Topic of the Week - What do/can you do with unwanted roosters?

[Buntybunny]

Improve the cockerels used for meat, problem solved!

Just remembered milk chicken, cockerel raised for meat during the war!

Children raised cockerel for meat birds during the war, they were called milk chicken as powdered milk was added to their diet to produce large table birds with large rounded breast and lots of white meat. The birds were much sort after and went for a high price, giving the children extra pocket money!

Powdered milk was added at pos.10% of feed, need to find exact amount, I would use excess goats milk in the mash. Apple cider must be added to prevent the milk curdling.

 

[Buntybunny]

I have a cockerel that i have hatched and not aloud to keep because my allotment is near residential area , he is not crowing yet so i am ok the the moment.

 

[Buntybunny]

It is said if you put a cockerel in a carrying case at night, one that doesn't allow it to stretch it's neck - as they do when crowing, you will prevent it crowing early morning!

I haven't tried this as I have never needed to, sound good!

 

[aart]

It is said if you put a cockerel in a carrying case at night, one that doesn't allow it to stretch it's neck - as they do when crowing, you will prevent it crowing early morning!

I haven't tried this as I have never needed to, sound good!

I just helped a friend take a bunch of cockerels to the processor,
they were in crates just 12" high and they were all crowing.

 

[mymilliefleur]

Improve the cockerels used for meat, problem solved!

Just remembered milk chicken, cockerel raised for meat during the war!

Children raised cockerel for meat birds during the war, they were called milk chicken as powdered milk was added to their diet to produce large table birds with large rounded breast and lots of white meat. The birds were much sort after and went for a high price, giving the children extra pocket money!

Powdered milk was added at pos.10% of feed, need to find exact amount, I would use excess goats milk in the mash. Apple cider must be added to prevent the milk curdling.

I feed my birds Clabber (fermented skim milk). I'm not sure how much it increases the growth rate (I've never done a side by side caparison of birds fed just feed vs mixed with clabber) but it definitely helps with the feed bill, and keeps the birds extremely healthy since they are getting a huge dose of probios when they eat it.

 

[mymilliefleur]

I just helped a friend take a bunch of cockerels to the processor,
they were in crates just 12" high and they were all crowing.

I've observed this too. Roosters don't just stretch their necks up when they crow, but straight forward, side ways, even down.

 

[miner49er]

Now would be a good time to figure out what you plan on doing with him.

 

[miner49er]

Still got the rooster ,not crowing yet but the rest of the hens just pick on him ,they activly seek him out to bully him so i have to keep him seperate from the main flock

 

[miner49er]

Hatched 3 chicks that are 2 months old now ,i thought i would try them in the main coop which is extension of my shed. Left them overnight with 1 very moderate hen and the rest were in another coop.I came the following morning to let them out 1 hen no chicks,looked everywhere no sign. then i pulled out the chicks secure coop and found over night rats had chewed a hole in the coop wall and killed my chicks 1 was still blocking the hole, they had killed them and then dragged them through the hole and gone.I was devastated and have now declaired war on the rats any rat.

 

[old biddy]

Hatched 3 chicks that are 2 months old now ,i thought i would try them in the main coop which is extension of my shed. Left them overnight with 1 very moderate hen and the rest were in another coop.I came the following morning to let them out 1 hen no chicks,looked everywhere no sign. then i pulled out the chicks secure coop and found over night rats had chewed a hole in the coop wall and killed my chicks 1 was still blocking the hole, they had killed them and then dragged them through the hole and gone.I was devastated and have now declaired war on the rats any rat.

Sounds like you just need a couple of cats!