Roosters

[grannyhensdream]

After hatching 8 chicks, turns out half are roosters- common problem that I didn't know about. Now what to do with the roosters. My question is this: I have an area that is chain link fenced in all but the top. Previous owner kept large dogs in there. I was thinking about covering the top and keeping the roosters in there until they are old enough to butcher for us or give to the farmer down the road for stew. Do they need a coop or can they just stay in there? I figured I'd put a roosting bar in there. Any ideas or suggestions? It would just be a temporary fix so they don't hurt the 4 hens. Thanks in advance!

 

[Ridgerunner]

First I'll ask how much room do you have. How big, in feet or meters since I don't know where you are, is the coop? How big is your run? How big is that chain link area? At what age do you plan to butcher them or give them away? What is your weather going to be in the next few weeks, just knowing your general location could help with this? How old are they now? Basically, what are you working with? If all you have is the often suggested 4 square feet in the coop and 10 square feet in the run per chicken you'll probably want to go a different direction than if you really have a lot of room.

I typically hatch over 40 chicks a year and raise them with the flock. I butcher the cockerels at between 16 and 23 weeks of age. I have a lot of room in the coop and outside. Most years the cockerels stay with the flock until butcher day. Every three or four years it gets rough enough that I separate out the cockerels in their own area.

I use the philosophy that as long as no one is getting hurt I'll let chickens be chickens. Some people freak out if they see a cockerel show any interest in a pullet or if two cockerels show any interest in fighting. I don't know your tolerances. Instead of suggesting that every person on the planet needs to do exactly the same thing I suggest you observe and take what actions you think necessary based on what you see with your flock. The more room you have the less likely what you see will be severe.

Good luck!

 

[Altairsky]

When my cockerels gets too big for my coop and start crowing, I kick them in the vegetable garden until butcher time.