

That all being said, I had to dig deep and understand my motivations. Was I trying to provide him a better life or was I just trying to protect myself from heartache. I knew I could not risk the surgery, not to mention the obscene price-tag. The success rate is so slim even if done by a professional. So it was a no-go option. And implants were not available either.
I ended up finding him a good home with his own flock of hens not far out of town in another suburban backyard. Unfortunately they did not provide the most secure coop at night and 4 months later he was killed by a raccoon.
My point is that only you know the right decision for yourself. But I would say that a medical procedure is likely not the best option.
Others above have suggested some options if you can't find him a good home. Good luck