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

[adstowe]

Sounds good in theory, but the cats would most likely have ate the chicks too

 

[mandelyn]

We got so tired of the extra cockerel problem that we revamped the breeds into larger dual purpose types and set table presentation as one of the criteria the flock sires need to have. We're dual purpose now and eating quite well! So much flavor! We have Marans and Bresse along with 2 different project lines I'm working on.

It felt like such a waste to give them away. Usually trying to get $5 each was a stretch unless they were big enough to eat. Finally it hit me... why was I giving away a perfectly good dinner?

Now the boys have their very own coop to grow out in with all day pasture access. I can watch how they grow and see what they act like, when one I like presents himself to be the total package, he gets a legband indicating he's a keeper. Coincidentally, the ones that earn a legband then also have value as being the best in the group, in case I don't need him as a breeder. A group of 20 may only have 3-5 that earn a legband.

In having a much larger group to pull from for breeder selection, the flock improves with every generation. So long as I stay picky on the girls too.

It feels like a more natural process now, in doing it this way. Like a complete cycle instead of broken system where you're scrambling to relocate boys before they eat up your feed or tear up your hens.

 

[old biddy]

Sounds good in theory, but the cats would most likely have ate the chicks too

Yes, that is always a possibility. For me, I raised my cats from little kittens right there around the chickens and chicks. The momma hens had no patience for the cats so the kitties learned early that chicks were not on their menu. It is interesting in that the cats, now grown, will chase and kill squirrel and wild birds, but just lay around with the chickens and chicks showing no interest. I guess it is all in how they are raised. If a stray cat comes around and starts to stalk our chicks or chickens he/she is instantly "relocated".

 

[PouleChick]

We got so tired of the extra cockerel problem that we revamped the breeds into larger dual purpose types

This is such a good idea - most of my breeds are dual purpose anyway so really not an issue! I think maybe I need to rethink this in the spring and seriously consider what you are doing. What age do you butcher?

 

[New2Chicks97]

Our mean rooster went to a family who processes meat birds and they were happy to take him.

Our Silkie was an unintentional boy we intend on having but he is sweet and my daughter loves him.

We also adopted a sweet Swedish Flower Hen cockerel from a local breeder. Any cockerels that are nice and that don’t make the cut for her breeding program she tries to find free homes for before she processes them. He isn’t ever going to be a show quality bird as she said he had a comb flaw......but as we don’t plan on breeding/hatching our own eggs it is fine. His sweet personality makes him perfect.

Locally there is always one lady that takes birds to process for her dogs. Also, there is a local feed store that will take in nice roosters and find free homes for them. This seems to be a good option for local families in town.

 

[mandelyn]

This is such a good idea - most of my breeds are dual purpose anyway so really not an issue! I think maybe I need to rethink this in the spring and seriously consider what you are doing. What age do you butcher?

We start at 16 weeks with a systematic approach. Usually there is at least 1 brute that wants to guard the feed, so we add additional feeders and then do the meanest first. So far, it's the 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the pecking order that have the temperament I like to see in my boys. Brave but not stupid, a leader without being a jerk, not the first to offer the fight but not backing down from one either.

Then we watch for another 5 weeks, I start sticking leg bands on those looking pretty good, so that husband doesn't make a mistake if he's itching for chicken dinner. We look at body width and head width, the keel bone (not too narrow/pointy), how they're feathering in and what the wings are doing, who's filling out the fastest without being the "feeder guard".

The "total package" birds with the type, looks and temperament are retained the longest, to see how they finish out at 8/9 months. I don't have the space to keep them much longer than that without getting them moved into a breeding pen.

We built a rooster coop though, so perhaps those with a mind to be reasonable can hang out there while others come and go through it. It has ample pasture access so that they don't have to be on top of each other.

 

[Bryce Thomas]

What do you call a group of roosters?






A code violation. Ba-Dum-Tsh.

eggsplain, i dont get it

 

[fishygirl25]

It breaks my heart that boy chickens are so unwanted. They can really have such a crappy life just because they had the misfortune to be born male. It seems so unfair so many communities prohibit roosters. I also have 2 that my county does not allow.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Currently we've only ever had 1 unwanted cockerel who went to a breeding farm. He was human friendly but was too much for our hens.

In the future, I plan on doing a rooster flock to keep breeders while unwanted or aggressive ones will be made into stew.

 

[Ceakmama]

I was so bummed to find out that 3 of my 8 chicks were cockerels. I was way too attached. We sent 2 to my parent's freezer and kept our favorite to live alongside our pullets. Our remaining cockerel is 20 weeks and getting agressive, so he's about to go to a freezer too. I won't be breeding anytime soon, so I don't need a rooster. I just liked him, until he attacked. I'm a pullet/hen lover only now.