Too many roasters.

[Peggsblueinc]

I want to get rid of these roosters. They are constantly attacking the hens. When I say attacking I mean breeding. To the point they wait till dusk when they are trying to get in coop and chase them all over. I have 30 hens and have had only one rooster. But in the process of buying chicks from our local feed store I ended up with 3 roosters. What is the best way to kill them.

 

[nuthatched]

Hatchet for me. Or .22. Many like the broomstick method.

 

[Sparrows]

Hatchet for me. Or .22. Many like the broomstick method.

I never quite knew how one would do the hatchet... do you have some one hold the bird or is there a way to do it all by yourself?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

What is the best way to kill them.

There are many ways.. are you also planning to harvest/eat them? Regardless of which way, it often takes practice to get it right.

If just trashing or composting.. then the easiest is possibly what's known as the broomstick method.. which involves placing the broomstick across their neck and standing on it while giving a swift tug/jerk on their legs.. resulting in a cervical dislocation and instant/humane death.. there's usually a large amount of flapping involved as an involuntary muscle contraction.. and very young/tender birds may have the whole head come off.. it's important to make sure the deed is done.. otherwise they will die a slow death.

Using a branch lopper is another possible way.. most often the head does not come completely off in my experience. Some blood may become visible.

If not harvesting.. then using a flashlight or headlamp and removing from roost after dark (holding their wings tight close to their backs to reduce panic) will prevent any chasing. If harvesting.. I still use this practice and place them in a dog kennel until harvest time the next day.

Drowning is not considered humane and would not be my choice.. but I suppose if I were desperate and couldn't figure anything else out.. might be a consideration. Dead is dead.

For informational purposes.. what you're describing is hormone raging teenage cockerel behavior, not that of a mature rooster.. and is also very common when a bunch are coming of age together. Very hard to watch when you're not used to or prepared for it.

 

[MysteryChicken]

 

[NatJ]

I never quite knew how one would do the hatchet... do you have some one hold the bird or is there a way to do it all by yourself?

It can be done alone, if you are strong enough to hold the chicken with one hand. Some chickens are too big for some people to kill this way.

Hold the bird upside down by the feet. Get both shanks in your one hand, then grab the long feathers of each wingtip and put them in the same hand that holds the feet.

The bird will usually hold still at this point, and may even stick his neck out. Pick up the hatchet with your hand that is not holding the bird, lay the neck on a chopping block, and chop the head off. Some people stick two nails in a v-shape in the chopping block: lay the neck into the V and pull back a little on the feet, to stretch the neck out for easier chopping.

This is probably obvious, but use the hatchet in your dominant hand (right for most people, left for left-handed people) and hold the bird with the other.

 

[Sparrows]

It can be done alone, if you are strong enough to hold the chicken with one hand. Some chickens are too big for some people to kill this way.

Hold the bird upside down by the feet. Get both shanks in your one hand, then grab the long feathers of each wingtip and put them in the same hand that holds the feet.

The bird will usually hold still at this point, and may even stick his neck out. Pick up the hatchet with your hand that is not holding the bird, lay the neck on a chopping block, and chop the head off. Some people stick two nails in a v-shape in the chopping block: lay the neck into the V and pull back a little on the feet, to stretch the neck out for easier chopping.

This is probably obvious, but use the hatchet in your dominant hand (right for most people, left for left-handed people) and hold the bird with the other.

Ok thanks. When I do meat birds I hope my future husband would do it. Thanks for replying!

 

[nuthatched]

I never quite knew how one would do the hatchet... do you have some one hold the bird or is there a way to do it all by yourself?

It's been awhile so I don't remember right now. .22 is what's ive done last time.

 

[Sparrows]

It's been awhile so I don't remember right now. .22 is what's ive done last time.

That would be a good option where is the best place to aim? the head?

 

[nuthatched]

That would be a good option where is the best place to aim? the head?

The head, yes toward the back but you have to have really good aim.
It's been two years since a cull since I don't go through as many birds as some, I buy 8 every two years and they're free to live as long as possible barring unrecoverable issues or predators.