Should we butcher this 20-week old rooster for meat?

[canam melissa]

We were given this rooster at the end of April, friends say he was "about a month old" with no indication of a breed. We thought it was a hen, but within the last couple of weeks he has been testing out his new newfound "voice", and we've discovered he's a rooster. We cannot keep roosters in our neighborhood, so we have to be rid of him. I don't want to butcher him if his meat will be too tough to eat (he's about 20 weeks/5 months old now). Can someone advise me what breed he might be, and whether he would make good meat? Thanks in advance!

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Looks like a Black Sumatra cockerel, and he is very pretty!

 

[BabyandCotton]

I'd give a lot of money for that rooster

 

[CluckerCottage]

If I were you, I'd buy some black Sumatra hens for him and start a breeding program!
This breed sells for good money!

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I also would pay a good price for him, too bad I'm most likely nowhere near.

It wouldn't be worth it to eat him, he is gorgeous and would probably sell quickly.

 

[Gray Farms]

I've raised Black Sumatras for over 15 years. And I butcher several cockerels every year. 5 months old is gonna be baking/crockpot bird. Little to tough to grill or fry.

 

[donrae]

sure you can eat him. I'd check out threads on the meat bird section to get good ideas for cooking. Low, slow and moist will be the way to go.

 

[canam melissa]

Thanks everyone! He certainly is a beautiful bird, these pictures don't even do justice to his coloring. Unfortunately we can't keep him, because his crowing is too loud for our neighborhood. If I were to sell him, any suggestions on a price I should expect? There is a "Poultry and Small Livestock Swap" at Southern States this weekend, but I've never been to one of those before. Thanks again!

 

[Shezadandy]

Thanks everyone! He certainly is a beautiful bird, these pictures don't even do justice to his coloring. Unfortunately we can't keep him, because his crowing is too loud for our neighborhood. If I were to sell him, any suggestions on a price I should expect? There is a "Poultry and Small Livestock Swap" at Southern States this weekend, but I've never been to one of those before. Thanks again!

You could try the Buy-Sell-Trade under the "Forum" tab- it's the last one.
There's also the "where am I where are you" under the "Forum" tap- under "social"-- perhaps you can find someone close by who wants him.
Swap wise- maybe take some very good pictures but leave him home- and ask around for people who might be interested in Black Sumatra.
Craigslist might find a buyer too- sometimes feed stores have an online trade site, i.e. "wanted and for sale"

The 'no-crow' collar has worked pretty well for us- but that's a spendy endeavor if you're not keeping him.

 

[donrae]

If you're going to try to sell him, I'd start with $20-25. He's pretty and unusual enough someone may happily pay that.

Be prepared to go down lower, though. It's a trade off of how much you need to get rid of him vs how much you don't want to butcher. Remember you've got a good amount of feed in him. If you're willing/able to butcher, no need to literally give that investment away.