The Moonshiner's Leghorns

[KF0002]

I set more eggs today. I forgot to count them as I was in a mad dash to get ready for my shift. There were at least 2 dozen. Lockdown on the last set is this weekend!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm a little afraid to ask but I need to know. What you guys do with all the cockerels you hatch that you don't need?

 

[AinaWGSD]

I'm a little afraid to ask but I need to know. What you guys do with all the cockerels you hatch that you don't need?

Mine get to live the chicken goodlife for 3-5 months. Then they go to freezer camp. Of course mine are heavy dual purpose and we chose those breeds specifically for meat.

 

[KF0002]

I'm a little afraid to ask but I need to know. What you guys do with all the cockerels you hatch that you don't need?

Grow them out and eat them. Feed the leg quarters to the dogs. If I hatch from an autosexing breed (Legbars) or sex-links (Olive Eggers), we cull all of the cockerels at hatch to cut down on feed consumption, unless I need to grow out replacement Legbar cockerels as breeders. But mostly we cull the cockerel chicks right out of the incubator. Everything else that is not auto sexing or sex-linked, we grow out and butcher all of the cockerels we don’t need.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I set more eggs today. I forgot to count them as I was in a mad dash to get ready for my shift. There were at least 2 dozen. Lockdown on the last set is this weekend!

Oh we're getting closer.
Are you just gonna keep setting throughout winter?

 

[The Moonshiner]

I'm a little afraid to ask but I need to know. What you guys do with all the cockerels you hatch that you don't need?

I try to need them because I have no good plan B.
Used to take them to auction. Not profitable but easy and some $$$. No returns or no shows so that was a bonus.
Auctions went away so tried selling super cheap. My supply outweighs demand so started giving them away to those who could benefit and didn't mind processing. That's time consuming though so as of this year very few have left and they're stacking up.
Still threaten to start eating them. It's either gonna be that or better fence in the back 3 acres, turn them loose and call it the Serengeti. Get a side by side and give tours through it.

 

[NagemTX]

I try to need them because I have no good plan B.
Used to take them to auction. Not profitable but easy and some $$$. No returns or no shows so that was a bonus.
Auctions went away so tried selling super cheap. My supply outweighs demand so started giving them away to those who could benefit and didn't mind processing. That's time consuming though so as of this year very few have left and they're stacking up.
Still threaten to start eating them. It's either gonna be that or better fence in the back 3 acres, turn them loose and call it the Serengeti. Get a side by side and give tours through it.

Micro raptor tours.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Jurassic Park in Progress?

 

[KF0002]

View attachment 4257265
Oh we're getting closer.
Are you just gonna keep setting throughout winter?

I will set until the voices of my ancestors whisper to my soul “that’s enough child.” Or until my husband tells me to stop. Whichever comes first.

I don’t want to set past December though. I can’t wait for chicks!

 

[KF0002]

I try to need them because I have no good plan B.
Used to take them to auction. Not profitable but easy and some $$$. No returns or no shows so that was a bonus.
Auctions went away so tried selling super cheap. My supply outweighs demand so started giving them away to those who could benefit and didn't mind processing. That's time consuming though so as of this year very few have left and they're stacking up.
Still threaten to start eating them. It's either gonna be that or better fence in the back 3 acres, turn them loose and call it the Serengeti. Get a side by side and give tours through it.

It would save you a ton of money on dog food if you butchered roosters to put in the freezer to feed your dogs, if you all don’t want to eat them. Dogs do well on a raw diet. It would be worth the hassle just for that. And it would allow you to practice on a few to perfect the technique of butchering them for when you wanted to eat a few fryers.

We gave my friend some eggs in the summer and she hatched out a surplus of about 10-12 roosters. She and her husband are not the type to kill anything as they have become pets to them. So we are going to go get them on Saturday and will butcher them. Free dog food! And since they are still fryers, I will fry the breast meat and may make Chicken Fajita Nachos, chicken fried rice, chicken nuggets/strips, etc.