so, what does everyone do with their "males for warmth" chicks?

[bangor777]

I have an ideal order coming thursday, and from what I read there will probably be packing peanuts included. I definitely want a rooster in my flock, but I realize I probably can't have 2 or more of them. So what does everyone else do with their males? Do people eat them? If so, how old before they're dinner? (by the way, with 6 kids in lOVE with these chicks I don't think that's an option for us). I guess mine will go in uncle henrys (a local swap and shop magazine) but I am curious about what other people do.
Thanks! Oh, and what are production reds? Sorry for all the questions!
Lori

 

[jimnjay]

I gave mine to the local feed store to sell with the other ones they had. I don't think I could raise them properly for the table. I tried that once before and It was not a good experience.

 

[MissPrissy]

We grew ours for meat.

Processing The Packing Peanuts

 

[Grass]

i ended up with 4 roo's in group of 12 chicks.i've altready sold one to a person who elected to get all pullets...surprisingly he did get all pullets.the other 3 i'm keeping and going to choose the friendliest one to keep with hens and the other 2 will be for the roaster this fall.

 

[lurky]

Everybody's got a few farms in the area.....i called around and found a farmer that will take anything i cant keep.

 

[conny63malies]

well i dont ordered but even with hatching eggs you get males(i am a genius today aint i? lol)
i told my kids (6,5,2) that male chickens are for giving away or dinner. My oldest daughter doesnt have a problem with that because she thinks that boys have cooties anyways !!

. They didnt even complain when we gave some bantys away yesterday.

 

[SoccerMomof7]

I was told production reds were like Rhode Island Reds.

 

[Happy Chicken Mama]

We got 6 awful little suckers from Ideal with our order. I hoped hat we could love them but they were so mean from day 1. We also live in the city so we couldnt raise them for any length of time.

We took uors to the farmers market and planned to give them away for free... they were all gone before i could put the sign up. People want roosters!

It was nicee o have them all go to good homes!

 

[AussieSharon]

Take them to swap meets

 

[Buff Hooligans]

That's a question that comes up a lot. Here's other "what do I do with extra roosters" threads that may provide some more answers for you:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=51978

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=50925