Too Many Roosters, need advice on shooting them

[Redchkn1]

Thank you to all that had responsible reply's. Think I will probably load them up and take them down to the Amish later today, as they need to be gone by tonite. By the way Johannesburg is in northern michigan, the united states not africa..lol

Most of the Amish up here are responsible with their animals, just need to make sure they go to the "right" one's. Would hate for my roo's to be thrown in with a bunch of other poultry to fend for themselves, as they have a pretty cushy life right now with me. To me that's more terrible then a quick, clean kill for any reason.

I know there are people out there that will gladly take them and butcher them, just concerned over how thier last moments on earth are spent, that's all. And I thought that if I could quickly kill them with a gun, here on my property instead of a thirty mile trip somewhere, where it's unknown as too what happens to them in the interim, that it may be preferable.

I do have a dirt back stop on the property, but it also has rocks in it....sounds iffy to me for a ricochet. I'll work it out somehow.

 

[Redchkn1]

Just an FYI folks, I'm a female, not a male...lol

 

[Happy Chooks]

Folks, I just spent a great deal of time cleaning this thread up. Whether you agree with it or not, dispatching extra roosters is something many people do. It doesn't need to be a personal attack.

The OP is trying to gather information on selecting a method, and there has been some good information posted here, so I'm leaving it open. Let's keep it on topic.

 

[ranchhand]

Keri, I think that's a wise choice. I know you feel hassled and I don't wish to add to that. BUT.... (isn't there always one?) ..... please think long and hard before you hatch more chicks or buy any- because you will always be facing the possibility of 100% to 10 % cockerals.

100%, because sometimes hatches are all males, and 10%, because even when buying all pullets the guarantee of sexing is only 90%.

 

[Redchkn1]

Quote:
there were "other" issues, we got her back where she was safe, from lack of food, water and shelter, then made a desision based on condition, age, and expected progress, and the amount of other horses that were currently under rescue/rehab on the farm, and where finances should go, and quietly, quickly put the mare down. Culling an animal for any reason is never taken lightly by me, but sometimes has to be done. Whether it's my dog, cat, horse, rabbit or chickens.

 

[schellie69]

Sorry about the mix up I thought you said MI but it was post about south Africa. I also agree with anytime putting an animal down it is a hard choice. That is why I already worked out a system for extra roosters that might hatch from my eggs. I also worried about injuries with shooting a gun while holding a chicken. I don't know about shooting a pistol I have a 22 rifle. Another idea is finding someone you do trust that might be able to help you with the culling of extra roosters. I am sorry if I said he sometimes it is hard to know unless either their name say girl or they say something in the signature line about husband or wife. I hope you can find a way to deal with your roosters that works for you. I am sorry about the horse that would really suck.

 

[yotetrapper]

I have shot plenty, before I got over my squeamishness and started chopping heads. Take your chicken, hold its neck down with your foot, put barrel of gun against side of head, and pull trigger. Be sure to do this like in the lawn, in an area thats not rocky. Oh and don't shoot your foot, lol

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Let's get back on topic here-

In your situation, I would take them to the Amish folks down the road and hope they want them. Once you give them away you can no longer control their destiny. I would not shoot them and risk losing track of a bullet. I really do feel that even if they aren't much in terms of a roasted chicken, at least someone else might give them a quick death and make some tasty stock.

 

[PapaChaz]

Quote:

plain and simple rule of raising food animals, my family applies it to hunting as well, respect the life you just took by utilizing what it's produced for you...

 

[donrae]

How far northern in MI? A member here, I think booker81? is somewhere in MI and takes unwanted roos for processing. She's posted about it on the meat bird thread. Maybe pm her and see if ya'all are at all close?