Too big to love?

[lomine]

You said your Polish is just starting to lay and the others are the youngest? So they are all less than a year? That would mean they are cockerels, not roosters. A rooster is over a year old. I mention this because age can be important when discussing male behavior. They may still be young enough that the hormones haven’t kicked in. That’s when things can change, and fast. A friendly young male can become a nightmare. I’m not saying it will happen, just that it can. You need to keep a close eye on both of them.

And as was already mentioned, you need more females if you want to keep both. Even if the boys are gentlemen they could still overmate the girls. I had that issue with my first birds because I decided to keep a well behaved boy with too few girls. Better to get more pullets now while everyone is still young so there isn’t too big an age gap.

You said that you hoped you didn’t have to take him “to the woods.” I really hope that if you have to get rid of one of the boys you don’t plan on abandoning him in the wild. That would be cruel. It would be better to give him away to someone to become dinner if you don’t want to do the dead yourself.

 

[Bat]

You said your Polish is just starting to lay and the others are the youngest? So they are all less than a year? That would mean they are cockerels, not roosters. A rooster is over a year old. I mention this because age can be important when discussing male behavior. They may still be young enough that the hormones haven’t kicked in. That’s when things can change, and fast. A friendly young male can become a nightmare. I’m not saying it will happen, just that it can. You need to keep a close eye on both of them.

And as was already mentioned, you need more females if you want to keep both. Even if the boys are gentlemen they could still overmate the girls. I had that issue with my first birds because I decided to keep a well behaved boy with too few girls. Better to get more pullets now while everyone is still young so there isn’t too big an age gap.

You said that you hoped you didn’t have to take him “to the woods.” I really hope that if you have to get rid of one of the boys you don’t plan on abandoning him in the wild. That would be cruel. It would be better to give him away to someone to become dinner if you don’t want to do the dead yourself.

This is still a very young flock, yes, and I am still learning a lot - hence being here asking questions so I get it right - or at least try to get closer to right.

I appreciate your point about overmating - that’s likely to be a problem.

Regarding the dispatch of males, I’ve tried to give them to local restaurants that could prepare them in the past but they’ve declined. I do need to get it together so I can handle it myself without relying on the local fox population. I promise to do better by the next one that has to go

 

[lomine]

You want to learn and improve and that’s a good thing. That’s the best thing you can do for your birds. I applaud you for that.

Depending on where you are, most restaurants have to take butchered birds from a source that’s been checked by the health department. I don’t know of any that would take a live bird but I would guess it could be very different in other countries. I just don’t know. If you have anything like Craigslist in your area you can offer unwanted males for free. Better to have a quick and relatively calm death.

 

[Bat]

You want to learn and improve and that’s a good thing. That’s the best thing you can do for your birds. I applaud you for that.

Depending on where you are, most restaurants have to take butchered birds from a source that’s been checked by the health department. I don’t know of any that would take a live bird but I would guess it could be very different in other countries. I just don’t know. If you have anything like Craigslist in your area you can offer unwanted males for free. Better to have a quick and relatively calm death.

The restaurant in question serves a lot of game especially around autumn and it’s usually locally caught and delivered still in its original packaging so I think In principal it’s fine. They wouldn’t take it because it was too small/random/one-off for a menu but I’m sure if I asked and paid a bit to have it served too, they might humour me. Otherwise, next time I’ll do the deed myself but probably deliver it to the foxes and/or buzzards in original packaging. I’m not sure I could bring myself to unbox it let alone have the appetite to enjoy it. I’m too attached to them.

 

[sourland]

I agree with all of @theoldchick's recommendations. Have a plan B if things go South. 'Taking him to the woods', or 'relying on the fox population' are not viable or humane solutions. When we raise animals it becomes our responsibility to give them a safe, good life and a humane death if/when necessary.

 

[Bat]

I agree with all of @theoldchick's recommendations. Have a plan B if things go South. 'Taking him to the woods', or 'relying on the fox population' are not viable or humane solutions. When we raise animals it becomes our responsibility to give them a safe, good life and a humane death if/when necessary.

Appreciate that and will strive to be better in future

 

[Bat]

Problems aside, here’s a photo of the whole gang enjoying a drink among friends

 

[Bat]

Problems aside, here’s a photo of the whole gang enjoying a drink among friends

View attachment 1210851

And their first snow experience

 

[theoldchick]

They look great! No need to abandon roosters. All you need to do is put up a sign at the feed store or advertise on craigslist. I don't process either. I'm too lazy (really I'm a wimp) and I don't want to clean up the mess. I have somebody who processes in exchange for halves.