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

[nicolevg]

It's not necessarily that they've forgotten, it's that suddenly their status has improved and another male can put that status in jeopardy.

Some of my males are accepting so long as the newcomers don't ho after them. Some of my males only need the next morning with no other male and then that's it, they can't be with multiple males anymore

That's good to know. Thank you! We reintegrated our rooster after 44 hours away, and they all integrated again seamlessly. I think next time my friends need a stud, we'll just bring the hens to us and let them be with our rooster but keep the rest of the flock away. Thankfully we have a whole horse paddock we use for our chickens' free ranging, so I think I'll be able to manage that without messing up flock social dynamics.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That's good to know. Thank you! We reintegrated our rooster after 44 hours away, and they all integrated again seamlessly. I think next time my friends need a stud, we'll just bring the hens to us and let them be with our rooster but keep the rest of the flock away. Thankfully we have a whole horse paddock we use for our chickens' free ranging, so I think I'll be able to manage that without messing up flock social dynamics.

More space definitely helps with most birds. If there's space for them to get out of each other's sight, then they can get used to each other and not be run ragged

 

[Nicks_Chicks]

Num num in me tum tum

 

[my spoiled chickens]

For my roosters I take them to the nearby auction and i usually get some good money for them. My first two roosters were agressive so I just sold them there and they go for great money 5-13$(USD)

 

[FrostRanger]

Have been very lucky thus far, but my plan for unexpected roos is. If it's just 1, he can stay as long as he's a gentleman. 2 or more, keep the nicest boy and rehome the extras if they're nice. If any are mean, they will be invited to dinner

 

[SkyAJK]

I have 2 roosters and they fight each other at any chance they get. They live separately. I am living like a bundle wristed nerves at the sound of my roosters crowing.

They do not crow as much, but each morning at egg laying time which lasted to around 2pm, the hens scream before and after their eggs laying, the roosters crows along with the hens and my dogs howls along with them. I am at the point of going mad by chickens and dogs noises.

I can not bring myself to do the deed of putting the roosters down, so I booked in the Vet this week to have 1 rooster to sleep. It breaks my heart because he is only 9 months old, adorable, handsome, healthy and a happy boy. I have a rooster collars on both my roosters, but this young one is so strong, he still crows quite loud and it seems non stop.

My roosters sleep in sound proof rooms, so there is no issue of them crowing early in the morning while they still in there. The problem I have is when they are outside. Any distress sound from the hens bring them to crowing endlessly.

 

[BDutch]

I have 2 roosters and they fight each other at any chance they get. They live separately. I am living like a bundle wristed nerves at the sound of my roosters crowing.

They do not crow as much, but each morning at egg laying time which lasted to around 2pm, the hens scream before and after their eggs laying, the roosters crows along with the hens and my dogs howls along with them. I am at the point of going mad by chickens and dogs noises.

I can not bring myself to do the deed of putting the roosters down, so I booked in the Vet this week to have 1 rooster to sleep. It breaks my heart because he is only 9 months old, adorable, handsome, healthy and a happy boy. I have a rooster collars on both my roosters, but this young one is so strong, he still crows quite loud and it seems non stop.

My roosters sleep in sound proof rooms, so there is no issue of them crowing early in the morning while they still in there. The problem I have is when they are outside. Any distress sound from the hens bring them to crowing endlessly.

Sorry you are going through this.

Did you try to give them (one) away for free? I put an add on a sort of Craig’s list a few times and managed to rehome my cockerels that way.

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

I have 2 roosters and they fight each other at any chance they get. They live separately. I am living like a bundle wristed nerves at the sound of my roosters crowing.

They do not crow as much, but each morning at egg laying time which lasted to around 2pm, the hens scream before and after their eggs laying, the roosters crows along with the hens and my dogs howls along with them. I am at the point of going mad by chickens and dogs noises.

I can not bring myself to do the deed of putting the roosters down, so I booked in the Vet this week to have 1 rooster to sleep. It breaks my heart because he is only 9 months old, adorable, handsome, healthy and a happy boy. I have a rooster collars on both my roosters, but this young one is so strong, he still crows quite loud and it seems non stop.

My roosters sleep in sound proof rooms, so there is no issue of them crowing early in the morning while they still in there. The problem I have is when they are outside. Any distress sound from the hens bring them to crowing endlessly.

Is there anyone with a forest or an area of their land they would let your unwanted roo to roam?

I have 5 boys out of 7 hatch last summer and rather than kill them I put an add at a local feed store for them to go free to be raised or for food.
A lady contacted me and took all 5. They live in the forest with 20 other roosters behind their house

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Everything has a purpose around here. Cockerels go to the local Mennonite lady who processes them for $2 each. Then they go into the freezer until needed. Why should I pay outrageous grocery store prices for commercial chickens raised in horrible conditions when I can raise chickens outdoors in sunshine, on grass, in humane conditions?

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

View attachment 2778885​

On average 50% of all eggs hatched produce male chicks and many of us either cannot or prefer not to keep cockerels in our flocks. Which brings us to the question of this thread's topic: what can/do you do with those unwanted roosters?

View attachment 1385954Pic by @scratch'n'peck ​

For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

a worse/better farmer would just eat them, but I like to give mine away. if my mom cooks it, I guess I'm alright, but I could never process my perfect little guys into meat.