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

[SueT]

We have a monthly poultry swap in our area. It is well attended-- in good weather, you might see 1000 chickens/other poultry/small animals for sale. I sold one of my cockerels there this month, and plan to take another next month. It is free to set up there, and it's fun to talk to other chicken people and see all the different birds, such as this man selling seramas....

 

[Gray Farms]

I put a few in the freezer for myself. And I butcher some for friends and neighbors. The rest I give away to other friends who will take them. Any left I just give them away to anybody that will take them. I've found they go quicker if I give them away than feed them every day until somebody comes to buy them.

 

[BoyTheRooster]

We live in rural nz and we give ours to whichever neighbour wants them. Doesn't matter if it's for eating or to add to their own flock

The neighbour who took our last 4 extra roosters culled 3 for the freezer and kept the one with the best temper to join their own flock

 

[GayEgg]

We recently rehomed six... not sure what became of them, and don't want to know... I like to think they are happy wherever they are.

 

[J. At ChicChalet]

I plan On turning them into Capons And selling them as meat birds.

 

[Gray Farms]

I plan On turning them into Capons And selling them as meat birds.

Its super easy. I used to do it years ago when I didn't have so many cockerels. But I typically have 100-150 cockerels a year its to much work for just me. Capons are way more docile, and seem to grow faster and fatter.

 

[JDN]

I think it would have to depend on the bird. Raise your hand if you have a dog or a cat? Now go check the label on their Dog chow or Fancy Feast. Chicken is probably near the top. Chicken that was subpar for the table. Or turned into Chicken Nuggets or somesuch. And, there is nothing wrong with that, there is little/no waste. So, whether it goes to someone that wants to eat it for Sunday Dinner, or feed FiFi the Snake, the only difference is in our heads.

Now, I have one FCBM that is looking an awful lot like a Cockerel and I will sell him at an auction...I think he has enough market value to someone wanting to breed FCBM's, or Olive Eggers, that I'm not concerned about it. And, if after paying for it, they eat him, so be it. I can only control what I can control. Obsessing about how someone keeps their birds is a fools errand. I've seen enough outside of the chicken world that bad things happen despite due diligence being done.

 

[J. At ChicChalet]

I think it would have to depend on the bird. Raise your hand if you have a dog or a cat? Now go check the label on their Dog chow or Fancy Feast. Chicken is probably near the top. Chicken that was subpar for the table. Or turned into Chicken Nuggets or somesuch. And, there is nothing wrong with that, there is little/no waste. So, whether it goes to someone that wants to eat it for Sunday Dinner, or feed FiFi the Snake, the only difference is in our heads.

Now, I have one FCBM that is looking an awful lot like a Cockerel and I will sell him at an auction...I think he has enough market value to someone wanting to breed FCBM's, or Olive Eggers, that I'm not concerned about it. And, if after paying for it, they eat him, so be it. I can only control what I can control. Obsessing about how someone keeps their birds is a fools errand. I've seen enough outside of the chicken world that bad things happen despite due diligence being done.

I,m with you all the way that makes perfect sense. Also, forgive my ignorance but what is an FCBM?

J.

 

[JDN]

I,m with you all the way that makes perfect sense. Also, forgive my ignorance but what is an FCBM?

J.

FBCM is what it should be. French Black Copper Marans...people like them because they lay the darkest brown shell egg, can also be bred to blue egg layers to create Olive Eggers, which seem to be somewhat in vogue.

 

[Below frigid]

I think he means FBCM French Black Copper Maran?