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

[Ridgerunner]

Vaguely remembers a thread called 'broody roosters' or something like that.
If ya can't find it, start one and link here!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-to-look-for-in-a-broody-rooster.882368/

 

[lazy gardener]

First and foremost, if you don't have a plan for the cockerels don't hatch any eggs. They are your responsibility, act responsibly.

Post of the day award!!!

Agreed, wholeheartedly. Never hatch unless you have a viable exit plan for unwanted cockerels, AND any deformed, non-viable, failure to thrive chicks.

Cockerels: stay in grow out pen till they get culled. Then, they go in the freezer.

 

[PouleChick]

I know you have probably answered this a thousand times, but what is your preferred method for culling?

I was looking around for the answer to this when I was looking at getting some Cream Legbar (which can be sexed at day old) eggs and I decided that I'm not far enough down my journey to cull newborns and that I'd rather grow them out to at least have thier lives be usefull.

Messaged you.

Would you mind messaging me too please Aart - I figure better to know than worry about it (and if my poor little scissor beak guy gets worse / has any troubles it may be sooner than later - I won't have a chick suffer because I'm a softy).

 

[SAMnELLA]

Does anyone know what breed that rooster is on the Topic of the Week picture ? He's black and white with feathers that stick up on his head.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

That's very odd my D'uccle cockeral was an amazing great little boy before we lost him in a freak accident. He even protected me from an aggressive cockeral.


I don't know, we shouldn't have named ours Napoleon Bonaparte. He has become the little villain he was named after.

 

[chickendreams24]

Rofl nice yep we named ours Blue. That must be your problem. Ours was a hatchery porcelain.

 

[bobbi-j]

Many people process their surplus cockerels and cocks. I hear that they taste much better than store bought birds.

In my opinion, they do. They also have a little more texture to the meat.

I try to rehome any boys but unfortunately there are not always a lot of takers. I give myself a cut off point at how long I will try for and after that they are culled and put out as fox bait.
I know it may seem harsh to some doing this but I know they have had a good life with me, the end is quick and they serve a purpose in the end.

As long as they're dead before you put them out as bait, I don't see it as harsh at all.

First and foremost, if you don't have a plan for the cockerels don't hatch any eggs.


You can try to sell or give them away. Realize when you do that you have lost control of their future. They are likely to be eaten.

These two things right here. Don't hatch, and if you do, once they're gone, they're no longer yours.

I've been able to sell one, gave a couple to folks who needed or wanted them.
But there are way more people who are also trying to get rid of them,
it's not worth the trouble(IMO) to post an ad then deal with all that.

I keep chickens for food and hatch yearly for replacement layers and don't have the resources to house and feed a nonproductive bird.
So.....
View attachment 1386181
they are more 'toothsome'.

I love that expression!

Ok, I have some that are between maybe 13-16 weeks, do you get ANY meat? I'm looking at these little guys and thinking, it would be like a quail...maybe if that? Lol.

Sometimes it's surprising how much meat they have.

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.

That's the best way to do it. Just keep telling yourself they went to a nice farm with lots of hens.

We eat ours. I HOPE for cockerels so I can freeze or pressure can them. And make broth. I can't afford to keep feeding nonproductive birds year after year, and I only have so much room, so buying hens and starting new flocks all the time isn't really an option either.

 

[HuskerHens18]

I never kill my roosters. They are very welcome on my property.
My Main flock has 6 roosters in it, they keep the hens protected at all times. With enough time and work put into my main flock, all roosters get along and aren't overmating.
I haven't lost one hen to a wild predator in almost a year now. (Will be a year in mid July) My property is big enough that when free ranging, most roosters are out of sight from each other. They each take a group of hens and go scavenge for food, then bring them back at night. At roosting time, the roosters let the King have the ladder, while the rest roost on the nesting boxes together.
I also have a Rooster flock, they get along great. While free ranging, they leave the girls alone and keep to themselves. But they're an extra set of eyes I like to have over everyone. They don't fight with Main Flock roosters either, they keep a respective distance.
On top of that, I have a bantam rooster flock WIP. It's going to take time, I've just began separating them today.

On top of that, Roosters are gorgeous. I take great pride in them, they're wonderful companions. I've never failed at disciplining a problem rooster, I don't give up on them. Just like some people never give up on a dog. It takes patience and time.
Roosters are loving pets too!

If I find a rooster is beginning to cause an issue, it goes to the integration kennel in the Rooster House. A couple weeks later, the Rooster flock has a new accepted member.

I love Roosters! I will always choose life

 

[Smr]

I take my unwanted birds to a small animal auction.

 

[old biddy]

If you live in the country or out in the wilderness, could you just relocate them and set them free? Of course predators would eventually get them but that would at least give them a fighting chance. Or is that unlawful?