Should I Sell the Roos Now or Wait Till They're Grown?

[Maryallison]

I was wondering the same thing. I was outside earlier today playing with the 3 week olds and the Japanese bantam is definitly looking like a roo. Soon as we are sure I guess I get to go to auction!

 

[Eggseronious]

If you are not going to eat them in a few weeks, I would sell them ASAP.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

If you have NO use for them, sell them as soom as you are certain they are roos.

I have a soft spot for roo and I keep them unless they are:

1) rapist, constantly on my hens aggressively

2) They are a duplicate of a better roo.

3) They are a "mutt", a barn special.

4) They are large and aggressive towards humans.

5) They do not defend their hens or support and herd them.

I have an ol' cochin roo that every one says to get rid of. He is aggressive and very large. Why I keep him is a personal matter and I tell every one to just stay away from him.

I have two polish roos. I recently sent one off to the taxidermist. A freind requested him. The other will most likely go in the next month to a sale or I will give him away.

I have several bantam roos that tend to pair up with my bantam hens. I have no problem with these guys.

I have several middle sized roos that are living their life here until they pose a problem. So far, so good.

I have a red jungle fowl, a large plymouth white rock, an beautiful creole OEG, the cochin, two New Jersey Giants (one black, one blue), The two polish, a hamburg and his hen (they are really a middle sized pair) and a golden silkie roo.

They are all a pain in the butt, but I love em.

Roos perform a task that can not be filled other wise.

A good roo will defend his hens to the death and "herd" them to safety and food.

My roos call the flock in at night and warn of danger during the day.

The only real problem are the polish roos. They are very aggressive to the hens and I will get down to one, the old man in a few weeks.

If I sold the Cochin, he would be with dumplins within the week.
We call him dumpling and he generally stays in the barn. The wife and I know him well and we have grown quite attached to the old fart. He sleeps in the silkie pile and does not harm any of my other girls. I keep him around to protect the silkies mainly.

So you see, this decision can get pretty personal.

 

[emvickrey]

I give mine away as soon as I know they are a roo. They go fast too. I have 2 roos that are very attentive to the ladies and really don't need anymore, unless i'm going for a certain breed. I have 1 RIR, 1 Domonique and 1 American Onagadori. I will need an EE roo when I get some hens for him but until then I get rid of all roos for free. Not interested in money for them. But that is my choice.

 

[emvickrey]

My roos do their job of taking care of the girls too. When ever I have to catch a hen for osme reason or another they are right there. I have to watch my back. They keep them around them. My buff wanted to be with the youngsters and was just hanging around with them until a the RIR roo noticed she was gone. He went looking for her and actually punished her for straying away. I had to make him leave her alone. The bad thing is she is a favorite of the roos too.

 

[Becky_H]

I am so torn on this issue. Right now I have *one* 'extra' roo. He's a RSL baby, about a month old. I have an ad up on craigslist offering him free to a good home, but if that doesn't work my options seem pretty much limited to eating him. I don't -don't- have a problem eating the chickens, but it seems like a wast of effort for *one* rooster, especially after raising him for 3 months, you know?

I wouldn't mind keeping him, either, but I really don't know how that'd work; everyone else is paired or trio'd off. Blergh.

 

[emvickrey]

I read on here from another thread that the ratio of hen VS. roo is 1 roo for every 10 hens. I'm not really concerned about mutts. The eggs are going to be sold anyway. I'm just trying to build my flock. I want to get some EE's then i'm done. Let them grow up and lay eggs. I will have to replenish the flock form time to time but as long as I have hens and roos and a bator i'm good.

I did buy a pair of a particular breed and those I plan to sell the eggs or chicks. Which ever is wanted. Right now they think they are parrots and want to sit on my shoulder all the itme. They actually fight over who gets to sleep under my hair. Yep, their spoiled. I take them out during the day and in at night. We don'thave their coop built yet and they are using one of the temp coops we use for the youngsters.

Anyway, off the subject. I tend to ramble. I'm sure you will find a home for him sooner or later. If you do decide to put him in the freezer you should feed him different feed. For meat birds I think it is.

Good luck.

 

[Becky_H]

Quote:
I read the same thing, but I'm honestly not *too* worried about it right now. Everyone's young and I'll have some time to get some more hens to go in with the sex-linked ones for egg production. The others -- two trios of banties -- are going to be used for showing and breeding when they grow up. We'll see how it works out, but I can always add more hens if I need to.

I feel bad for this little rooster. He's sweet as hell. He's just. A boy. ...Maybe I'll look into caponing or something.

I babble too.

 

[NotTheMomma]

wonder how 1 roo with 30 hens will be?

 

[Becky_H]

Quote:
Very, very happy.