Rooster studding?

[BallardChooks]

This may sound crazy, but as a chicken newb I am very curious.

Is there such a thing as rooster stud service? In the city, I'm not allowed to own a rooster but I would be very interested in breeding on a small scale. Would bringing in a rooster for a time to fertilize my hens work? Would the rooster care since they are not "his" hens? Would it just be a complete chicken-social-nightmare?

 

[Habibs Hens]

it is a heard of service

im not in USA but from what i read yes its an available service there

i know its available here and i know of a farm that studs their roosters for £10



do a search for the thread my neighbours rooster is trying to killl my rooster

i know that thread talks of a rooster stud service maybe you can ask the poster where she and get yr hens fertalised

 

[FireTigeris]

Well lets see.

You'll need to Quarantine him or get him borrowed from someone who Quarantine, this will -lessen- but not remove the chance of your girls getting something.

He will upset the pecking order and it may take time for him to do his job, he will not (usually) care what hens he breeds.

Beside that you will now have fertile eggs, 1/2 of which statistically will be male chickens- on a small scale this may be much higher or lower.

What are your plans for those roosters?

It is safer and about 90% accurate to just buy day old sexed chicks from the hatchery, or started pullets form a reputable breeder.

 

[BallardChooks]

When I end up with a bunch of cockerels, I'd eat 'em! First probably try to sell them or give them away when the sex was clear. The two roos I'm pretty sure I got from my "sexed" chicks this Spring are going to end up in the pot as soon as they start crowing. I also understand that quarantine would be a smart precaution.

 

[FireTigeris]

Why don't you ask your neighbors if you can get a stud rooster for one month, if they all say yes, keep one of your boys for an extra month and hope he breeds.

(the quieter one)

 

[Oregon Blues]

Breeding what? Show birds? Purebreds? Barnyard mutts?

You probably will not find show type birds for rent for stud service, because most people with show birds are practicing better bio-security than that. . Probably you could find a barnyard mutt that you could borrow.

I think your best bet is to buy a rooster. Or get one of the hundreds of free mutt roosters on Craigslist. Let him hang out with your hens for a month, and then put him into the stew pot.

 

[BallardChooks]

I am planning on going for "barnyard mutt" rather than show birds. I like the idea of buying a rooster, keeping him for a month (with the consent of my neighbors!) and then putting him in the pot. Thanks for your replies, folks!