We took in two batches of chicks that were hatched in classrooms this past spring through the local 4H embryology project. The first batch left us with three hens and the rest were boys. They were complete jerks and the family member that was going to take both batches decided not to. The plan was to brood and grow them here until they crowed, and then to send them up to their property to free range and grow out until they were ready to harvest. The first five roosters were complete jerks and their three hens were not in great shape from being pinned down by roosters all day. This batch is likely from the same 4H family, and most are really awful roosters. One attacked my husband last night while he was trying to bring them inside. (We are in the suburbs and NEED to get rid of these roos. As a courtesy to our neighbors, we bring the boys inside until about 9 am. They have a huge dog crate that is getting tight but is still comfortable for them to sleep in. We have had to separate them from our slightly younger birds and hens because the hens have big bald spots on the back of their necks and chests from the roos. They also are all marked up on their combs, wattles, and faces. I accidentally let a hen down without thinking, and immediately she was screaming and being chased up a tree by 9 rude roosters.
Here is my question - should we take them to be processed or wait for the livestock auction in a week and a half? I've heard that roosters do well at the auctions (northern CA), but what does good mean? The person that raised and harvested the first batch of roosters doesn't want to butcher these, which is fine. The only processor I know of serves a lot of the very nice restaurants in town but will process birds from smaller flocks. The downside is that it is a $50 minimum. We have 9 roosters that are between 4.5 and 6.5 lbs, with the largest and heaviest being Cuckoo Marans. They are just about four months old now. If we had the room, I would let them continue to grow, however, we just don't. I don't expect our family member to take them after their hens were a bit traumatized by only five roosters, let alone the 9 jerks and two babies that we won't be keeping. Since there is a $50 minimum which usually will do 18 birds, we aren't getting the best deal by processing. That being said, we raised the birds organically and with plenty of variety, and will lose money if we sell them at auction. Is it worth $5 (in northern CA) to process each bird just to get it done and have a little meat? Or sell and just get rid of the bastards if we don't want to keep growing out or process on our own?
Here is my question - should we take them to be processed or wait for the livestock auction in a week and a half? I've heard that roosters do well at the auctions (northern CA), but what does good mean? The person that raised and harvested the first batch of roosters doesn't want to butcher these, which is fine. The only processor I know of serves a lot of the very nice restaurants in town but will process birds from smaller flocks. The downside is that it is a $50 minimum. We have 9 roosters that are between 4.5 and 6.5 lbs, with the largest and heaviest being Cuckoo Marans. They are just about four months old now. If we had the room, I would let them continue to grow, however, we just don't. I don't expect our family member to take them after their hens were a bit traumatized by only five roosters, let alone the 9 jerks and two babies that we won't be keeping. Since there is a $50 minimum which usually will do 18 birds, we aren't getting the best deal by processing. That being said, we raised the birds organically and with plenty of variety, and will lose money if we sell them at auction. Is it worth $5 (in northern CA) to process each bird just to get it done and have a little meat? Or sell and just get rid of the bastards if we don't want to keep growing out or process on our own?
