Treading rooster

[Annie2007]

Hi, I have a roo that is about 12 weeks old, I got him on accident and he was supposed to be a hen but turns out he was a boy. Today, while I was watching them roam in my garden when i heard a noise from one of my hens, I came to see my roo sitting on one of my hen. I of course already knew that it was going to happen eventually but have not developed any plans yet because I didn't really expected it to be going on so early. I am scared. I don't want to eat fertilized eggs since I feel really bad for the unborn chick. Please help.

 

[JadeFarms]

The chick is not in their yet so you will be fine. Fertilized eggs are just as good as any other eggs unless they have been under a broody hen.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hi, I have a roo that is about 12 weeks old, I got him on accident and he was supposed to be a hen but turns out he was a boy. Today, while I was watching them roam in my garden when i heard a noise from one of my hens, I came to see my roo sitting on one of my hen. I of course already knew that it was going to happen eventually but have not developed any plans yet because I didn't really expected it to be going on so early. I am scared. I don't want to eat fertilized eggs since I feel really bad for the unborn chick. Please help.

I got you! I am Buddhist and can't take any life without good reason. I struggled with this same problem when I got a pullet who turned out to be a rooster.

I spent a lot of time really thinking about the issue. On one hand, I've got a rooster I am responsible for. I have to ensure his quality of life because, when I picked him out, I did so with an implicit promise to preserve his life. On the other hand, a fertilized egg carries with it the promise of life, and I am bound by my beliefs to preserve that, also.

What I ended up doing was discussing all of this with a monk. He asked me many questions about my situation and my values. I realized that I would rather keep the rooster. If I tried to rehome him, he would likely be killed because no one wants roosters. I tried to rehome him early on, and was unsuccessful (I even offered to pay someone to take him). And hens lay eggs whether they are fertilized or not. Many times, hens don't bother to try and hatch eggs that are fertile and leave the nest, arresting the development process.

So, basically, I went with the sure thing. The rooster would for sure suffer if I got rid of him. The egg may or may not be fertilized. The monk assured me my conscience I would remain clear.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

The chick is barely more then a few cells at this point, no thoughts, no brain, no life at all even. Trust me, unless a hen goes broody you won’t crack and egg to see a baby chick pop out. And if it makes you feel even more better you can candle the eggs before you cook them, just to be extra extra careful.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Also hate to break it to you, but very likely you've eaten fertilized eggs at a restaurant or from eggs bought at a grocery store, without knowing. If eggs aren't put in an incubator or sat on by a broody, they'll never develop past the initial spot of cells, so no risk of eating "baby."